First, I think I should introduce myself. I run a small operation selling trainer kites online. When someone wants a larger kite, I encourage them to find a local retailer. I prefer to stick with the trainers. I've been watching this forum for a long time and have sent countless people this way. In other words, I may not have posted much (like any at all), but I feel that every group needs someone who sits in the corner and just watches (I know, that sounds creepy). Now my story:

I know my way around a traction kite. I don't have much experience with LEIs or depower kites. I've flown them, but not a lot. That brings me to today. About a week ago, I borrowed my friend's quiver of kites. He has a stack of Wikipas that are pretty old. Today the winds were blowing around the 15 - 20mph mark. I have a park by my house so I think, "hey, it looks nearly perfect for the 5m Wipika Classic and my mountain board. I grab the kite, the harness, the board, and a helmet and head for the grass. What could go wrong?

Mistake number 1: Well, I got the lines laid out and the kite inflated. I was ready to launch, but I realized that launching a LEI is different from launching a foil kite solo. I waited for a lull in the wind then ran to the bar.

Mistake number 2: I held onto the lines while I ran to the bar. Just before I got to the bar, a gust picked up the kite and I ended up tangled in the lines. I got myself out with some moves that would have put a yoga master to shame. Unfortunatly, now the kite was in the air, I didn't have the safety on and I didn't have control of the kite.

Just as I felt that I was gaining control, another gust came and the bar was jerked out of my hand (still no safety strap on). I took off running after the bar that was now making pretty good time across the field. I made a desperate jump and landed on the lines with my foot. I was able to reach down and grab the bar. The kite went from bouncing along the ground to flying straight up the middle of the power zone. As the kite gains power, I suddenly find myself flying through the air in a nice superman like position. Alas, my coolness was not enough to keep up with the kite. Gravity kicked in and I hit the ground with a thud. The kite went flying up as kites are known to do and I figured that I was going to need to get my truck to chase this thing down. Luckily (or not depending on how you look at it), the lines got tangled in a tree and ended up hanging over the eaves of the lee side of my neighbors house (go figure). I was able to remove the kite then went to work on the lines. About an hour and a half later, I had the lines in three very tangled messes (This was mistake number 3 but no life safety issue here).

The rest of the story get tedious, so I'll get onto the lessons here.

First, I shouldn't have been messing around with this thing without someone helping me. Even if I had someone who could hold the kite while I was getting ready I would have been better off. Ideally, I would have had someone who had experiece with LEIs or Depowers with me (sounds like a lesson - who woulda thunk it).

Second, I was foolish to take out a 5.0m kite that I wasn't familiar with in those winds. Those winds were boarderline enough to use a 3.5m foil kite with my board in grass. I have no idea what I was thinking taking out that larger kite

Third, wear a helmet. I had mine on and I didn't hit my head, but I would hate to think what could have happened.

Fourth, I have no idea why I was inside the lines. I have worked many jobs and have taken place in many sports (not to mention kiting) to put myself in such a stupid position. Really I know better than that.

Last, I was lucky that no one got hurt. I was also lucky that no property was damaged. I have a few rope burns on my fingers, but nothing serious. This could have been a bad incident due entirely to my failure to follow a few simple safety rules. No matter what our experience is, safety must be first and foremost.

Anyway, I'm glad I finally posted. I'm sure that you will hear more from me in the future.

-Mike

Welcome Mike. Glad to hear no one got hurt.

Mike the lurker no longer welcome!

:P

I lurk all the time. Half the time I'm 'virtually' here, but nobody's home.
Kind of like my brain at work.

dont be put off flying a depower by this experiance asthey are great kite. a 5m depower isnt as powerful as you would think compared size for size to a fixed bridal kite. you dont use the whole square metre of the kite unlike a fixed bridal.

oh yea

welcome

Mike, you did seem to learn all the possible lessons! And welcome to the forum as a poster. I like to wear sailing gloves while kiting. They protect the hands yet have open fingers for tedious tangles and things like that.:dunno:

Thanks for being so candid with your story. I, for one, love to learn from other people rather than the school of hard knocks!!

Let's hope you don't get on CNN. (See my other post from today.)

Welcome Mike ,glad ya didn't get hurt. Sounds like that coulda been ugly. It's really open of ya to throw that out there like that, but it could easily be the lesson someone needed to hear about rather than experience.

post more dude