You are talking about Keith Kallio, he was a friend of mine. His epileptic condition, seizures and resulting death were non-kiting related. He suffered from these conditions long before he started kiting. It didn't slow him down at all though. He kited all conditions, all seasons. He was usually the last guy off the water.

I did see him take a fall once while kiting on the ice. It was a hard enough fall to shatter his helmet. He was able to kite back to home base, but he had a concussion and lost all of his short term memory of the day. He kept asking the same questions over and over again for 12 hours; that was a freaky moment. Other than that, I never saw him have a severe seizure or witness any issues while he was kiting. The seizures would happen in the early morning or just after he woke up. He didn't get them when he was active and fully engaged with something, like kiting.

Every kiter is taking a calculated risk when they choose to kite, whether they have a medical condition or not. What I learned from Keith and other people like him is don't let anyone else put their limits on you. Pick your moments and make them count.


This is a good discussion to have. Cheers, Joel

Rick & to all those who chance upon this thread:

As soon as we decide to participate in any performance related sport that involves water we must accept that we take a risk. As a skiff sailor there was no way that I could consider wearing a life jacket and so I, therefore, had to take a calculated risk in opting for a buoyancy aid, knowing that there is no floatation vest or buoyancy aid out there that would keep my head out of the water in the event of an incident, and trust me there are many ways in a which a skiff sailor can end up in the water unconscious.

While sailing a skiff there was, however, lots of advice, plenty of choice and no stigmatisim because wearing a buoyancy aid was the norm. In kite surfing, with the exception of perhaps kite schools, kiting while wearing an aid is not the norm. Indeed anyone who does is considered a kook, to be avoided at all costs.

Having searched the internet it is clear that there is a significant lack of choice when it comes to floatation aids designed specifically for kite surfing. I'm looking for for a vest that will provide me with enough floatation to keep me on the surface of the water, but which is as slim fitting as possible, easy to put on and take off, will not ride up, provides freedom of movement, is compatible with a waist harness and (whilst I am no fashionista) looks as if some care has been given to the way it looks. I accept that this will almost certainly mean that the manufacturers cannot assure me that my head will remain out of the water - fair enough, I accept that risk; indeed if I wasn't prepared to do so then I should really be looking for something else to do, such as wrapping myself up in cotton wool.

In an earlier thread i mentioned the liquid force vest - this appears to have more floatation built into the shoulders than a normal impact vest. It looks like an interesting solution, but nowhere near me stocks Liquid Force products and so I've been unable to examine it in real time. indeed locally there is no kite shop which stocks anything that I'd be prepared to wear (most of the kit is way too bulky) and, therefore, when I buy it will be via an internet purchase. However, doing so will severely limit my ability to try before I buy, so if anyone out there has some advice I will be very grateful.

Safety gear is up to the rider to choose. I am past the point of caring about appearances vs. good function in large measure. May have always been past it at some level but again that is up to the individual. I like to range around when I kite sometimes for miles along shore and miles offshore too. To do this sort of riding without appropriate flotation is idiotic to say the least. I think guys that hug the shoreline in a tight formation as if they are fearful of the ocean is an image to be avoided but again, that is up to the individual, watermanship, water/temp/local conditions and a number of other factors.

There have been a number impact vests designed specific to kiting and harness use, numerous impact vests designed for wakeboading, and still more for kayaking. Many of these myriad products are suitable for the rigors of kiting except that none that I know of will automatically float you face up (Type I PFD). You need to have neck flotation for this which adds bulk which can be problematical for kiters. There are MANY Type III both certified and non-certified vests out there that will work for kiting in short they just won't necessarily keep you alive if you suffer a grand mal seizure and even some lesser varieties. Just search for "impact vest" on here and you will find a ton used by kiters.

You are in a special case now unfortunately. When I badly tore ligaments and tendons in both wrists kiting four years ago, I was in one too and was close to being forced to give up kiting. Instead I had to dramatically change how I approached it, wear braces, etc. for a few years. Before that there was yet another time after a bad lofting related concussion and related TBI when I had to give it up for an indefinite period. This was in the early days of the sport. People in such special cases need to adapt which may mean wearing new safety aids.

Were I you, I would worry less about being thought a kook for wearing what is standard for quite a few kiters worldwide and more about preserving yourself for more kiting sessions and all the rest that life has to offer on and off the water. When you're dead, you're done, no more options, end of game. It seems a small sacrifice to continue doing something you love while working to compensate for a new limiting condition. Again, that is just my view after evaluating way too many avoidable fatalities and severe accidents over the last twelve years including a few choice ones of my own.

I agree good function over looks must be a priority for someone in my position - please do not interpret my previous post to mean anything else and if I look like a kook then so what? - that will mean that I'm kiting & not on my arse feeling sorry for myself somewhere else.

Most of the impact vests I've looked at are just that -impact vests and I would not want to rely upon them to keep me afloat (note: I accept that I will not find a vest that will keep my head out of the water, it is a risk I am happy to take, as I did while I raced skiffs) - as noted I've seen that Liquid Force have produced a vest with more floatation in it than normal, but what is it like to wear?

I had hoped that by resurecting this post some of my fellow kiters who have epilepsy & understand what I am looking for would have pitched in with some recommendations. I live in hope, because I know you're out there living full and active lves.

For now though I'll start revisiting some of the more recent posts to do with impact vests in the hope that I can find something that will help me decide what to do next.

Well enough, a number of us have been using the Neil Pryde High Hook harness for a while. It works in kiting applications including use with both seat and waist harnesses too I understand.



There are many other Type III-like and certified flotation aids out there worth a look for normal applications. I would keep looking for a Type I PFD that you might use however, there could be one out there.

I have a Coast Guard approved Liquid Force life/impact vest. It's like a regular foam life vest but with side entry. Definitely thicker than the typical impact vest, it doesn't bother me but some might find it objectionable. It's not the type that will keep your head out of the water automatically.

Thanks guys for the suggestions and I'll take a look at both of these suggestions. I hope there will now be some other suggestions from those who read this forum.