Utah Windriders Association

It was a stellar day of kiting at Deer Creek and it just got better as the day went on, I left at 5:30 and it was probably 20 to 30mph and time to drop a kite size.

The reason I'm posting is to share a potentially bad situation I got myself into and hopefully help someone else avoid my mistakes. When I first went out the wind was a little up and down and I overspun a backroll and got slack lines. The kite dropped and rolled and when I relaunched the kite my lines were crossed. No big deal on a 4 line kite I can kite back to beach and fix it safely ..right? Well the wind was light and I figured I had time to pass the bar through and uncross the lines on the water. I've done it before so I knew how to do it. I unhooked my leash, passed the bar got back into the chicken loop and then realized my leash was caught in the lines. Now the wind starts to pick up and starts pulling on my lines and can't get the leash free. As I'm wrestling with it my kite relaunches and starts to loop....oh shit ! I'm pretty much instantly pulled underwater with my arms pinned. Fortunately I didn't completely freak out ( maybe a little bit ), I held my breath and was able to concentrate on getting my hands on the release and letting it go. It was probably 2 or 3 seconds but it felt like an eternity. The kite stopped looping and my leash was stuck in the lines so I was able to get the kite back and I didn't get hurt or damage or loose the kite. Thanks to Spencer for getting my board. I think he was getting ready to jump on my kite and stop the looping.

So I think the morale of the story is:
1. Don't take unnecessary risks...I could of kited back to shore with crossed lines.
2. Know you safety systems and be prepared to use them but don't underestimate how hard it is when you're being drug by a looping kite. I also think the lessons I took when I started paid off. I knew what I was suppose to do.

Happy Kiting!

Awesome is right. Lots of people pushing the envelope today. Very up and down, but when it was up...holy crap. Winter gliding skills came in handy on more than a few occasions. I learned a thing or two today as well. I was kiting back to shore with a lost board in my hand when a gust took me for a riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide. I'm betting I travelled 150 feet downwind. It ripped me out of my board and pulled me to the bushes via airmail quickly. I parked the kite at 3 o'clock on the water, grabbed some brush and hunkered down for a few minutes looking for the boards. No sight of them anywhere. So I dragged back to the launch area and grabbed another board. A very nice man got my board later on. Lesson for me? I'm not good enough to deliver boards in gusty ass conditions, especially 200 feet from shore, which I thought would be manageable. As familiar as I like to think I am with my safety systems, I should practice with my eyes shut in a washing machine a few times to make it feel more like the real thing. EPIC fricking day.

John
Thanks so much for your post. We all look up to you. You are a great Kiter. This shit can happen to anyone. I had three students out today kicking ass. Allen V, Dave P, and Jim H. All of them had a great time and got up ridding. Johns post hit home. If the kite or (fighter Jet) is trying to KILL you "EJECT EJECT EJECT!" Get rid of the kite blow the chick loop..... and if the Kite is still trying to kill you blow your leash!

And now I am going to say it, BEST DCBB DAY EVER! My guys had fun did a great job, John is alive, and from 6:30 to about 7:20 IT WAS SICK!
Steady strong wind and only me and Craig out. Biggest Jumps ever for me! Love this sport! Flying 11.5 Kahoona.
3B

John,

About what time did your kitemare occur? I think I may have witnessed it from afar (Charleston Bridge). As I was slogging along in a lull and looking toward DCBB,I noticed a kite doing multiple loops close the water before finally crashing.

Scary. I've uncrossed my lines while out in the water a few times and is no easy thing when the wind starts pulling. And then once you have the lines fixed your leash is wrapped around your bar and you can't release if you need to.

I've had a couple of kite loop situations in shallow water recently where I had to release and flag out. But I think it has to be done pretty quick and automatic if like don says the kite is trying to kill you.

It was killing me not being there but I lost my 11.5 last week and that was the size called for today. I would died trying to fly the 13.5 huh? New 11.5 on order. Now there will all be 11.5 days for the next week.

12m Warroo - It was a great time! Rode from around 10:30 till around 3:30 - so tired. Nice recovery from the kite looping John.

A few of us got some good rides in yesterday at Lindon as well. I showed up to people on 7 and 8 meter kites. Having sold my 7 a couple weeks ago, I waited patiently for a few minutes till it slowed a little and I pumped a 10. I rode the ten and my small board (129?) for a few hours before I had to leave. Great day everywhere it sounds like. Our sport rocks.

12m havoc, siiiick day, way gusty but fun...went from couldn't keep the kite up to fully trimmed in and lit. Biggest jumps I've ever tried andthe 3 biggest I've ever landed.... and a fun slam to keep me honest. sick day all told!