On 2003-01-24 11:18, Anonymous wrote:
Chris Calthorp's face injury was a tragedy - I take my hat off to him for giving it a go. He is a great rider and a good guy.
Nevertheless, Chris's riding (prior to him going to inflats) reflected the inadequacies of ram airs. Heck, if you can't match it with the inflats in terms of jumping, hangtime, stability, control, etc, let's do something radically different like setting a speed record or crossing the English Channel.
Kiting Jaws was impressive, but his website claiming it was "A world first - probably the most significant event in the new sport of kitesurfing" might have been a bit over the top. Maybe it reflects the hyperbole mindset of the ram air brigade. Anyway, because LEIs turn faster, they are much safer on waves than rams.
Chris's wipeout in setting the kite speed record might have been avoided if he used an inflatable to do it. Losing his edge precipitated the wipeout. Because LEIs fly closer to the edge of the window, it would have been easier for him to hold his edge on an inflat. In a roundabout way, the ram air might have been responsible for his facial fractures.
What a piece of crap !!!
Sorry, I don't usually speak like that, but above assumption is so utterly wrong.
For speed records, foils are the only way to go.
The only thing that could have saved him, would be that a LEI would go much slower (no record)
I prefer LEI over ARC's and Foils myself because of many reasons (Better performing in other respects, and can not collapse) - but foils are the best performing, and fastest, and safest kites, when talking speed, no doubt about it !
The further forward a kite sits in the window - the faster you can go, without losing your edge.
It's as simple as that.