This is a perfect exapmle of getting the facts all mixed up, then writing a whole lot of bullshit, and using it to attack some one else.
I was there, and I saw exactly what happened, because I was the only one who had the decency to talk to and help these poor guys who had very little experience, but had heard about the Kineret, Diamond, etc, and decided to give it a try.
The main point you got wrong was it WAS NOT student and teacher it was 2 friends, one kiter (he told me he has been doing it for one year...) and the other helping him, who did not have too much idea, but at least he did what a friend will do, and held his friend from the harness so that he would not fly away (yes the wind was fucked up - something like what you said untill it got steady at around 16:00 / 16:30, then it just blasted through at about 22 - 25 - perfect
)
Anyway, the guy arrived and I had just come in from the first 15 minutes of super gusty, super annoying wind that changed from West to South West in a few minutes, and I was cursing the wind - he started talking to me, asking about the conditions, how it is to kite here, if you have to be good, etc...
I told him that you can see for yourself, tiny beach, no where to go if you get dragged downwind. NOT a place for anyone who cannot go upwind without trying. He saw the gusts, and saw that people were going in and out, changing kites, not knowing what the wind is going to give us. Finally I told him to "forget it, better not to go out than to get hurt or killed", but he started telling me how he had come from Tel Aviv, etc etc... long way... blah blah.... (as if we all live at the Kineret - I wish...)
Anyway, he made his decision, that he would try. He was using a Airblast 8.4 - he looked to be at least 80kg, and he had a friend. He says he's been kiting for about a year.... (I came to the kineret after 6 months, but I was lucky, last year there was much more space... ) Would you have stopped him from going in? Did you try?? No one at Diamond today was too interested in helping him, talking to him, or even trying to convince him that it is too dangerous.
Now the fact is this - he went in, his friend was holding him. This was a good move. He was nervous - you would be too going into such conditions the first time. After this we all went into the water, when the wind picked up and got steadier - I did not see what happened to him, but I think he packed up and called it a day.
I do agree with you on one point. That is the danger. Any beginner coming to the Kineret is VERY very dangerous, not only to himself, but especially to the other kiters and people around him.
PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE!!! People, I know it is no use wasting my energy as you Israelis think you know everything better, BUT, ASK when you come to Diamond for the frst time. ASK whenever you come. Talk to as many people as possible... and once you get into the water - GO... move... get out of the way... Either you are committed to go in, knowing that if you do not cut against the wind, you will have no choise but to sail all the way to Ceylon beach, or don't go in at all.
I think, we, the more experienced kiters, those that know the Kineret, and know what she is capable of, need to be more helpful to those who do not have as much experience. I look back on this afternoon, and I see that I too made a lot of mistakes. I should have told him a lot more about the conditions, and the whole situation... I too was impatient to go into the water.
Andi