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Originally posted by lunchbox Hey BB - I hadn't heard about your injury...what exactly happened. BTW, from my experience...I am slowly going to make the 'jump' (pun intended) to lifty kites but I will not fly them inland...it's just way to risky in my inland winds which sound a lot like yours. I am also very careful taking out even the Reactors in our North winds which are often gusty and very unpredictable in turns of speed. I think you will like the twinskins...just amazing kites but again, I will not fly those in my inland park...hell, I don't even fly hooked in inland just in case I need to release quickly. And yeah, those Blurr's can be lifty as well...Hope you get better soon!

I'll start a new thread to get away from the Reactor II thread. I was buggying with my CF II at the county field behind a grocery store. Its maybe 200 yards by a quarter mile. With the North wind I had I could only use a section with no wind shadow involving some trees. Even the best wind was dirty and mostly not enough wind to move me. Then while I'm approaching the tree shadow, I ease upwind to slow down a little and then this big gust bangs into the kite and I was instantly up out of the seat, turned in the air so my feet were pointing at the kite. Static training taught me to go to kite killers, but then I don't have any support and drop down to catch myself with my feet beside the buggy. My left ankle that was in front rolled over and I heard a pop. I went for xrays in 2 days but it didn't really show anything. I gradually got better and don't walk with a limp anymore, but I don't go down steps with my normal vigor. It would hurt bad if I twisted it again. Moral is I'm probably better off holding onto the handles and getting drug hands first instead of catching myself with my feet. This will make pads much more important. I'll wear shin high boots for many months while buggying for support. The whole thing is a downer that makes me wish I lived somewhere coastal.

Sorry to hear about the injury, thanks for letting us know. Hope you get well soon.

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The whole thing is a downer that makes me wish I lived somewhere coastal.

Amen to that...one day...my goal is to live like AJ ;-)

Feel better!

That is why I fly nasa wings. They are great in gusty inland winds.

Susan (npw goddess)

I do exactly as you said ... when I get plucked out of the bug I just hold on to the kite and try to direct it for the zenith. I usually land on my side and roll. I figure as long as I don't stick my arm out or try and land on my feet there is alot less chance for injury.

NOT RECOMMENDED AT NABX THOUGH !!!!!!

Ya, bro it depends on where you are and timing . Some times riding it out is the ticket. Sometimes it's not! i'm good for bailin', but I also kite on a beach. And if your on low tide , hard pack, it's like concrete (buggy zone). The dry stuff is light and powdery.(jump zone!) You wouldn't wanna let go over the hard pack(splat)!

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Quote: Amen to that...one day...my goal is to live like AJ ;-) Feel better!

I am living with a 14 hole plate and 13 screws in my ankle since 1996. Really did not slow me down much except for my mountain biking sponsership. Got into kites in 1999 and had a few breaks here and there. If you put in the hrs its going to happen. Been 2 yrs without a bump.(knocking on wood). opps just rembered the 6 stiches i got back in aug. from a failed harness. Just have to look past the pain and learn to launch with one leg or arm..............aj:shocked2:

Kite killers are only really useful when you are already on the ground or on the way up. if you have already been lofted it is already too late and it is always better to use the kite to soften the landing. (unless you are supermaning then you are screwed anyway) on landing, always keep your feet together and bend your knees, then roll it out.

when i get a high jump wrong when im landboarding, no matter how high i am, as long as i get my feet underneath me then, the drop and roll alwys works. ive dropped from 20ft and walked away with no injuries!!!!!

sorry to hear about the injury... give it rest and time.

what carl said ," drop and roll" it ain't just a sayin'. It's a survival tool! And impact protection is way underrated! :puzzled:

We all know I have been snatched from the bug in gusty wind. Get well soon Bob. Did we learn anything from this? please share. I know in my case that if you fly a fixed bridle in high gusty wind your taking a chance at a bad learning experience. Kitemaker, What size line length do you fly with? My Npw has a mind of its own in gusty wind it gets pretty crazy.

Well as I haven't really got to fly any nice Beach's just good old fields, some highway improvement projects etc...lol
I am still amazed at the people not using body Armour, wouldn't leave home without it.
Seriously it doesn't matter how good you think you are #@%$#! happens and good gear sure saves the skin and bones a lot more than without it.
I hit the ground not too Long ago so hard I literally tore one arm right off my 661 pro Suit. Left a little skin behind and got a new scar but it sure could have been a lot worse.
I don't allow anyone to fly my outfits with out the gear on, no exceptions.
Fly hard but play safe.

Cheers

Oh I always suit up when I fly. But #@%$#!e happens!

Preach to the believers, so they may know your wisdom

Know your kites, Respect gusty conditions. Always wear saftey gear. I have been injured more than once while kiting and even w/ gear on you can still get hurt. Fly safe and be careful and have fun!

My ankle got much better in the last few days. I'm not sure what to do to protect them other than my boots. I'm thinking the knee and elbow pads will become std. issue now (always wear a helmet in the bug) though with the plan to hang on if lofted out of the buggy.

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Originally posted by BeamerBob My ankle got much better in the last few days. I'm not sure what to do to protect them other than my boots. I'm thinking the knee and elbow pads will become std. issue now (always wear a helmet in the bug) though with the plan to hang on if lofted out of the buggy.

Ankle braces that have heel lock straps. We use them all the time on players and the work wonders on keeping you from rolling the ankle.

I should look into that then. Any idea of a thrifty source or a product name?

Bobby, what setting was the Crossfire II bridle on?
Glad you are feeling better.

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Originally posted by acampbell Bobby, what setting was the Crossfire II bridle on? Glad you are feeling better.

Buggy setting. :ticking: I think I need to tweak that knot a little further to see if I can turn it down better. I was glad to have Jan-Hendrik lay hands on it to get the lifty setting set correctly. I'm not confident that the non lifty setting is as intended yet. I'm afraid of it in gusty winds at the moment.

Thanks, I seemed to hit a plateau through the first of the week, but have been getting better since about Tuesday. I could jog now if I was easy about it.

EDIT: Important note to all you east coast guys. The wife just thinks I'm clumsy and turned my ankle on the edge of the sidewalk. No need in bringing myself a lecture everytime I load the buggy in the car. I didn't get any sympathy for my injury anyway, but the lectures would've been endless. Like my hurting ankle isn't motivation enough to be careful.

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Originally posted by BeamerBob I should look into that then. Any idea of a thrifty source or a product name?

I'll talk to our team trainer and see where we get the ones we use on the kids. I've been using one for the past couple of years for backpacking and it works wonders.

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Haha, found them on amazon Ankle Brace. I'll see if you can get them for a better price but that seems to be what I paid for mine.

HA HA HA! Bob did you really lie to your wife? If you did I can understand I never hear the end of it either. Thats just hella funny if you did. And dont worry we feel for ya.

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Originally posted by Sthrasher38 HA HA HA! Bob did you really lie to your wife? If you did I can understand I never hear the end of it either. Thats just hella funny if you did. And dont worry we feel for ya.

Yep, this is one of those deals where the truth doesn't do anyone any good. I'm a stand up honest guy but I put this in the same category as my response to "Does this shirt make me look fat?".

Meanwhile, I have the stuff loaded in the car headed to the polo field for some buggy time. With her full cooperation. I hope I haven't damaged my karma..............:puzzled:

CHILDREN! DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. Just because it doesn't do anybody any good, does not make it right. Fellow kiters what can we do to help redeem Bob? It's already posted all over the net! She will find out! Then what? We will all be implacated in this and you may never be able to kite again! Good god. We have to think about Wex here I almost forgot Does he know? It's all good BB Just messin with ya.:roll: But we do need to know if it was done on the stairs at work or at home.(just in case). Have fun today!