Mitch's Accident at Rush June 23

[stokes]

I know that I am not the best person to deliver this message but Mitch had a very serious accident at Rush this evening.

Stokes

[stevemayer]

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. Utah has suffered more than its share of kiting accidents.

We will keep memories of Mitch's epic sessions locked into our head forever.

I am sure more details will follow from others that were out there today. We have recieved non-stop phone calls at the shop and will let others post what happened.

Cloud 9 Kite Shop

[Mark Johnson]

I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. I hope that it is not to serious. Our thoughts are with you Mitch.

[PeterFlex]

I was there and witnessed the accident.

Spencer Reguidel and his friend Nate were also there. Nate and I are new to the sport and just learning.

I was just dragging my kite in when Mitch decided to go out. There was a storm visible off in the distance and Mitch was hesitant to ride. He was on the water for 10 or 15 minutes riding without any appearant trouble when a microburst from the front of the storm lofted him and brought him down hard repeatedly. After about the second or third loft he was appearantly unconcious and we signaled to the police who happened to be parked on the beach observing our kiting to call for an ambulance and to chase down him and his kite in their truck.

Mitch was quickly dragged down the the far (north) end of the lake. Spencer and Nate were in the process of bringing in the kite Nate was learning on as this happened. I was holding down the gear and Spencer and Nate went after the police truck in Mitch's van. He had been dragged a few hundred yards onto shore before the police were able to get to him and cut his lines.

When the paramedics arrived he was still breathing but had a very weak pulse. They could tell he had suffered severe internal damage and as they attempted to stabilize him his breathing stopped. After CPR and every effort by the paramedics it was evident that Life had left his body.

I had only met Mitch once before today and I could tell that he was a warm and awesome guy. My regards and condolences to all of his family, friends and fellow kiters.

[Spencer R]

Account of Rush Accident
Spencer Regiudel
435-640-6505
spencer@ibigroup.com

My deepest sympathy goes out to Mitch's family and friends and all his kiteboarding friends in the community. It really hurst me to post this news of what happened. I really didn't want to but Jake thought that it would be a good idea, to give the community some idea of what happened. Sorry if my words are a bit messed up, I a little shaken up right now, but I'll try to relate what I have seen. I hope that I don't offend anyone with this.

Jake Buzianas, Spencer (me), Nate (a friend I was training today) and Peter (a beginner kiteboarder), went out to Rush today around 1:30 or 2pm. The wind was light but picked up enough for Jake to ride his 15M on his wakesurf. Jake road 30-45 min session. Peter road his 13 or 15m, but not quite enough wind, he came in. I went out at about 2:45pm on a 13M and road for about 20-30 minute session fairly powered. A local police truck arrived about 3pm. Mitch arrived right behind them, by himself. I came in from riding about 5 minutes later. Mitch setup his kite, I had a talk with the Police, they said that they just came down to watch us ride for a bit. Jake was packing his kites up and was headed out. Before Jake left, he talked to me and apparently Mitch, about a microburst that may be hitting soon and to watch out. I have riden there along with Jake, Mitch and many of you during these microbursts, and during the bad ones I have always had to dump the kite before it really hits.
The Wind was relatively steady and I think that Mitch had his 15m slingshot i think which seemed about right for the wind. About 3:10 or so Mitch had his gear setup, he was really pumped to ride. I launch him. He went off riding having a good time. I then went, and set me friend Nate up, for a launch on my 12m. This was about 5-10 minutes later. I setup my friend Nate and the wind really started to pickup, he wasn't getting teabaged yet, but there was a lot of upward force. He road for only about 1 minute, and got teabagged in hops of 5-10 feet high, due to a lot more wind and lack of experience. I then looked behind me at the front that had been pushing in from the south. We had seen some lighting and the rain but, it was probably about 15 to 20 miles off. I then saw the dust start to pick up to the south. I knew that the microburst was going to hit in a few minutes, as I had seen this happen several times before. I told Nate to release his kite which he did. I went over and collected the kite in the water about 200 feet from shore. I had noticed Mitch still riding upwind of us and the main launch point, several times. He had his kite low, but seemed to be managing it well. The dust was starting to fly at this point. Mitch was maybe a couple hundred yards upwind (south) of me. I'm not sure if he ever saw the microburst coming. I start waving and yelling franticly and point behind him, to look, I'm not sure if he saw me. He was probably about 200 feet off shore, but he went for another pass to the east. I turned my attention back to my kite and my friend and was walking it into shore and back up to him. That's when the gusts really started to hit. Harder than I have ever felt there. I was running through the water and passed my kite off to Nate, I looked over my shoulder and knew Mitch was in trouble. He was massively overpowered, nearer to the east side of rush about the same north south as the launch area. I saw his kite at 12 noon and thought that he was going to release at this point. He was lofted seconds later, probably 50-75 ft maybe more and flew about 200-300 ft. He was really picking up speed, but seemed in control, as he was flying the kite down. He had already lost his board. He hit the water moving at about 40 mph, i would guess. His kite was still straight up and I thought that he would release at this point. his hands were still on the bar. He got lofted a second time bigger the second time and faster. He flew it down again, but he was moving really fast. He hit and I think that he was knock out at that point, his head didn't come up. His kite went down low on the water and was pulling him very slow, I thought that I could make it too him, so i started to run swim through the water. I had only made it about 100 feet when his kite launch again and he was lofted several times to the north north east. I knew that the only chance was the Police on the shore, who I think were not sure if he was in trouble or not. I yelled and signaled at Peter who was on the shore and at the Police, Peter yelled and signaled them to head down wind. They took off immediately. Nate and I raced for shore where we dumped all the gear with Peter on the down wind of my truck for some protection He had to jump on it to hold it all down wind. The wind was blasting at this time. Nate and I hopped in Mitches Van and headed after the police down the lake frontage dirt road. When we arrive the police had cut his lines and had called in EMT's, Lifeflight, everything. The police had Nate and I fill out reports. I won't relate any specific details at this point, other that I know that he was not conscious after that second major loft. The accident occurred approx. 3:30pm give or take. About 5-10 minutes after we arrived at the accident site the first EMT arrived and started to work on Mitch. I helped where I could. Nate headed back to get Peter. Over the next 20 minutes about 7-10 emergency vehicles arrived and also Life flight (who were called off as they just arrived). They all worked on him for 1/2 hour or more. It really hurts to relate this, and I wish I would not have been there, or could have done something more to help him. Mitch passed away.

Mitch seemed to me to always have the most energy, the most stoke out there. He always made me laugh when I saw him flying out there just on the edge of control. Mitch was a great guy and helped me several times with my gear and suggestion with kiting. I was always impressed with him helping his friends and teaching them. Even though I only new him in the kite world, I along with many of us will miss him.

-Spencer

[Mark Johnson]

http://www.users.qwest.net/~jmark40/mitch/MITCH.JPG

[Emmanuel Pons]

http://www.users.qwest.net/~jmark40/mitch/MITCH.JPG

Thank you for the picture! I never met him but that is what I'll remember when people will talk about Mitch. A big smile up in the air!

My best wishes to his family

[Marty Lowe]

My condolences to Mitch's wife Chris and his family.

I'm going to miss this "Friendliest of Souls"

-Marty

[Kenny]

My sympathy goes out to his family. Mitch always had the most stoke and excitement for the sport. The stronger the wind the more Mitch liked it. I remember several times leaving because the wind was too strong and Mitch was going out on the water. I rarely kited at the same time as Mitch because he loves a 5 meter and I love a 20, but we both love the sport. I sure am going to miss the guy.

Spencer thank you for sharing the report. Thank you (Spencer and Nate) for chasing after Mitch and doing every thing in your power to help him. It makes me glad to be able to kite with people that really care about one another.

When I read the report every kitemare that I experienced went through my mind. It is a reminder of how fragile our lives are and how you can be riding along having a good time and then BAM everything goes completely crazy. You definitely have to respect mother nature.

I can't help but think what could have been done to prevent this tragedy. Mitch is very experienced and he knows how to read the water and to look upwind frequently. The last time I saw Mitch, we talked about his control bar. He had an old bar with a non-releaseable chicken loop. He told me that he was thinking about getting a new bar. I wonder if he was not able to get out of the chicken loop today.

Mitch worked as a roofer. Is his family provided for? I don't know any members of his family.

I am sobered by what happened today. We all lost a friend and fellow wind fanatic. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

[mike rossberg]

My deepest regards go out Mitch, his family, and close friends. Mitch was the king of STOKE!! I just rode with him last Thursday. It hasn't really sunk in yet. Mitch loved to be powered and flying. He went out doing what we all love to do. We will miss you Mitch.

[Mark Johnson]

My deepest sypathys go out to to all the family and friends of Mitch. He was a very kind person and will be missed by many.

I had just talked to Mitch about his setup. The snapshakle he and Tim had was faulty. A couple weeks earlier Tim was using my kite when a gust hit and I yelled to him to realease the kite. He had pulled the shackle and it did release but the end of the shackle has a nub on it that the ckicken loop held tight on even when fully released. I caught Tim as he was being pulled to shore and it took both of us to get the loop to release. I want to let anyone know that uses a snapshackle like this that they need to be aware of this flaw.

[ricki]

I am very sorry to hear of Mitch's accident. My sincere regrets go out to his family and friends.

Microbursts are really bad and it can be hard to come out of them without serious injury if you have a kite up. I think I was hit by one five years ago and it almost took me out and easly could have if things had been a bit different.

The windspeeds that Bursts can generate can cause catastrophic lofting. Such loftings are more rare than the less spectacular variety. There are lessor loftings/dragging in smaller gusts that can cause severe injury. We need to be aware of and watchout for unstable, excessively gusty wind in general. Know your local weather, what to look for in forecasts, radar, realtime wind records, etc. and while you are out on the water.

Ideas about general precautions at:
http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=776

http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=579

http://fksa.org/viewforum.php?f=25

FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

[paulquilter]

I did not know Mitch but he sounds like a great guy and my deepest regrets go out to his family. What a tragedy.

PQ

[MikE mAy]

my deepest condolances and sympathies go out to his family as well. i'm extreemely green with kiteboarding, but have had friends and colleagues pass away doing the sports they love. it is never easy to watch something like this happen to someone you love and respect in the sport community. something great that i have seen come out of this though, is the collection of the respective sporting community to help provide for the family who undoubedly supported mitch in his love for kiteboarding. has anyone set up a trust or anything to help generate some funds if needed? i've got some connections at Zions that will help set this up. let me know if this needed and i will jump on it asap.

MM

[faceshot]

We will miss you buddy. All those epic days at the Bird and the Gorge.