Send Message
Weather | Buy&Sell | Forums |  |
Weather | Buy & Sell | Gallery | Forums | |
I remember my first kite in the early 2000's had a chicken loop but it didn't move, it was just hooked onto the bar. And like you said JonesySail above you certainly learnt how much power the kite can generate, you couldn't depower it at all. There was no quick release, so getting dragged along the water at 100 miles an hour was interesting when you just couldn't get your harness unhooked from the loop. Honestly don't know how we all survived the first kites made. I haven't had a go on the latest kites but they do sound a lot more user friendly and safer, but doesn't mean your invincable on them I suppose. It all relies on mother nature and what she's going to throw at you all of a sudden. I don't class kites as a total water sport I think it's half aviation as well and with air you can't see whats coming.
Think they should make all new learners spend some serious non chicken loop time and give a couple death loop scenarios just so they understand what they actually have in their hands .....!
Probably bit politically incorrect...but I don't think many new kiters understand the awesome power a kite creates, it is a great sport that compliments windsurfing on lighter to medium days.
Firstly how tragic
From a learning and behavioural theory point of view, there are some issues I would like to point out.
FRom reading all posts here and on Kite-Forum, it appears that there are a few circumstances when things happen so quickly, that no safety measure can avert.
There are 2 important points arise from this.
Firstly is prevention. There are some scenarios and circumstances, where no safety mechanism can save you, so never Kite in stiuations where a failure of safety will lead to tragic consequences. Is there enough awareness, are there cirumstances where people minimize the dangers to themselves, and are our best modelling inappropriate behaviours?? One of the most powerful learning principals is that of modelling. If experinced Kiters sail in strong onshore conditions, near powerlines, then this models and motivates the inexperienced kiters, "that this Is what I want to do". Unfortunately, Human nature and actual observations tell us people are not going to apply this principle and further tragedies will occur. EG learn from the The 1 2 3 rule as in Workplace safety. 1 Spot the Hazard. 2 Assess the Risk. 3, Make the Changes. Kiting needs to develop a similar slogan. If the most experienced Kiters Modelled this, then Maybe a few lives acn be saved. While workplace accidents still occur, there are statistically less accidents now, bec learning and behavioural priniples have been applied.
SEcondly "Safety Devices" leads to a false sense of security to believe that safety devices can save you in those circumstances where things happen too quickly. The Kiting Industry needs to get better with its marketing and advertising on what safety features can actually achieve, even if its to do with emphasising the limitations of human beings to deploy these safety measures in time. Eg. " WARNING: No human being can deploy this measure in certain circumstances" These so called "Safety Devices" can lead to a false sense of psychological security when in fact there are circumstances where no such safety actually exists. The industry needs to employ Behavioural Scientists, to help them sort this stuff out.
However, Look at Motorbikes, they have excellent breaks, suspension, tyres etc, But that doesnt stop some people riding really fast on dangerous roads and having accidents. Nothing can ever prevent this sort of thing, NOTHING!!!!
One aspect of medical science looks at preventable deaths, certainly some kiting accidents are preventable deaths. Research looks at the variables, and certainly, learning theory and beahvioural principles can inform us here.
