After 2 years in the buggy (off and on) I finally had my first BIG OBE. Conditions: 18-20ish Field was bumpy, obviously recently diven on (could see
ruts), small field about 100 yards of run space.
Launched the Reactor I 4.9 without issue. Awesome kite by the way! A lot faster than any kite I have owned to date and surprisingly stable. Anywho...
Got a few fast runs (fast for the limited space) and decided to work on power slides. Was sliding pretty well. Noticed I was getting a bit too far
downwind and there was a huge tree directly downwind from me so I decided to slide one more time and then start cutting upwind. Simple enough, or so I
thought.
Started the slide, into an up turn, and right as I hit the peak of the up turn my rear tire caught a rut and mother nature decided to hit me with a
gust that Fransheska said made the trees bend. Had to be 30+... Needless to say the buggy stayed put, I did not. First thought, "LET GO!!!!" I then
realized I didn't have KKs on this kite and if I let go, the score would be tree: 1 kite: 0 (should have let go anyway) It's true what they say, ANY
kite CAN lift. Felt like I was only a few feet up, hit the ground HARD, and rolled sideways for what seemed like 5-6 secs. I'm sure it was 2-3 but
seemed longer. Grabbed the handles by the brakes, and signaled I was OK. (She looked like she had just seen a ghost)
Decided to downsize to the 2.9 when it started pouring rain. Oh well...
Fransheska kept asking, "are you sure you are ok? Are you sure????" I let her know I was fine and asked why she was so concerned. Her reply was a
question. "Do you have any idea how high you were???" No. She pointed at a tree that was probably 20 feet tall and said "Honey, you were about half
way up" :o:o:o:o:o
A little road rash, and soaking wet, but all in all, perfectly fine.
Lessons earned: ALWAYS use KKs, letting go is always better, 30+(ish) gusts are BAD with a Reactor 4.9
and YES...I was wearing a helmet!!!! (dang good thing I was!)dman - 25-8-2011 at 02:34 PM
Glad you're ok! That first snatch out can be a real eye opener. My first one happend so fast I thought I was still in the buggy:wow: Then I
realized what was really going on. Same thing, buggy hit something while I was slidding and a gust gave me a heathy punch at the same time.shehatesmyhobbies - 25-8-2011 at 04:22 PM
Welcome to the OBE club, it was bound to happen! My worse one had my left tire hitting me in the helmet! Like you, thankfully I always wear my helmet!mougl - 25-8-2011 at 04:47 PM
Woohoooo!!!
Proud card carrying member of the OBE club!
I've had small ones, but hardly mentionable. This one was crazy! Is it odd that I drove home grinning ear to ear? ripsessionkites - 26-8-2011 at 02:58 AM
glad your okay ...
here comes the Rip Daskirtz reply:
KK - NO
Seatbelt - YES
Downsize??? what happened to jumping, the OBE was your first start.
Refer to your sponsor's logo, do that. mougl - 26-8-2011 at 04:27 AM
Oh jumping is in the future for me, just not in the XR+
Don't have a seat belt for the flexi yet
:Procfighter - 26-8-2011 at 05:02 AM
THis is about the same deal I did last fall at WBB. But the Rat went over with me and landed on me hard. Weekend over and a couple weeks recovery. But
sliding is fun:bigok:snowspider - 26-8-2011 at 05:17 AM
Did I hear someone say "one more time"? Glad your ok!Kamikuza - 26-8-2011 at 06:21 AM
Glad you're ok
... you could have let go with one hand only but I know from experience that can slip your mind - remember my vid? :D
Yes, any kite can lift - I've scared myself jumping with my 3.5m Cult :oDrewculous - 26-8-2011 at 10:22 AM
:dunno:
Blade?
Lol good times! Glad ur ok bro!mougl - 26-8-2011 at 05:01 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by snowspider
Did I hear someone say "one more time"? Glad your ok!
ONE more??? LOTS more!!!
As CTB says, "If you aint crashin, you aint tryin!"stetson05 - 26-8-2011 at 05:12 PM
Just make sure if you are going to let go, you aren't too high when you do it. What I have learned is always redirect. Keep the kite above you to
help slow your fall when you are higher than you want to be.mougl - 26-8-2011 at 05:22 PM
Oh yes...my old friend, the redirect! I learned that the hard way a long time ago
The trick is to get the redirect when I'm in the superman position Looking_Up - 27-8-2011 at 07:07 PM
I find it funny that after a while u get scared pretty good and for some reason that re stokes the fire must be like living on the edge that gets the
juices flowingBigMikesKites - 28-8-2011 at 05:15 AM
2 YEARS? MY first OBE was the 2nd time I went out. I must be doing something wrongdjinnzfree - 28-8-2011 at 09:05 AM
BigMikekites... same thing for me 2nd ride bucked off! For the 3nd ride i'll put elbow padding!Powerws - 30-8-2011 at 03:56 AM
DUDE...................... Im glad your ok. I kinda know the feeling! Sure was a thrill wasn't it! I know it will happen to soon or later. ;-)
