the beach looks like this:




tons of pictures here:
http://www.torekov.nu/

think the text was missing

<img src="http://www.robotik.de/Markus.Grebenstein/images/robby3.jpg">



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Louis Cypher on 2002-08-27 11:20 ]</font>

Good to see that the master himself rides without a safety in onshore winds in front of a large crowd...............

Nice coloured kite, though.

It seems like our most skillful riders often show the greatest disregard for safety and particularly that of others. Why, because they have developed skill to such a level to where they feel that they can successfully compensate when things go wrong. Most of the time they are probably right, but not always. They have also had their share of injuries and nasty encounters to where they think they can handle it. I just got an email from a concerned kiteboarder out in the Pacific talking about problems with riders showing off too close and upwind of others. He is worried about losing access as a consequence of predictable accidents.

This is like allowing the best Formula One drivers, drive 100 mph over the speed limit and change lanes at high speed 10 times a minute in residential areas. They could probably do it successfully too, a lot of the time, but not always.

Reality is knocking, physics applies to everyone, regardless of skill. A strong onshore gust near shore will loft a champion rider as well as an intermediate rider if they permit it to happen.

Here's to leaving the land of denial, and coming out of it whole!

Rick Iossi

Well, the good thing is that a lot of pros are already riding shackled. And if they use a spinning leash system, too, in the future, it will be a great signal to other kiteboarders.
Hence, event organizers should be a lot stricter about leash use.

Yeah we have a few crazy guys around where I live.. they are all good and none of them have leashes. That was the case when they had ARX's and AERO's but now that they have X2's it may be different due to the less "inconvienient" saftey system...

The power's been cut a few times but the locals still love it... however I'm very alert when I'm kiting with them... as they are a hazard.

I think if we are honest we all like boosting jumps near a windsurfer and seeing the worried look on their face....

Didn't happen when I was windsurfing though thank God as I only windsurfed in conditions that kiters drop their nuts in and hence didn't go out....

But honestly seeing a kite go up in smoke because it's hit the power lines makes me use the saftey leash....

RUST IN PEACE

Robby needs to get to the gym or something, he's looking awfully flabby.




Just kidding!

good one, Louis!
I know exactly this situation!

Nico, you are right about safety.
Shouldn't someone like Robby promote safer kiting, wouldn't that be smart being someone making money of this sport and being an idol to many of us kiters?
He can let go but the kid tangled in the lines while the kite powers up again can't .......

Toby

BTW it was no problem for riders at the Kitesurf Trophy to use leashes, they still were able to show their fancy tricks.

Toby,

It would be good to highlight that aspect of the competition. Could you put me in touch with some of the organizers by email? They set an important precident by their requirements in this competition. The fact that they worked out and the competitors still put on a good show is worth spreading around.

Thanks,
Rick Iossi

I was there and saw both Robby, Julie and Chris ride.
Both Robby and Chris actually dropped their kites more than one time, near the beach, and as you can see there was many spectators standing at the waterline....
And many people out in the water taking photos....
I think that the security of the whole event was quite bad....
But it was a great show
//Lelle