This is what Beany got to say about it:
For a kiteloop like that I need plenty of height. As I‘m riding very short lines the kite‘s radius of action is proportionally reduced and I can‘t send back the kite as fast as one would do it on longer lines. On top of that my take-off wouldn‘t be as clean. Therefore I've got to look out for gusts to get that extra lift.
Kite Beach on Maui is not known for being the spot with the most constant wind. The wind blows side-offshore here and because we wanted to have the jetty as a background for photos and videos, I had to kite especially far into the gusty wind area.
As I said, I definitely need the gusts, but this one was too extreme. The bar simply got ripped out of my grip. If this happens, then most of the time during initializing the loop, which is the most powered situation, and not while being lifted.
Everything‘s happening pretty fast and therefore you don‘t get some sort of notice or realize a bad omen. It just suddenly happens and then everything is all quiet. I‘m flying with the wind, therefore I don‘t hear it, and the water is quiet as well.
As one can see I‘m getting pulled into a rotation because the leash is attached to the back of the harness - something I lovingly named „roll forward“.
I try to use the momentum and to estimate where and how high above the water I am. If I‘m able to cushion the crash, I‘ll of course try to do that by landing legs first and tumble correctly, as seen in the clip. Else, I wrap my arms tightly around my chest to protect the ribs, tense up abs and pecs and breath out all air.
So far I was spared from great harm and - knock on wood - I‘d like to keep it that way. Except for a few burst alveoli and a little blood no harm done.
https://vimeo.com/49444164
