2nd Corey's statement. Though I'm not sure that I want "insiders" creating rules for my kiting activities either as there seems to be a fair amount
of self-serving motivation in some of the attempts to organize this kiting thing. Who should be the authority? I dunno.
In regards to the video I have to agree that the safety element was blatantly neglected. I've done video fo kiting and biking and I have never been
without my helmet. The discussion was brought up to not wear it so that people could see my face but I refused to perform without a helmet. That's
my rule and I do not budge on it.
A person in Arie's position is (whether he likes it or not) is especially required to represent every aspect of his discipline to the highest
standard. When you're top dog people will scrutinze your every move right or wrong. Unfortunately they will jump more on your wrong moves than your
right ones. So you have to run a tight program and set the best example.
We have a kiter here that has gotten a few of our local places shut down and has even been asked not to attend events because he's reckless. He's done
a pretty damn good job all around of alienating the local kiting community (small as it is) even though He's a damn good flier and has a ton of
talent. But his skills don't match his ego and that's where he gets into trouble.
A while back he did a tv spot with a reporter on here in N.H. At one point he hooked them into a kite and just let the carnage unfold. No injuries
or anything like that, just yank and drag sorta action. I think in his mind it was a good way to illustrate the power that the kites generate for the
viewers. This is a lot more of an issue to me than what I saw on Arie's vid. Sure it illustrates the power of the kite but also the poor judgement
of the "Expert" kiter. And it does it on an area that is not the safest place to kite and is very likely to be closed to kiting if an injury occurs.
You just don't screw around "Look at me! I can handle all this power!"
It's ego that will do a sport like this in.
That said there is a certain comfort level that comes with being the apex predator in your chosen activity. And with that comfort you take what would
be a risk for someone less skilled and not even pay it any mind. Perhaps this is what was going on there in the vid. I always wear a helmet but
there are rare ocassions where I will run outside real quick to throw a kite up to take a visual on a repair in light wind and forego the helmet. In
regards to Arie's putting a newb in a buggy and sending her off perhaps the wind was so crappy that he figured it was a safe bet that she wouldn't
keep the kite in the air and it wouldn't be an issue.
Not the best judgement but I've seen worse.
I look at it this way. I wasn't there and I don't know what the wind conditions were like or the circumstances of the interview so I'm not gonna pass
too much judgement. Nobody got hurt and that's gonna go a long way towards NOT putting kites in a negative light. If a reporter got smoked by a
random gust on camera things would be drastically different.
I just count this bullet dodged.
Chris Krug-Owner @ Hardwater Kiting. Authorized Dealer of Ozone, Flysurfer, HQ kites.
www.hardwaterkiter.com 603-986-2784
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