2 windsurfers in one weekend is an absolute tragedy

[Josh Shirley]

Wear your helmet!

Jackie - Crissy Fields
http://www.iwindsurf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20028

Jeff Young - 3 mile canyon
http://www.iwindsurf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20053

[JimSouthwick]

And maybe a PFD; in that kind of wind there's no way you're going to be able to chase down your gear if you lose the handle.

[Craig Goudie]

My thoughts tend more toward reverence than reaction. Most of the Rats have seen some
pretty big conditions out at 3 Mile, though maybe not the "gusts to 70" that Jeff left in. I've
watched several of my (fairly young) friends waste away slowly with incurable cancer. It's a
blessing not to know the manner of our deaths, and, It's not tragic to die doing something you love.

What is tragic is to waste the gifts of health, life, family, and camaraderie. I believe there are
no thrills for the cautious, but balance that with some advise my Mom gave me, "death is easy
on you, but hard on those you leave behind".

So, save some adrenaline for the ride home, take a ride for Jeff and Jacqui, and pray for the peace
of those they leave behind.

I'll see you on the water,

-Craig

[JimSouthwick]

My thoughts tend more toward reverence than reaction.

Certainly reverence is an appropriate response to deaths in our sport. And I agree wholeheartedly with Craig's mother's insightful observation:

"death is easy
on you, but hard on those you leave behind".

Which is why I feel very strongly (blame it on my experience on aircraft accident investigation boards during my Vietnam-era stint as a Navy flight surgeon) that it is important for us poleboarders to discuss accidents in our sport with an eye toward prevention, just as our kiteboarding colleagues do ( www.kitemare.com/Kitemares.htm www.ikiteboarding.com/kiteboarding/arti ... ities.aspx ).

[Craig Goudie]

It's good to understand the risks you take, but I'd rather it were up to the individual how to mitigate those risks.
For me, sport is considerably less enjoyable (because I'm an adrenaline junkie) without some risk (and I'm paying
for my attitude as I age). I'm not in favor of Helmet or PFD laws. Our clan of windriders worldwide is small, and
we've all been exposed to death and injury within the community. Wear you safety gear (or don't) with full
knowledge, and understand the conditions into which you hurl yourself . In the end, intelligence is the best safety
gear you have.

-Craig

p.s. If I'm gonna Kite, my wife informs me I will be wearing a helmet. She has a more pragmatic analogy to
my Mom's advice. She says she'll survive my death, but she'll be darned if she's gonna take care of my
vegetative body for 40 years. Sage.

My thoughts tend more toward reverence than reaction.

Certainly reverence is an appropriate response to deaths in our sport. And I agree wholeheartedly with Craig's mother's insightful observation:

"death is easy
on you, but hard on those you leave behind".

Which is why I feel very strongly (blame it on my experience on aircraft accident investigation boards during my Vietnam-era stint as a Navy flight surgeon) that it is important for us poleboarders to discuss accidents in our sport with an eye toward prevention, just as our kiteboarding colleagues do ( http://www.kitemare.com/Kitemares.htm http://www.ikiteboarding.com/kiteboardi ... ities.aspx ).

[RickHeninger]

Goes to show that none of us are immune to serious risk... Jacqui was an amazing person. Sailed with her at Crissy Field once. Very bummed about that news.

[Leo Chan]

I am with Jim on this. PFD and helmet might not be the most sexiest outfit at the beach. But they can get you back home with a big smile on epic days.