celticdoom - 28-12-2008 at 03:18 AM
Hello All,
Just wanted to give you an update on my progress.
I was doing reasonably well with my kitewing/doomwheel combo until about 6 weeks ago.
I was turning into the wind as I hit some corrugated sand.
The nose of the kite dipped slightly.
The wind caught it and pushed me to the ground.
My skates were stuck on the corrugated sand so the least line of resistance were my ankles.
I managed to get my right skate free but my left took all the force.
I hypoextended my ankle so much I think my toe touched my shin.
I tore cartilages and tendons but luckily didn't break any bones.
Six weeks on I still have a bad limp.
On reflection I think a kitwing/doomwheel combination has to have some sort of release mechanism for the boot, like a ski.
I can see how it wouldn't be necessary with a canopy kite as it is always far away from you when you ride and would never pin you to the ground in the
same way.
I think I will have to redesign my skates to include a ski boot and binding so this won't happen again. It will probably mean making a whole new set
of skates but will be worth it I think.
dylanj423 - 28-12-2008 at 10:38 AM
Sorry to hear about your accident... good luck on your recovery and new design.
lunchbox - 28-12-2008 at 11:50 AM
Hey CD,
Sorry to hear about your accident...6 weeks is a long time!
I hope you have a full recovery and there's plenty of wind on your return!
nwsurfwakeskate - 28-12-2008 at 02:12 PM
wow sorry to hear the bad news. I sprained my right foot in a similar manner wakeboarding about 2 years ago. basically tried to do a 360 but ended up
only getting half way around. landed waaay out in the flats with my back to the boat on my tow side edge. I definitely didn't touch my tows to my shin
but it certainly felt like I was close. 2 weeks on crutches and a good limp for another 3months. and i was pretty much back to normal. it was
difficult to put wakeboard bindings on for at least a year after that because of all the scar tissue in my foot. it seemed like it healed back extra
tight.
anyway I'm pretty much back to normal now. I still feel it sometimes. it was one of those things where it would have been much better for me in the
long run if i had just broken it instead of spraining it.
I guess the only advice I have is take it easy but maybe try and do some light stretching so that you don't loose too much motion in the long run. I
had to re-injure mine a few times before it felt like I had full motion back.
good luck and hope you recover soon!
Bladerunner - 29-12-2008 at 12:13 PM
:wow: I'm so sorry to hear that! :wow:
This is one of the 1st posts I can remember making on here !
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=2669 This has been my concern with doomwheels all along :ticking:
I ended up getting my 1st set of size 9 Coyotes shortly after that post and have been too happy with them ( read lazy ) to make up a set for high
speeds on dry lakes. Knowing now that extra weight isn't a big deal makes me pretty sure my doomwheels 1.0 will have bindings and ski boots !
I hate to seem like I'm one minded about Coyotes but am extremely happy with the shorter over all wheel base ! It just feels safe to me :puzzled:
I have a rod and screws in my left leg from a motorcyle accident. It's not supposed to break again but I don't want to prove it !
I hope this won't turn you away from the sport !Speedy recovery and thanks again for sharing 
doomwheels - 30-12-2008 at 12:38 AM
I once tried a hand-held wing with kiteskates (doomwheels) years ago - not a kitewing. With this wing, once you got up to speed, the wind would flow
suddenly over the back causing it to push back right in your face. This may be different than the situation you described, but could be another
indication that kiteskates may not match up so well with hand-held wings. The shorter wheel-base and agility of Coyotes could be better suited.
Doomwheels work best with a kite so that you can use the leverage of the long wheel-base and big tires against the pull of the kite. The best position
for kiteskating is shoulders forward, knees bent and leaning away from the kite. When making skates, be sure to use stiff boots that support the ankle
- no soft or shoe-type boots. It is also important to skate on hard surfaces - stay away from loose sand.
Personally, I don't recommend release bindings for those using kites. Consider what may happen it the binding were to release after hitting a bump at
high speed. Also consider what may happen to the disengaged wheel track that is now essentially 10lbs of metal rod and bolts bouncing on 2 big rubber
balls. Instead, I recommend hard-shell skate boots that come up well above the ankle - higher the better.
When using a Kitewing, however, bindings may possibly be safer - especially so in soft sand. You're the resident expert on kiteskates with Kitewing so
let us know how they work out if you do try bindings.
I wish you a speedy recovery. Hope to see you up and skating again soon.
Spartan - 3-1-2009 at 07:29 AM
Sorry to hear about your accident Celticdoom with the Kitewing, I could see how it could happen though.
Ive been busting to try the wing with my blades for a while now, but I'd like to try before I buy.
The only broblem with the Kitewing, is that you need clean wind, in other words straight off the ocean. I dont get to the beach to often, cant be
bothered with keeping an eye with the tides. I do most of my flying in grass reserves and parkland that have some small trees and short bushes
scattered around. With the Ozone kites I use, having 25m lines, are right out of the way of any turbulance at ground level that the bushes would
produce. Because the kitewing is held at ground level the wind would be gusty for it.
Speedy recovery and regards from George