There was a amazing lofting in the Great Lakes last year. It occurred during the violent weather that brought 2 ft. of lake effect snow to Buffalo in October last year. The rider was lofted about 45 ft. off the water, slammed in creating a huge explosion of water and DROWNED. Circumstances and able help on the scene conspired to bring him back to life ...

SBC Kiteboard Magazine carried an article with details about this remarkable accident in the current issue. Adam Patterson captured most of this accident in still photography, several of which appear in the article at the link below. I am working on a video supplement to this article incorporating these amazing images that should be fairly intriguing. SBC Kiteboard put this article up complete on their new website at:

http://sbckiteboard.com/instructional?news_id=151&uniqid=948

FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

Amazing this isn't a 'my condolencies to the family' story...

All the best for his recovery, and medals for Paul & Ralph

yikes...
I hope he recovers.
question: why go out in these insane conditions...if your name is not Ruben ?

Simple: don't think, just let the stoke take you.

He was revived? Talk about a lack of commitment, go all the way man

Hope the guy recovers quickly though

Wow, that's a scary story and something to think about with Fall approaching. There is also a lot of tempting Fall wind in the NE that looks a lot like the conditions in those photos!

Thanks for sharing the photo and story link.

Rick-
I was unable to link the SBC kiteboard article 2005 about weather and fronts. Any suggestions? Thx

Three guys were killed and more were hurt in the north in violent storm winds last year. It can and will happen if you allow it to happen through indifference or lack of preparation & care. Use proper weather planning and monitoring everytime you ride.

The following link will take you right to the SBC Kiteboard weather planning article at:

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=470

FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

If you think about what it can do to you, the word "tempting" shouldn't come to mind...

That's how guys get in trouble - they see weather like this and only think how fun it could be, they don't stop to listen to that little voice in the back of their head trying to tell them it's not all good...

Folks this happened last year in 2006. If you read the whole article, the guy who the accident happened to started kiting again in July 2007.

Unfortunate thing is that even with this happening and many kiters in our area knowing about it, people are still playing chicken with squall lines coming through to get 2-3 more tacks in.

A couple of weeks ago we had a very obvious squall line coming in with 5 or so riders staying out until the line was almost upon us. Fortunately this one switched off the wind and then wind picked up to over 20 mph right offshore. One guy was caught out and had to be rescued by jetski.