when Robby rides....

[Toby]

it still can be a great show if they have some more distance and use a safety....

[Guest]

Aloha
I really think its better when we all use safety leashes. Now their are systems out there where you can fully spin your bar with the leash going from the hook on the spreader bar to the center lines. It seems like the only responsible thing to do, and I for one would like to see it mandatory at all contests. Safe kiting and good winds
Laurel Eastman

[Guest]

I was there as well. The wind was steady 8 m/s and the show was incredible by Robby and Chris. They were in full control.

I agree that leaches should be mandatory in competitions to protect the spectators (and competitors) that sometime don't recognise the danger of a falling powered up kite.

[Toby]

I'm in full control all the time as well, at least I think I am.

Following situation happend:

very light winds with a X2 12, was just able to keep height in these conditions.
Nothing to worry about.
I wanted to land my kite, had an assistant at the beach.
I was standing close to stones, the kite was on the way down, very controlled.
Suddenly a guy hit one of my lines with his kite (distance is your friend....)
and my kite stalled. Immediately I released my quick release and luckily the kite fall all the way down and didn't get any power.
But if and I wouln'd have pulled the release, I would have been smashed on the stones. And if I wouldn'T have a leash maybe my assistant or nyone else standing close or far away would have been tangled or hit by the runaaway kite and bar.

I had full control.....

It is not always about you but about others who don't have control.

Toby

[Louis Cypher]

Hi Toby,

that's a really good posting in my eyes. Only few from the good skilled guys talk about sitautions like that! And exactly those situations are the reason why i wear a helmet (and i'm not a thin nereved guy, believe me)! Imagine you would have hit the stones (nico an i saw a guy on silvaplana ripin the rocks on his brest and backbone 10m downwind at warpspeed 2weeks ago; could have been another sad case of death!). It's only luck wether you get injured on your head or not in such a situation. And there are so many idiots on the water which could involve you in accidents.

I think taking a helmet or not is just a matter of image at the moment. If even some good guys take one nearly everyone would buy one. No, you don't notice it if it's on your head and a good one.

At lake como i think at least 1/3 of the guys (even the skilled ones) wear a helmet. I think we could learn from those.

Take care,

Louis

[BLOWN AWAY]

Yeah one of the most dangerous situations when using an inflatable is when the wind lulls or goes really light and the kite either hindenburgs or stalls... especially at a crowded beach in mid summer....

ALLWAYS USE A SAFTEY LEASH

BLOWN AWAY