Utah Windriders Association

Pete and I had a strapless freeride at the SSB on some huge barn doors yesterday. Pete's first time riding without straps was
much more fun for me than it was him. Pete is a friend of mine but I sure enjoyed watching him faceplants in 2" of water.
Theres nothing better than watching you buddy pull his head out of the sand with a "THIS IS BULLSHIT" look on his face.

was fun. 21/2 hours of 15m kiting, could have been on my 11 the last 1/2 hour. swell was nice, water was tolerable. I had some board problems but it all worked out. Dave what happened to your kite in the tree doing 50 kite loops? are you okay?

Vicky and I rode 11 and 9 from like 5 till dark at SSB lit!!! Todd and Sal where out.

The 50 kite loops, that was the truth. I jumped on a plyboard too close to shore not paying attention to the trees. I snagged a
treetop and as I was trying to regain controle, the kite went into a death spin which threw me into the trees from about 40 feet offshore.
I got wrapped around a tree unable to reach my release. I almost dislocated my arm trying to release my bar. I managed to pull the release but
the lines were too tangeled to help my perdicament. I waited as I could hear my kite running loop after loop as a nearby treetop was about to snap.
Finally my blue line snapped, freeing me from my kite and leaving me with an hours quest to retrieve my bar perched atop a 20 foot
3" tree. Not fun and not something I will likely have happen again. Peter said It looked like I was eaten by a leopard and thats what it felt like.

man I am glad you are alright. I did not see anything but the kite looping, scary sight. I started kiting back that way when I saw you come out of the trees, and you gave me and peter a thumbs up. I apprecieate you telling the story, others might learn from what went wrong. Any lessons others could learn?

Dave my brother! Glad to hear you are all right. Thanks for sharing that - makes me think a bit...