Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:27 am Posts: 1326 Location: Ford Lake, Michigan
Sorry for being mean you loco4viento, but I'm just basing my numbers on how much I was quoted for the absolute cheapest boat I could find to follow me across lake Michigan. If I could do it for $100 I would have already done the crossing.
I could not get anyone in a rowboat with an outboard motor to follow me.
ps I was thinking minimum $2,000 to get a chase boat to cross the red sea but I was thinking how cheap gasoline in the middle east must be so I changed it to $2,000 to $1,000
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:49 am Posts: 1590 Location: scott klandl burlington, VT
1: Glad the guy survived
2. No, he was not prepared
If he was prepared he would have:
a.had a boat with him
b.if he did not have a boat with him, one or two would have been on call at the shore to assist if needed
c. a regularly updated sattelite tracking and communication device (bare minimum)
d.Checked in with SAR to check compatibility (as a last resort, NOT A FIRST RESORT)
I wouldn't even cross my lake at 10miles across without an assistant boat. WIND DIES, SHIT BREAKS, TENDONS tear.
It boggles my mind that anyone can actually support this idea that hitting the "save me" button is an acceptable plan. That's no plan. Anyone who has spent time as an avid backcountry adventurist, anyone whose fished offshore, anyone whose worked search and rescue; ALL will tell you (AND HAVE TOLD YOU) that his was not an acceptable plan.
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:52 am Posts: 1065 Location: Thailand
"While preparing to cross the Straights of Formosa, the Chinese say they offered him a support boat, but legend decided to go it alone and snuck out a day in advance of his scheduled departure." In those times, going unassisted was considered a feat and the mark of the brave. Nowadays, when being fully insured against whatever could happen is seen as a mark of "progress", the same is seen as an act of foolishness. Isn't it strange that those crazy (suicidal in many respects!) wingsuit jumpers don't receive nearly the same sort of criticism as the Polish rider got here. As far as I am concerned: hats off to Janek
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:27 am Posts: 1326 Location: Ford Lake, Michigan
alexrider wrote:
those times, going unassisted was considered a feat and the mark of the brave. Nowadays, when being fully insured against whatever could happen is seen as a mark of "progress", the same is seen as an act of foolishness
So true. It's that man vs nature tradition. Climbing Mount Everest without O's and Sherpas is still considered a mark of bravery.
Kiteboarding tho is considered more a sport. Crossing an ocean without support to most people is not so much challenging nature as challenging Darwin.
And I think I agree. The heroic age ended when Robert Falcon Scott froze to death on the Ross Ice Shelf. He was a hero then. But if someone did the same thing today he would just be a fool.
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 12:07 pm Posts: 18 Location: Poland
loco4viento wrote:
You seem to be so convinced that his approach was reasonable, that even subsequent ventures resulting in harm or death to rescuers aren't enough to open your mind to the possibility that something more could or should be done to optimize his safety and decrease risk exposure to helpful strangers.
Pure speculation and abuse of my words. I have never said or suggested what's mentioned above ( underlined ). Moreover, none of that happened.
I would also like to ask other commenters from around the world to restrain a little from trying to risk assess Jan's attempt before he can actually speak for himself and give us his own assessment on what happened. Our knowledge in the matter is limited.
I make sure that I know how to get to the airport and I let my embassy know where I live and work, so that if the shit really hits the fan they know where to send the marines to find me.
If Jan was an American few minutes after the first SOS Bruce Willis would be carrying him out with one hand while shooting at sharks and terrorists with the other winking to some big tited blonds at the same time. The Saudis would wake up in the morning to news that someone invaded their country on some cool looking boats shot up same bad guys and left. Shock and owe. Poor Polish don't have any imagination.
I would also like to ask other commenters from around the world to restrain a little from trying to risk assess Jan's attempt before he can actually speak for himself and give us his own assessment on what happened. Our knowledge in the matter is limited.
Dude. I am no expert in crossing seas on a kite or any other vessel, I do not work for the health and safety executive and nor am I trained in risk assessment. I am a good kitesurfer and I have a reasonable IQ. Therefore I feel confident in my statement that what this idiot did was reckless and stupid, regardless of what his story is. I don't wish ill on any man but if they hadn't managed to rescue him then at least it may have prevented someone else (or Jan) from trying this again.
Maybe next time we will be able to nominate him for a Darwin award.
Isn't it strange that those crazy (suicidal in many respects!) wingsuit jumpers don't receive nearly the same sort of criticism as the Polish rider got here.
When was the last time a wingsuit jumper got stuck in middle of the red sea keeping several vessels and a heli busy for days? That being said: Watch this and see how fast the safety boat is there for help. It's called preparation.
Besides, just pointing at other foolish acts doesn't make this one any better. One thing Jan achieved for sure is publicity.
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