Marc Hauver wrote:Hey,
I in no way want to say that mistakes were not made in fact I knew I was opening myself to hard questions. This has humbled me much and I make no excuses. That said my purpose was to only provide some lessons learned to anyone else if possible.
few Answers:
Kenny other 2 kiters less experienced and never left the knee deep water.
Jim I always have a PFD on which was definitely needed...
Billy I humbly submit to your comments. I know it comes from someone who cares about people and the sport.
Off shore winds no excuse. I have never given lessons and am not an instructor. I have let people fly my trainer when conditions are right. I took lessons from Don who is an excellent instructor and who I am sure is disappointed that one of his students broke off shore rule.
Weather experience. Blew it. Need to really stay away from any possible storms. I have been to SSB 4 times all this year. This was 5th time and I did not check forecast other than KSL chance of rain like last few weeks. We saw only blue sky. Only had a hour or 2 so Plan was my bro in law was in town and wanted me to look at his new kite and bar and just wanted a critique. . plan was to just get in the sand to check out new kite bar set up and if any wind launch it and look at release systems. Also I just got new battery pump and replaced my bad deflate valve and wanted to pump up and see if it held. Got there it was hot no wind so just pumped up and checked gear. 30 mins we had slight wind so launched his kite and had to work to keep it up. Wind came up enough where I got on reach and then
Experience. I told others this is offshore and you should never fly in it but not knowing of the huge impending storm was coming I tested my bro in laws kite and bar and surprisingly was able to go on an east reach to the point north east of SSB and assumed I could turn west and still hit the shallow water by SSB. Unfortunately when I turned west wind had shifted and I found myself way farther from shore and all my efforts could not go up wind. Soon wind dropped and I was stuck.
I have a jet ski and have brought people with me to ride it while I kite and take pictures of riders but I do not teach anyone and have taken paid lessons myself and truly believe this is how it should be done.
Sorry for any concerns I have brought as for myself I have learned much from this experience.
I have found the Kiting community to be fantastic at looking out for one another and do not want to take away from the sport in anyway.
Hope to see you all out on the water again..
Marc,
I think the most important fact is that you have learned, I was more concered about your saftey then the issues involed with your story, Thank you for posting it and sharing what you personally learned..
I hope any kiter who was unaware of these factors learned from them.
I also wanted to stress the importance of all kiters Using good judgement. Kiting is not just a sport where you learn to fly a kite and have at it, but one with many more responsibility that all kiters must respect, I think The point was made.
This topic was discussed in length on the beach and I beleave everyone felt as though the important points where handled in my post, and in the attempt to not discourge others from sharing stories like your own we feel it is best to stress the Idea of community and that my comment are of course made with us all n mind.
Our goal as a community is saftey, and your post was a good reminder to us all what can happen when you strech the saftey envolope. Again I think your case has several issues that rookies are much more likley to make, hopefully this will drive some points home....
I have had to expain why we dont ride SSB or ULLB on a south wind to 10+ new kiters, several of them have tried on their own to ride in south wind, requardless of the advice of others and have paid the price also.
It is much like backcountry skiing some days you need to walk away from the best snow because the risk is to high........