A "Real" Shame

Kamikuza · **Posted:** Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:57 pm

Sounds like they missed a good opportunity for some positive promotion...

Busdriver · **Joined:** Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:21 am **Posts:** 26

The negative of positive publicity is then you get the potential of having to bail everybody out of trouble. Kiters as a group do a great job overall of looking out for each other but at the end of the day you need to take responsibility for your own actions. The Real Shame is bad mouthing Real publicly for your bad judgement.

vbnhatty · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:09 am

drspike wrote:

True story, no distortion, judgement. I will leave that to you all to consider. My friend paid for a 3 night stay at Waterman's retreat. (Not cheap) I realize that this does not entitle you to the world, but when he had a BAD crash at Planet of the Apes, we kited back to Real and asked for assistance. He could not kite out, was able to walk/move all limbs, kite down/lines tangled. Ths spot is about the worst on the island. You CANNOT, and I tried, to walk out to road. Neck deep black mud awaits, snakes, killer mosquitoes.
Long story short. REAL said, "We can't send a jetski (all he needed) due to insurance reasons." It was a 10 min jetski ride to him. I mentioned he was a guest there, had the red band to launch and land there. I get liability. I get it. STILL, somewhere, HUMANITY, DECENCY, a kiter's code to help in times of distress, and this truly was, has to take priority. I pleaded with them to make an exception in this case to no avail. I reminded them that he was not just any kiter but a paying guest of the resort. No was all I heard.
I spent alot of money there over the years. I won't anymore. The vibe, the business...it just makes me sick.
My friend got out. It was not easy. It could have been ALOT worse.

Are you retarded or just helpless? Why should they help your friend they are not a life saving company. Not that he even needed it. People break down on that run a lot and they dont cry for help. Man up next time instead of crying online. If you need someone to hold you and your crews hand when you kite, then just hire someone.

MCMario · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:42 am **Posts:** 76

I know this situation sucked but if REAL had to rescue every kiters in trouble they'd be doing it full time and it's just not their responsabilities. I have stayed at REAL many times and I'm always amazed how Matt and Trip will go out of they way to make our stay the most memorable experience in OBX.
When kiting in the slick or the ocean you have to think that you're on your own and need to have a backup plan or else you could be in serious trouble.
BTW I'm glad to hear that nobody got hurt.
Mario

mauijim · **Joined:** Mon May 10, 2010 9:07 am **Posts:** 5

dude your friend had a bad crash...this is a perfect scenario for a lawsuit if he was injured. who knows, he could have broken his neck and not even know it.

I've heard bad stories about Real but I've gotten some really good deals from them, free shipping, no issues. Shipping is fast, service professional. no pushy sales but maybe cuz i don't ask newbie questions.

stop your bitching. if i don't like them, i'll shop somewhere else or stay somewhere else or launch somewhere else. and if my friend really needed a ride, i'd rent a jetski and not tell them it was for a rescue, i'd go real slow though, the bumpy ride might make a broken neck worse :lol:

drspike · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2011 2:42 pm **Posts:** 32

1st. clarification - 2/3 kiters continued journey after crash. Attempted to rent jetski from other sources. Had 4 hrs of sunlight after crash. Attempted to walk IN to downed kiter. Not out. Attempted twice at Real for assistance.. Once initially, second after other failed attempts.

Ive done the run about 20+ times, I know what is out there. In retro I do wish he had regained form and gotten out immediatly. Would have made world easier. But that did not happen. I wasnt about to give up on him. I wasn't whining. I was worried.

Listening to you all I conclude two things. It was silly to ask for help from them. I OPENLY apologize for that ridiculous assumption. I wouldn't want a fine retailer who gives great deals on kite gear to get sued. (Its funny how people who themselves sue are worried about such things more than others)

TWO...anyone of you very brave people that can write things like "man up" on an internet forum, I applaud your mettle. Next time, I'll kite with you because you apparently have all the answers and bravado to boot.

POACHER · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:16 pm

It's the internet dude..........every doucher in the world's chance to say shit they wouldn't to your face.

Yeah your deal sucked no doubt, but some of the opposing viewpoints ARE valid. They (Real) can't fish people out of the slicks all day long. I'm on the fence with their resolution because I can't imagine trying to walk out UNINJURED. Yet I see their reasoning too.

However, practicing unhooked kiteloops while your in the middle of nowhere isn't the best idea either. (I know you didn't mention what your friend was doing, I'm just giving an example) I ride very reserved when I know help is not within arm's reach. Unassisted downwinders are all for playing it safe. Not just for your personal safety, but thrashing your gear. I don't go down to Hatteras to nature walk and Planet O' Apes is the last place I would roll the dice.

Not that it matters, but how did your friend get hurt?

How injured was he in the end?

frankm1960 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:48 pm **Posts:** 1217

drspike wrote:

1st. clarification - 2/3 kiters continued journey after crash. Attempted to rent jetski from other sources. Had 4 hrs of sunlight after crash. Attempted to walk IN to downed kiter. Not out. Attempted twice at Real for assistance.. Once initially, second after other failed attempts.

Ive done the run about 20+ times, I know what is out there. In retro I do wish he had regained form and gotten out immediatly. Would have made world easier. But that did not happen. I wasnt about to give up on him. I wasn't whining. I was worried.

Listening to you all I conclude two things. It was silly to ask for help from them. I OPENLY apologize for that ridiculous assumption. I wouldn't want a fine retailer who gives great deals on kite gear to get sued. (Its funny how people who themselves sue are worried about such things more than others)

TWO...anyone of you very brave people that can write things like "man up" on an internet forum, I applaud your mettle. Next time, I'll kite with you because you apparently have all the answers and bravado to boot.

It wasn't silly of you to ask for help... it never hurts to ask... but IMO REAL doesn't have to take the plunge for your buddy... I think his buds should've taken the plunge in this case.

You both left your bud there and finished the down winder. He could've wound up his lines, retrieved his kite and had one of you tow him down wind to a nicer beach possibly. Probably lots of other options as well. It's easier to self rescue if you don't have to go up wind.

I don't see this as a situation requiring a rescue by a 3rd party. Would have been nice but I think if it was me I would've taken my punishment for making a mistake and self rescued.

All due respects to you and your bud.... but I'm with REAL on this one.

Keep in mind you did ask for opinions

edt · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:02 pm

Mr_Weetabix wrote:

you should have told the guys at Real that the downed kiter was a girl

So true.

BWD · **Joined:** Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:37 am **Posts:** 1825

Been to OBX quite a few times.
Planet of the Apes is like a backcountry ski run.
Takes extra commitment of time, risk and possibly money.
Never ridden it.
Why? Butter is butter.
The slick is slick enough for me.
Usually only there 2 to 4 days, and I feel like every windy day needs to be used.
Don't want to risk spending half a day tiring myself out trudging around in mud.
Do you have a a lot of time and/or a support vessel? Different story, go for it.
Or save it for the last day of your trip, in case you get too exhausted, hurt or damage gear.
Also, in case anyone hasn't figured this out yet, the run is actually several miles from Real, though you could keep riding until you got to Real.
So it's asking a lot to have them go out there for a non-emergency.

A "Real" Shame

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