I was taught that it was a "suicide leash" NOT a "safety leash" and to be used as a last resort only
wow, very entertaining! I find it amazing how people forget how dangerous and powerful our kites are..
Even the show ponies i would hope would think about their own safety and at least check the simple things like their safety before self landing in overpowered conditions..
From what I have seen it's the cocky 'experienced' kiters who put themselves in situations that can end up like this.. So what if we get a ban at Bondi? I don't believe we should be kiting there in the first place.
Most GOOD safety leashes these days come with their own built in quick release at the harness end of the leash. I think this negates the need for a knife.
If your getting death spiralled and gasping for air you want to be able to pull a quick release.... I'd probably end up stabbing myself or cutting a finger off if im trying to cut lines while getting smished..
They HAVE designed good kite leash and systems- I chose my kite (partly)because of the leash system: 5th line with below the bar clip on and swivel system- no tangles, no twists, fully flagging, easy to release to leash- and then a leash that's easy to release if it goes fully pear shaped.
The one I use is North, but there are at least 4 very similar systems I know of.
But I have used a number of kite leash systems that I was never happy with including all of the 4 line kite leash systems. You just need to choose right, and keep it maintained, and keep practiced. That is your own responsibility.
For normal kiters in normal conditions I would consider it negligent not to have a functional kite leash.
I'm a beginner and a leash that works with jumpy twisty tricks is not a major concern for me at the moment. However when it does become important, how does one upgrade? Can you just go bar shopping without needing to buy new lines and (more importantly for the wallet) a new kite? And if so, is every 4 line bar compatable with every 4 line kite?
I'm learning alot from this thread, and am interested in making sure that I've got the safest system I can use.
slave.. I'm sure you will find that the 'safety leash' is not there for your protection mainly! its for the safety of the family on the beach that does not deserve to have kite fall on their head, or the drivers on the road that would end up in an accident when your kite blows across it!
this is why you should know how to use your safety system'S', and test them regularly. That means pulling BOTH your chicken loop quick release AND your leash quick release. Also being able to identify the need to detach yourself from your leash and the safety aspects of it.
IF you can manage to achieve that then you will be as safe as you can be for both YOURSELF and all those around you.
Please don't come on the forum's where beginners lurk looking to advice advocating that leashes are dangerous killers. The BFK (thats Big f*(&ing kite) that you are attached to is the dangerous bit!
Waveslave you talk absolute nonsense !
A HUGE percentage of Sydney kiters are at a spot UPWIND of the busiest Farckin airport in the country ! Are you suggesting that they should go leashless ??????
Imagine a loose kite across the runway.......a 380 Airbus with 700 people on it.......!
My local spot is upwind of surfclub flags and crowds etc.......my favorite spot has just rocks downwind......
As someone else pointed out,a kite safety leash isn't for YOUR safety,its to prevent loose kites .
you are ssso right Wavey....I always have the erge to push her into an oncomeing bus.....for survival reasons of course!
It's all about managing the risk. As Mart said the number of times the kite may accidentally or incidentally (eg lines crossing from another kiter) get released is an order of magnitude larger than the number of times the release is used in a life threatening situation.
So you have the kite going down the beach 10 or more often times if you don't have a leash than if you do. What the person without a leash is doing is transferring all the risk to others and reducing their own risk. A person with a leash is accepting (and yes increasing the risk) of their own injury to reduce significantly the risk to others.
Mal
Think of it like... car air bags they save more lives than they take!
Wave slave?
You don't seem to care about anyone but yourself! your mentality of screw everyone else is bad for any sport you take part in.
Please I ask you to never kiter with out a leash, the reason for the "invention" of the leash was to protect lives and the future of the sport.
If your so worried about the leash and what might happen to you from being attached to the power of the kite and don't care to subject other innocent by standards to possible injury or even death....
...then don't kite!
A similar incident happen where I'm from not as bad and not even on film or published publicly but because of a privet lawsuit form the innocent by standard, has now cause a proposal to ban kiting at all provincial parks which consists of 90% of kite able beaches, the man who cause the incident was a tourist to boot.
The man who was caught on tape should be band from all kite able beaches though nothing other than peer pressure, by all kites for his reckless disregard for the kite communities right for fair access.
And blaming someone else for not landing your kite is no excuse, you are a fool and have caused a major setback for your community.
A world away...
Oh the Irony!
When every reported incident on Seabreeze is put down to a "Stupid Noob" or a "Euro Tourist". That the one incident that will be the most publicised in Australia is caused not only by a good ol home grown boy, but the ex AKSA President to boot.
Just goes to show that accidents can happen to anybody, at any time irrespective of level of experience or cultural origin. I am glad the only thing wounded this time is pride, just imagine if the kite had taken someone else out.
Licensed kite surfers, Kite police (paid by the licensing fee) and kite restrictions to specific beaches. This is one huge step down that line. So get ready for it.
Cheers
J
Differences of opinion promote debate.
Debate is fuel to creative minds.
Creative minds engineer improvements.
Don't bag someone because their opinions are extreme (or appear to be extreme).
If the manufacturers are watching, it could be that they are already thinking.
Cheers
J
Just for the record, kite surfing is officially banned at Bondi. Simple as that. Paradoxically, the lifegaurds are 100% OK with it after they take the flags down, but it's a bit like driving a car without insurance. You want to make damn sure you don't f**k up.
Last session I had at Bondi in a southerly was with Grant on a weekend avo in Dec (after 6:30p). The lifegaurds said "Knock yourselves out. What you do after we knock off is none of our business." We had a fantastic one hour session kiting in perfect 20 knots cross on shore, waves. But, even though nothing bad happened there were far to many people in the water to keep track of them all, and it did occur to me that this was a really stupid and irresponsible thing to be doing, and Grant agreed. (This latest "incident" on Bondi Rescue happened on a cold and deserted weekday.)
Grant didn't get kiting banned at Bondi. Kiting got banned at Bondi because it is clearly far too crowded. Whatever people think precipitated the decision is entirely mute.
WHAT A TOOL - THANKS FOR HELPING TO GET MY SPORT BANNED AND MORE BAD PRESS!
Why would the ex president only ever have one post on seabreeze? So he can put his limited version of events for people to see. Or is it that he runs a few persona's on the site?
It’s pretty sad this fool went kiting where he did as im all sure he knows much better. shoudln't this guy be setting a standard for other's?
THEN he says 'yeh you can have the footage of me kiting' but not crashing, what a show pony, so he can call his mummy and some idiots in the office about being on Bondi rescue. I can’t wait to see him get owned, serves the idiot right for doing something some stupid.
For someone with such a long kiting past you'd hope he would be able to land a kite all on his own and not have to ask some random, then again this guy sounds like an true idiot...
That’s my 2 cents worth...
Someone (Non Kiteboarder) just told me that they saw a clip on TV (BRescue) of a guy hitting a shop-front after being dragged across the main road...
I hope that Grant didn't get dragged across the road into a shop....Can anyone specify what actually happened compared to what is being shown on TV??
