Crazy at Sulphur

[Kenny]

A kiter showed named Jerry showed up at Sulphur yesterday with a Wipika 6.5 kite. He launched and proceeded to go downwind fast. He got off the water directly downwind from the south launch on a small grassy pennisula about 200 yards downwind. He started walking (with the kite in the air) hoping to walk back to the launch spot with the kite still in the air. After about 10 minutes he started signaling that he needed assistance. We kept signaling back for him to drop his kite in the water. I didn't want to see the guy get hurt, so I rigged my kite and went downwind, landed my kite and helped him land his kite. He was so relieved and kept thanking me profusely. I asked him why he didn't self-land and he showed me his control bar. He had an old worn-out carabiner instead of a chicken loop. I asked him why he didn't buy a newer bar and he told me that he had been using the same rig at The Gorge for 4 years, but he had not kited for several years and he had put on weight. He made the same argument with Doug and Marty (I am just out of shape, but my gear is fine). Marty told me this guy was banned from the Gorge for unsafe kiting. Jerry is a nice enough guy, but he can't seem to get it through his head that his gear is totally unsafe.

Here are my thoughts:

1. If you don't know a kiter, inspect their bar, lines, and kite before giving them a launch. We all assumed that Jerry would be fine with a 6.5 kite, but we didn't check his bar.
2. If you don't have up-to-date gear, invest in yourself (hospital bills can cost a whole lot more) and get yourself a bar that is 2006 or newer. Same goes for the kite.
3. You have to be in excellent shape to kiteboard, especially when the wind was strong. Strong core muscles are key.
4. If you don't have good mental acuity, you have no business flying a large traction kite.

[Marty Lowe]

Kenny, you are to nice,
Jerry is a fricking idiot,
I will never launch him again.
PERIOD.
And I suggest the same to any one else,,,,,

(rant)