Safety and Kiting

I don't like using helmets and padding -- but it's holding me back! I fly most often in pretty gentle winds and big kites on soft sand.

I go a size smaller (usually) if the sand is hard-pack, I had one really good day last summer on hard-pack oregon beaches and steady 12-15 knot wind, and towards the end of my session started sending it a bit on the blade (static jumping), ended up collecting a few bruises from bad landings and limping for a week afterwards.

If the wind is gusty and strong enough to make me worried I'll often get out my symphony 2.7 two-line and whip it around for a while to get to know the wind b4 deciding which of the bigger 4-lines to dig out of my bag, as I'll be wanting to size the kite for the gusts.

I like beamerbob's rule -- but can't help noticing the lack of a helmet in his avatar.

Safety is more about recognizing and managing the risks than about wearing the protection gear. Accidents don't happen because one thing goes wrong, there's usually a number of decisions that lead to an accident, and simply wearing gear doesn't make one immune any more than always flying gentle onshore breezes on soft sand (altho that sure does feel safe... :dunno: ). I fell one time from at least ten feet up onto soft sand and walked away from it... I reckon I've been lucky so far...

I knocked myself out a few times ice-skating as a kid, I doubt I'd try flying (never had the chance yet tho) on ice without at least a helmet.

There's a lot of mention on this thread about pros riding and flying without kit, operating very close to the limits of their safety like buggy jumping and standing next to upside-down RC helis. I know how safe that can feel -- I've set up a lot of rock climbs while not clipped to any anchors, climbed around tall ship rigging in storms without clipping in, and usually don't wear full safety gear while operating a chainsaw. But then it just takes a little thing going wrong, and I'd be toast, i know...

The older i get the more i'm aware I'm flirting with risk in that kind of situation, and the less fun the flirting gets.

When I start rolling on wheels I'll do it with padding, but not likely all the time.

Setting an example, tho -- that's a big reason to wear safety gear, but also just as big a reason to keep clear of bystanders and the like -- kids are really susceptible to that kind of role modelling. They're just as likely, tho, to follow positive role modelling...

hmmm.

good food for thought here, esp. given the lack of insurance most of us have in north america....

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Originally posted by furbowski I like beamerbob's rule -- but can't help noticing the lack of a helmet in his avatar.

Ok, you got me. In defense, the rule is for the kids. I can't trust them to make quality judgments about whether the helmet is necessary or not. (But dad, we are only jumping off of the short roof this time). This was one of those days that I was underpowered with a 7m Blurr, and had been all day. I had my helmet on earlier that day and all day the day before with the same conditions and it seems silly after hours of barely rolling around. There just wasn't anything going on that was going to yank me out of the buggy that day. I know, I should always wear one because you never know, but it was just me, and some sand and about 3-6 mph winds the whole day so I (accurately) made a judgement call. The wind certainly didn't have me on the edge of control or picking me up 20 feet in the air, but again, touche'. ;-)

I put my helmet on EVERY time I put a kite up and wish everybody did. Like the safety belt in the car it has become habit.
This way I don't have to think twice about it. Having said that. I only go full pads if I'm pushing it .

I find the hardest thing is telling a fellow kiter that he should wear a helmet. I used to carry a universal fit baseball helmet in my trunk and make anyone I was teaching wear it ( when they forgot to bring there own as aske ) . Most often the person would put it on to be polite and then take it off at 1st chance and leave it.

I quit telling people what to wear on a one to one baseis a long time ago. I don't like having then call me a jek under their breath I don't like doing the same when I see them pass on the advice.

What I find funny is BB is NOT the only one I have seen support the idea and yet have an avatar that would suggest the opposite ?

The best thing any of us can do is lead by example !

The person most looked up to in our parks is Dirtslide and I'm happy to say he is almost always fully padded!

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Originally posted by Bladerunner The person most looked up to in our parks is Dirtslide and I'm happy to say he is almost always fully padded!

He only started wearing his helmet all the time once he had the head phones installed. Now you just about have to bounce something off his helmet to get his attention.
S

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Originally posted by macboy Quote: I guess now that our snow is starting to harden up and the season is threatening to shut me out of my hopes for Bladerunner's forecasted "breakthrough" winter I better pad up and start pushing things.:singing:

Winter isn't over yet Buddy ! Don't sell yourself short ! You have all the right gear and all the basics down. It's time to throw caution to the wind!

Put on those 661's and Giro helmet for extra security and trust in your equipment !