So 2 days ago I had my first serious injury. Winds sort of just picked up speed as I arrived to the park. Unpacked and started flying for about 10 minutes. Then as my friend had her camera pointed at me I figured I would get a nice jump shot for you guys but boy did that go wrong lol. I got lifted like 10 feet and then as I was getting pulled to 9 o'clock I guess I should have redirected but instead I kept it at 9 and I just dropped flat on both of my heels. I don't think anythings broken since I can move my toes and turn my feet but the next couple weeks are going to hurt like hell when I will be walking. I see this as a learning experience but it could have been a lot worse. If anyone has comments on the whole redirect while in the air thing hook me up!

The video will help.

Lol been there dude!

Bend you're knees next time, and land on the ball of your feet... Ive landed a jump from that high without the kite and been just fine... 10' fences suck

When I botched my first big jump, I did the same thing... Purple heel and all... Redirecting will help, but so will landing properly... The whole redirect is just keeping the kite above you, and in control... Earth is pulling you down, you want the kite to slow that process down... And in 99% of jumps, its enough to simply send the kite back (wait for the video)....

But learn to land (practice on a fence or something) that way if mother nature Throws you a cheap shot, you can recover... Gimme a sec on the vid



::edit

Here ya go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCWbIesHAnQ&feature=youtu...

I've seen that video before and the redirect is exactly what I failed to do. Isn't it possible that while redirecting you end up getting even more power and therefore getting lifted even higher? O.o that would suck lol


Oh ya and by the way there is no video. This is the last time I'm bringing a chick to take videos. When I landed the first thing that popped in my head was "Am I broken?" After I did my quick check of all body parts second question was " Sarah tell me you got that on video!" Her response was no... I'm more pissed about how she didn't get it on her camera then I am at the fact that it was a bad fall. I can learn from my mistake but it sure would have been sweet if she caught it on her phone and then I could brag about my epic fail to others :p

The redirect will PROBABLY not get you higher, and even if it does, just redirect again... eventually you will come down. And if you use the kite, you will come down much more gently than what you experienced...

ouch. the chics with the camera responsibilities, now thats pain.

the wife besides showing up late and leaving early.

"oh i had sand in my shoe" "the sun is in my eyes"

"i'm sweating" , "i had to go say, 'HEY' such a cute puppy"

"my phone rang" "oh no , i drop it in the sand"

after a while, though this is a video hungry crowd, you just go and session and have fun and forget about the whole video thing...til you get a GOPRO and do it yourself. then you realize your actually to lazy to edit the crap you have.

anyway, be careful, gravity kills . every step a reminder!

Hey Viper, being your'e the closest kiter to me I think... hope you don't jack yourself up..... So when I get healed up I can hook up and fly sometime. Be careful Dude I wasn't even kite jumpn and busted my heel. Sucks man don't do it. I'd look into ankle support braces and i hope you got a helmet, just incase. Be safe.... it aint fun 8+ wks on the outs then rehad.

speedy recovery but take it easy............you dont want plantar fasciitis out of this deal...................a padded heal riser in each shoe will help

Had to google on plantar fasciitis. Lets hope it isn't that serious.

Wow. When I saw this thread I thought I was about to see a mile long list of "told ya so's". Not a single one here. I'm not here to say it either (although I guess I just kinda did....). Just wanted to say I'm glad you're ok and even more glad you realize it could have been a lot worse. Take care with that monster and when you have it all dialled in teach me how to fly a beast like that

Lol Will do mac :p

Yeah I had to bite my tongue Mac :D

Start on a soft surface ... like the beach. Or with a smaller faster kite so you know what the redirect feels like.

Again, I can't help myself but if you REALLY want to jump on land, get a depower kite - much easier jumps! Safer too IMHO :D

I'll say it... the bigger kites are harder to redirect well, slow turning speed requires high anticipation / foresight of what the kite will do, and that only comes with experience... Easier to get at less expense by getting it wired on smaller kites first... But we know your story! E-bay the evil temptress!

I've had the purple heel too, pretty much same scenario...

Good luck there bro... Happy Healing!

And yes the only good kite video people are other kite fliers!

I see you have a smaller kite coming in. It will be easier to figure things out with it but in general Blades are something you get after you learn to fly.

It is good that you are learning but you sure could go about it easier and safer?

I am with the rest of the folks. The money you have spent could have bought you a sweet depower. Safer better jumping machine with a decent wind range.

I use my 9m Blade as an engine and it serves up real well. If I want to jump , it's almost always on an arc these days.

I appreciate the feed back guys. I look forward to the faster redirect with the 6.6

It will be faster ... and liftier. Expect to have to change your shorts