Postby ERX » Sun Jun 09, 2002 10:45 pm
hi bros in this tragic moment. its hard to read people who knew personally Silke. I see them crying. My condolences.
I`d like to add my opinion regarding safety systems although I`m absolute beginner in this sport.
Of coarse industry have not been on the right level since we are reading about all of those accidents and incidents around the world for long time. Only some companies have made certain steps to make things more secure. Most of tragedies could be avoided if quickrelise used, safety rules not ignored and so on....
But i`d like to focus Your attention also toward psychological aspects here.
All of newbies who have bought kite immediately go to try the "toy" to beach or even worse to some grassy meadow. No one of firstimers have not heard about dangers of sport and even if so ignore all of precautions (I am not exception, I cut a power on high voltage line last winter, luckily wasn't hooked in and elevated up there). That's a nature of human, we are having lessons only from our own mistakes. Lucky if not paid too high price.
Here in my local place we have just some 50 kiters but regardless of our wide, 500 km long, obstractionfree beaches people do terrible things. As long as they have not seen any accident themselves, cant realise that this lightweight peace of clothe can even kill. Every time I see rude violence of safety rules by kiters. Day before yesterday guy with a season of experience got kite rolled downwind to powerzone and launched kite right above the heads of two childs. Then some month ago another guy "surfed" over the beach and slammed kite near sunbathing family. Then "action" on some lake In April, when water was cold enough not to stay in it for long I saw absolute idiots: first one beginner launched kite in strong, straight offshore wind down to the lake, dropped it and drifted at least one hour downwind weared in shorti wetsuit. Moment afterwards next one started almost in the same place and ended up in the trees on the beach, he still tried to steer the kite. Kite bent over the branch and I shouted him get out of the harness lines but he said: its all right! Afterwards he was lifted out of the water and dropped on the ground. Somehow both, kiter and kite left in one peace.
But that wasn`t the end of the story. Some time after this, another guy finished in the same place. Windsurfers of coarse since part of them have sceptic attitude toward kitesurfing, stood and concluded: kitesurfing is stupid way of spending money and time.
Actually I can tell more crazy stories about broken foots or hands. Looks so strange that fly just some meter above the ground and five forward can brake something. It just looks so funny and innocent.
Later I spoke to one of guys who almost hanged in that lake on the tree. He wasn't idiot as a person, clever enough, just had no idea about kitesurfing and eventual danger.
In the end what I meant: kitesurfing from aside looks nice, not always extreme way of sport, attractive instead of just lazy laying on the beach. I see that those who sell kites are not interested to frighten customers. But I know from my experience, only this forum convinced me that I have to think about worst case what can happen. But not all of beginners read this.
Therefore probably some mandatory instruction have to be made by salesperson before anybody gets his first quiver and then buyer sign certain paper that have been instructed and know his responsibility like it is in parachute sport. There have to be mentioned real accidents, shown pictures with results and also mentioned sad statistics of foolish behaviour. Otherwise everyone find safety instructions in kite manuals like those for microwave owens: "Do not dry domestic animals!" Fun of coarse.......
Looks like people understand only if frightened.
Or I`m wrong?
Good Bless Silke
ERX