Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2002 10:41 pm
unfortunately I have very bad news:
German Silke Gorldt, one of the best kiteboarding ladies of the world, died today at the worldcup in Germany.
Following happend:
while doing a routine tack maneuver resp. a start from the beach the kites of Silke and another participant got tangled. Both participant were pulled towards each other. To have a better control of the dangerous situation the other kiter unhooked and flew his kite without harness. Unfortunately the both kites didn't come apart and the situation worsened. The resulting forces became to strong to control and the unhooked rider lost his bar. The bar got stuck in Silke's Line so that the second kite settled above the other. Then it began to spiral in the powerzone. Both kites developed forces that became uncontrollable. Silke was pulled over the water with high speed. She was pulled over two wooden wave-breakers and came to a halt in a fence on the beach.
When she got dragged she tried to get out of the depower loop, but couldn't get out of it.
So this should be a signal to all of us and more important to all kite producers to sell kite with quick releases only!
And for us as riders, don't go out without a quick release!
God bless Silke
exact info:
phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=1243&forum=1&5
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Toby on 2002-06-12 10:08 ]</font>
German Silke Gorldt, one of the best kiteboarding ladies of the world, died today at the worldcup in Germany.
Following happend:
while doing a routine tack maneuver resp. a start from the beach the kites of Silke and another participant got tangled. Both participant were pulled towards each other. To have a better control of the dangerous situation the other kiter unhooked and flew his kite without harness. Unfortunately the both kites didn't come apart and the situation worsened. The resulting forces became to strong to control and the unhooked rider lost his bar. The bar got stuck in Silke's Line so that the second kite settled above the other. Then it began to spiral in the powerzone. Both kites developed forces that became uncontrollable. Silke was pulled over the water with high speed. She was pulled over two wooden wave-breakers and came to a halt in a fence on the beach.
When she got dragged she tried to get out of the depower loop, but couldn't get out of it.
So this should be a signal to all of us and more important to all kite producers to sell kite with quick releases only!
And for us as riders, don't go out without a quick release!
God bless Silke
exact info:
phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=1243&forum=1&5
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Toby on 2002-06-12 10:08 ]</font>