The last days I read about so many fatalities on www.kiteforum.com

I wonder what is going on?

Unfortunately this time of the year many accidents happen. November is always a very bad month for our sport.

I assume it is due to the fall storms in the northern hemisphere.

So everyone should be warned to carefully check the forecasts, not only your normal wind forecasts, but also forecasts which give info about gusts. Check your local weather station and e.g. www.weatheronline.co.uk

They do forecasts with gusts as well.

So why endanger your life for a shitty, stormy day? Just keep in mind how many nice days you will miss if you get hurt or even die? You should come to Brazil and see how nice a kite day can be, then you would think about going out in stormy, gusty weather, and prefer to work that day to earn money for your next Brazil trip!

Please be safe and in doubt if you should go out, don’t go out!

As I’m watching TV during my work, I’m following a report about shark attacks and the probability.

The probability, as to this report, is 1 : 2.000.000.000 !!!

This means you win the lottery with 6 hits 66 times more!

So, don’t be afraid and enjoy!

PS: they just showed two kitesurfers!

I just heard about an almost accident, where something was wrong
with releasing a quick release. That was the first time the system was
used by the rider.

What’s wrong with this? I will tell you!

It is not the first story I heard about accidents or almost
accidents, where a rider has used, or tried to use the quick release
for the first time.

It is very important, that everyone uses and activates new gear you bought (even if it is used), PRIOR to your first ride.

It is also good to know that your system is working without problems.

Do
it on the beach without a kite attached and also once the kite is up in
the air (go into the water!), with lighter winds, to test it on the fly
and also under tention.

Wash your gear everytime after use with fresh water. And everytime before you launch your kite, test your quick release.

This might help you to have a longer life, so do pay attention to it, this is a serious issue.

I hope this helped someone not getting hurt.

Greets
Toby

You always learn a new lesson! Before you do something to help someone,
be smart and keep many things in mind…here is a little story.

I was at a beach and we had onshore winds. This beach is known to be
dangerous with onshore winds, if you launch or land at the dyke, not on
the beach. Since I know this, I always go to the beach, and do all from
there. But others don’t know it or just don’t care, and also don’t want
their kite to get some sand in…

I’m done with my session,
landed safe on the beach and went to the parking lot to change my
clothes. Suddenly a kite crashes into the trees…and the guy keeps the
bar in the hand, another one holds him on his back. His kites sits on
the trees, and I decided, as I do if my 5th lins gets tangled around my
kite, do take one steering line and pull the kite on that line towards
me…

I pulled, and the kite started to get power and looped away, out of my hands with lots of power and speed.

Luckily nothing happend and the guy let go of the bar into the 5th line safety.

But
I was wondering, why it happend and didn’t understand it. While driving
back home, it was in my mind, until I found the solution, what went
wrong.

When I let go of my bar with hte 5th line around my kite,
and grab a line and puill myself towards it to the kite, it is no
problem. That’s the way I do it since 2000, since this is the way the
safety worked back then, without 5 lines.

What Id din’t realize
at that ppoint, the he did not let og of the bar, he still had it in
his hands. he should have let go of it, or at least walk towards me for
the length of the kite, then all would have been fine. I should have
told him, but didn’t realize it!

Well, at least I
know and that won’t happen again, since I will just tell the guy to
activate the 5th line saefty and then get his kite out of the trees.
Much better than loosing a finger, which could have easily happen to
me…

Greets
Toby