This floored me. If anything ever creeped me out in the water as much as I love it it was when things growing from the bottom touched my feet. Now I know I wasn't crazy....

From thread:
The kelp is most probably what prevented him from self rescuing. A lot went wrong that day. He had kited most of the afternoon in light wind which is sometimes more demanding. He was cold and wearing a shorty and jet lagged. At one stage, he didn't make it through the kelp and tried to relaunch his kite as usual. I know that if you have your bar caught under the kelp, you need to set it free and that takes more energy. He was able to relaunch a couple of times but was probably getting more cold by then and completely fatigued.
When he freed himself to swim to shore perhaps he got more entangled in the kelp and, without the pull of the kite to assist him, became exhausted.


Also from thread:

The type of kelp under discussion can grow to 60+ feet long and is normally anchored to the seabed. It can cause serious problems several different ways:

1. Relatively minor clumps or broken off pieces can get snagged on a board, foot or bar (if fallen) and thereby precipitate an accident which could become serious.

2. Much more dangerous is getting dragged through a heavy bed of kelp. In this situation, a large amount of kelp can quickly build up on top of the chicken loop, not only preventing access to the quick release but also forcing the kiter DOWN. It does this by both the weight of the kelp and the fact that as the kiter is dragged further from where it is anchored, the tension on the lines combines with the decreasing angle of the kelp (it effectively starts at a 90 degree angle and decreases as the kiter moves further away) to force the kiter under.

3. The above effect can also occur without the kiter himself necessarily being involved with the kite. If the kiter is using a leash on their board and the board should get snagged in anchored kelp (or a bouy), the same effect can result. To minimize these types of problems, people who use a board leash should make sure that it is attached to them with some type of quick release.

4. Although it is generally not feasible to pull kelp away or cut through it (even with a knife), it is VERY EASY to CHEW through it. A fringe benefit is the feeling of getting even with it.

Thread

I just read about this sad incident on ikitesurf last night. Although I've never kitesurfed this location, it is just a few miles down the road from where I do in Malibu. Always tough to hear of these types of things, but even more so, so close to home. I did not know him but my condolescenes go out to his family. There are several places around here that have kelp and I always make sure to stay far away from them!

RIP

That's sad. RIP

Scary stuff. Canr drown on land but I have a fear of becoming paralysed and thats a real possibility. Fly safely

Quote:

Originally posted by macboy This floored me. If anything ever creeped me out in the water as much as I love it it was when things growing from the bottom touched my feet. Now I know I wasn't crazy....

If you don't like that kind of stuff you won't like kiting in Vancouver Mac'. The Seaweed at Boundry bay and Tsawassen terminal have ruined a few days for me. Only getting caught in my kite lines but a right PITA.

RIP :saint: