RickI wrote:Thanks for your input Westozzy and I think you aren't alone with cross-over injuries. Was Ian Young your kiting instructor? If so, he is a good guy from way back from the start of the sport. I recall him relating losing a finger to a kite line tangle back in the day. You are wise to pick and choose what you do and to what degree and as you say prevention really is key.
Westozzy wrote:Been at it since 2000. I would say most my complaints come from injuries sustained from competitive sport BEFORE kiting ( especially Aussie rules footy, if there is one sport to wreck your body than that's it!).
I have listened to a lot of guys tell me terrible stories re serious injuries from kitesurfing.
But touch wood I have had not one. I was trained by an X SAS soldier who was fastidious with safety almost over the top! I seemed to have taken that on board.
Check and double check gear. Know your limits and as you get older these have reluctantly become more obvious.
I also support a daily routine of core exercises. One thing footy has given me is a dickey back. Hence I strengthen the core and stretch every day and stretch every night. Even if for 10 minutes.
If I don't, which happens from time to time, you can be sure that a small ankle sprain, strained lower back or something will follow ...and it always does.
Prevention is key. Also as I get older I have had to take more and more out of my repertoire including most unhooked stuff.
But that's cool I'm glad to just get out there and enjoy myself and enjoy watching the younger crew smash it up!
Know your limits and kite forever.
Yeh it was Ian Young...damn he instructured like I was a soldier, used to freak me out. LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT RIGHT....shouting and spitting and losing it....scared me half to death. I mean I have had serious sprays from my footy coaches over the years (I was always one of those lethargic looking forward types...lol) but man he cranked it up a notch. Plus I was so shit at learning this sport, I crashed and smashed his foils and wipikas nearly to death. LOL.
That being said I still try and improve...still look at learning new stuff, with view of minimal impact...
and I will still go real big...but jumping 30 to 50 foot to me if done right is not a problem...its the hard landings at funny angles from unhooked stuff that kills me.