I am responding to this post as an owner of REAL in an effort to shed light on this situation. It is not my goal to engage in an online dispute but rather to let kiteforum know that safety is our number #1 priority at REAL.

In the 12 years that we have been teaching in Pamlico Sound we have rescued hundreds of kiteboarders, windsurfers, kayakers, boaters and fishermen. Many of our staff work with the local water patrol and fire departments. At any point if we are notified of an injury on the water we have a strict safety policy. 1st. We call 911 to notify the authorities and have them send the emergency services. 2nd. We launch a ski, locate the injured party and assist in the rescue.

We also have a riding map that labels the riding spots and their level of difficulty. The Planet of the Apes being marked as an advanced riding spot based on it being a mile walk upwind or down wind to the nearest beach access.

I have personally broken down 6 times at the Planet. The first time I tried to make it through the marsh to the highway. The 1/4 mile 2 hr. tromp turned out to the be the nastiest buggiest marsh that I had ever seen. I had poison ivy for 4 weeks after that break down. The 5 that followed, I walked down wind through the sound to the edge of town in Salvo.

In the case with Dr. Spike we were never notified of an injury and the staff member was misinformed as to the events of the situation. Had there been an injury reported we would have immediately sprung into our emergency protocol and assisted the authorities in the rescue. Having hiked out of the Planet numerous times, I know how nasty that can be, and I sympathize with the experience.

If anyone has any comments or would like to discuss this with me I can be reached on my direct line at 252.987.6012 or matt@realwatersports.com.

Sincerely,

Matt Nuzzo

Matt,

I would like Real to install a chairlift or zipline from Planet of the Apes to Hwy 12...........because walking ANYWHERE in there sucks.


Thanks!

I'd suggest the zip line and make sure it is higher than 24 meters at all points.
The chairlift poles would just get in the way of kiting unless they put in a tram.
Think they'd do a tram?


If they use the JH one, it's already the right color!


Seriously, Matt, thanks for coming online and responding.
(to this ridiculous thread!)

Well that's interesting. Thanks for posting

Even reading both sides of this story, I can't really figure out what happened here. What I can say is that I have seen the Real coaches give my buddy a ride back to their launch after he crashed his kite in the slick area and it popped the leading edge valve. He was walking back just fine and they didn't have to give him a ride. He didn't even ask for help. I thought that it was pretty cool that they helped him out because he was a fellow kiteboarder who was having to hoof it back to shore. I have had nothing but good experiences with Real.

is it very tidal there? ie you can ride all/ any of the time, just interested, maybe stop by there some day, prob take about 2 days flying to get there..