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Rookie199
Since 11 Aug 2022
13 Posts
Oregon
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Sat Apr 20, 24 6:14 am Kitemare yesterday |
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I had a flipped kite. I was pretty sure the kite flipped. I worked trying to get lines straight. (almost impossible when flipped I know but I was also trying to get the bar it untwisted and unstuck) In the process I pushed the bar though the rope and it got stuck and I couldn't figure out how to unstuck it. after trying for a while to unstuck that I had control over the kite somewhat most of the time. I had some slack at a few times but could not get the line out of the stuck. I even looked underwater with my eyes open. Repeatably.
A long while later it came to the point where I was going to lose control the kite was twisting and I was almost out of ability to control the kite. I decided to self rescue and go for shore. I didn't waste time trying to save my bar. I didn't want the hassle of working the bar to save it and having extra lines around. I was way downwind by the a way bit before the low rocks by the locks,
I had a drysuit which worked out well. As long as I was floating on something and my arms out of the water. I was warm enough. But if I lost the kite and had nothing to float on I would be in serious trouble. I need more upper body insulation. My legs were ok with a 2mm wetsuit under the bottom half.
Thoughts and preventable things to do.
1. recognize river flow. I didn't realize the strong current.
2. My physical ability was probably a 30 minute - 1 hour session I should have not gone so far out in the water with this in mind and turned back earlier when I realized I was going downwind way too much.
4. I didn't realize going upwind would be a toll and difficult. I got tired but not extreme tired. I fell because I was working hard to go upwind and board got a edge and I went face down into the water.
5. I was working against the flow (use the wind not working against it. finding the easier way to go upwind whatever that is it can change day to day)
6. The wind direction is not away the same so doing something one day may not work on today.
7. Never let the kite go down!
8. high currents are danger because when a kite goes down more chance for something to flip and go wrong.
For self Rescue, I need to learn to use the kite as a sail while on the water. I failed and could only use it minimally to move to shore. I couldn't get it to work correctly it kept flipping around and would not catch a "c" to the shore.
_________________ Let's get some wind. |
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Sasquatch
![](images/avatars/1600822174dbf26f1023a6.jpg)
Since 09 Mar 2005
2084 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
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Sat Apr 20, 24 12:08 pm Re: Kitemare yesterday |
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Rookie199 wrote: |
Thoughts and preventable things to do.
1. recognize river flow. I didn't realize the strong current.
2. My physical ability was probably a 30 minute - 1 hour session I should have not gone so far out in the water with this in mind and turned back earlier when I realized I was going downwind way too much.
4. I didn't realize going upwind would be a toll and difficult. I got tired but not extreme tired. I fell because I was working hard to go upwind and board got a edge and I went face down into the water.
5. I was working against the flow (use the wind not working against it. finding the easier way to go upwind whatever that is it can change day to day)
6. The wind direction is not away the same so doing something one day may not work on today.
7. Never let the kite go down!
8. high currents are danger because when a kite goes down more chance for something to flip and go wrong.
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I presume that you were kiting at Stevenson or Home Valley from your post. . . "down by the locks"?
Relaunching a kite is way more difficult when wind and current are moving in the same direction (east winds on the Columbia). This is also why it was so hard to make progress upwind relative to where you launched from. The same effect is true out on the coast at some riptides when the riptide is draining out to sea as the general direction as the blowing wind.
This time of year, lots current as the snow is melting, which also means the temps of the waters are very cold in/on the Columbia.
Ditch the gear to preserve your rear. One can always replace gear.
Glad you survived and you learned a lot from your kitemare.
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1304 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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Sat Apr 20, 24 12:25 pm |
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Sasquatch nailed it. I would add that you need to immediately and always make sure that flag line can do its job, when deciding to try and clear the conditions while in the water. I have been in similar circumstance a line wrapped and the kite steered 'backward' while I body-dragged in with my surfboard tethered to a spare long leash. The critical risk to weigh was if the kite can actually depower on a release - if it can't, flag it with one of the front lines by hand and start self-rescue immediately. (As a beginner, you should lean towards that anyway, but un/fortunately we've all gained our decision matrix by getting ourselves into these situations to begin with.
Also, ALWAYS watch the kite for a hot launch, as the current can very quickly 'dial' it back into a dangerous window if you focus too closely on fixing the bar end of things.
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Singlemalt
Since 21 Jun 2015
473 Posts
White Salmon
Obsessed
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Sat Apr 20, 24 5:02 pm Hi wind self rescue |
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If the kite has done the death spiral, hitting the release may not flag the kite.
You aren’t going to get a nice neat bar wrap, you just gotta go up the lines and get hold of the center lines. Go to the kite, up the center lines and get hold of some bridle lines.
Once you have the kite, gather up the lines, best you can. Wrap the whole mess up.
Now get the bridles so the kite drags you the way you want to go.
Yesterday at Stevenson, I had a front line snap. The flag line. And the kite looped a number of turns. And I didn’t have my extra leash to leash the foil, so I had my hands full.
Thanks to Monty of Windance for taking my foil in to shore. With both hands free, it was much easier to swim up the lines, grab the bridles and motor back to the launch.
Luck was on my side and I was on the right side of the river.
So, check the gear. Extra leash for securing the board. Maybe retire that 2015 bar and lines. Dress for the swim.
Easterlies and spring currents mean it’s better to take some extra power. There is always Bobs beach to exit out if you are losing the battle to stay up wind. Stay close to the WA side until you are sure you are good to stay upwind.
I just threw that bar in the trash.
![](files/img_0187_107.jpeg) |
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IMG_0187.jpeg |
_________________ Pull the cork. |
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1304 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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Sat Apr 20, 24 8:32 pm |
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Glad to hear you're both OK!
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Rookie199
Since 11 Aug 2022
13 Posts
Oregon
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Sun Apr 21, 24 7:50 am |
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Re:Sasquatch Yes I was riding out from Stevenson. I saw Singlemalt as he was coming in and I was just Launching, probably. I saw somebody self rescuing as I was getting ready to go out.
I noticed a few things about the lines as they were stuck, First I didn't have the death spiral happening.
After I did the release and it would not go out all the way lucky I had control of the kite and was able to grab and loosen up or not really loosen somehow I got maybe some slack I suppose and pulled in and flagged the kite. And keeping the lines off me and away.
Re:Shred_da_gorge yes I had the kite go into a launch a few times, I see what you mean. And checking to be sure the kite can depower good advice.
Some more things to work on for me
1. don't go out all the way in the water right away. Be sure I'm all good for that.
2. Still be ready for a swim in the conditions.
3. I really need to learn how to self rescue with the birdie lines. Practice on dry land technique. Research and learn it. Then try it on water.
4. Practice with a mock up on land how to handle some kite line issues. What I would do next if I had a flipped kite.
5. Learn more about how the kite flys with lines twisted up. Backwards? Just not flyable?
Thanks for your feedback all of you. Yes I am glad I made it out. I was OK but that was not a good situation. Thanks to the kite to float on.
_________________ Let's get some wind. |
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1304 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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Sun Apr 21, 24 8:34 am |
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If one of the wingtips inverts you can still fly the kite, but the lines will be wrapped and it will fly lob-sided. You'll feel the friction as the lines rub (which isn't good for them), but you can maintain control enough to body-drag in. I've kited in from the Golden Gate in that situation but body dragging instead is much safer. (These days kites are less prone to this by design... unlike the 2006 Rebel I learned on 🙄).
If the line wraps the bar end, that's where things can get very dangerous quickly, often with the death-spiral as a result. That's also where your focus can be taken off the kite window - I almost lost my left ring finger in a hot launch this way. (My wife met me in the ER and immediately told the doc it was just a cheap trick to get out of wearing her ring 😆; doc had just come in from kitefoiling and we were talking about gear - only in HR she said!).
Thanks for sharing your experience and strategy. 👍
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Reaper356
![](images/avatars/62050678647f469fcd1f79.jpg)
Since 10 Dec 2006
781 Posts
Salem / LC Oregon
Opinionated
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Sun Apr 21, 24 11:56 am |
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Thanks for sharing. I'm glad it worked out!
Remember to always carry some kind of backup hook knife.i have a blunt serated dive hook knife in my board shorts. I practice pulling it every now and again.
I hog-tied both legs under the kite trying to self rescue once because of loose lines. I was a poor college student so I didn't want to cut anything... hindsight - it's just the waters way of telling you to replace your lines!
Stay safe out there!
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Nak
![](images/avatars/18617890885d439b84d2c90.jpg)
Since 19 May 2005
4238 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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Sun Apr 21, 24 11:03 pm |
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Rookie199 wrote: |
2. Still be ready for a swim in the conditions. |
This is the number one rule, above and before all others. Dress for the swim, not the ride.
This time of year the weather can deceive you. Wearing a drysuit with enough insulation for the swim is going to be uncomfortably hot while riding if it's sunny and 70. Either dress warm enough and dunk yourself a lot, or switch to a wetsuit. A few years back I was fortunate to recognize the onset of hypothermia while trying to sort a downed kite on a bluebird day. I say fortunate, because rational thought is the first thing to go. I got myself to shore and basically basked in the sun for 20 - 30 minutes to raise my body core temperature. Then I finished the downwinder and got out of the water.
Next thing about this time of year: the current can kill you if you get past Cascade Locks. I do mean that literally. If you see a kiter down and unable to self rescue, drag them to shore! A lost board/kite is nothing next to a lost life.
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Sasquatch
![](images/avatars/1600822174dbf26f1023a6.jpg)
Since 09 Mar 2005
2084 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
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Mon Apr 22, 24 7:22 am Re: Hi wind self rescue |
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Singlemalt wrote: |
Easterlies and spring currents mean it’s better to take some extra power.
I just threw that bar in the trash. |
Rigging a bigger kite is usually a double edged sword…with gusty winds one has to deal with the extra power. Not as big of an issue if one is doing a downwinder.
Singlemalt did a gust snap
Your line?
I Always repurpose my old kite string. Great for hanging tarps and gardening uses.
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Singlemalt
Since 21 Jun 2015
473 Posts
White Salmon
Obsessed
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Mon Apr 22, 24 9:41 am Snap! |
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I was so lucky. A few minutes earlier I was up by the red buoy. I was just thinking about heading in and taking a mellow downwind line towards the launch. Brought the kite around on to a port tack, eased on the power and, snap.
The line broke up by the pigtail. It was the front line and the flag line on this bar. I didn’t release the chicken loop because the kite looped a bunch of times right off the bat and I just wanted to get up the lines to the kite. Just luck again, if I’d released it would have been gone. But that’s all post game reporting.
Not having my extra leash was stupid. Trying to hold onto the foil and deal with getting up the lines was impossible. Once Monty took my board I was up to the kite and dragging in to the launch in no time. As self rescues go, this one was quick and easy. Usually, I’m all the way over on the other side. One drag back to the WA side took over an hour, in March, and the water was in the low 40’s. I’ve never been so happy about a drysuit.
My usual drill is to grab the foil, get it leashed, and then see if I can sort the kite out or if it’s a wrap. The Triton mono foil floats the board on its side, so it doesn’t take off downwind like most foils, and it doesn’t go up wind either. But it does go slowly downwind.
I should have just let go of the foil and gone to the kite. I wasn’t far from the launch, and somebody would have grabbed the board. I was dragging downwind faster than the board. But it’s hard to let go of your foil…
Thanks again to Monty of Windance! Huge help! And thanks to everybody else at Stevenson who have made it a great place to ride.
That bar was cooked, and I should have retired it long ago. In the photo there’s a bit of another LF bar, same year, with very little use on it. Check out the difference in the line colors. If your lines are faded, that’s UV degradation. I was pushing my luck.
Funny thing, as I was rigging up I was wondering how long I’ve been using this harness and spreader bar, and if I should toss it for one of my new swap meet finds. I think it’s time.
Dress for the swim! The 5/4 with hat, gloves, and booties was fine for the weather and the fairly short swim, maybe 10-15 minutes of self rescue. But a long swim and I would have been getting cold. And consider some floatation. I had a Ride Engine floatation vest on, and that really helped with staying warm and staying afloat without constant swimming.
_________________ Pull the cork. |
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OG
Since 07 Jun 2011
576 Posts
Addicted
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Mon Apr 22, 24 11:27 am |
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that is a lot of broken lines for this early in the season. glad you all are ok
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Rookie199
Since 11 Aug 2022
13 Posts
Oregon
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Thu Apr 25, 24 1:44 pm |
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Hello, sorry slow response. I got distracted with work.
Singlemalt so you got back in at Bob's beach well then if so I didn't see you and saw somebody else. Coming back in Stevenson that day.
Thanks for your story and yeah Dress for the swim is a good idea. I had a good vest on and that helped keep me warm. I was warm the whole time. I knew the whole time I had to have something to help me get back to shore. I could not swim myself out of my location.
And Yes happy I decided on the drysuit for that. Next time will need to do better tho.
That's a option I didn't consider very much. Looking back yeah that would have been a good choice just to get out at Bob's beach.
Good feedback here thanks!
_________________ Let's get some wind. |
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1304 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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Fri Apr 26, 24 12:08 pm |
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I got mild hypothermia on a long swim in (with a dislocated finger) from the bridge to the sandbar on an August day with a water temp in low 70's and air temp in the 90's... board shorts were fine otherwise (except at one point they actually fell down to my ankles while I was riding - that was the session from hell it turns out, but pretty funny in retrospect).
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JackAubrey
Since 18 Sep 2021
6 Posts
Kook
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Fri Apr 26, 24 1:08 pm |
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It's not just the ride/swim. Last summer on a hot day I had a front (non-flag) line knot slip off, causing the kite to safely flag out. Go for self-rescue, no problem. At one point my board got away and one of the schools out on a ski kindly brought it back. I managed to keep it with me after that. There was not much wind and I started about midway upwind of Wells Is, so I made gradual progress and landed at the Hook. I walked back to the Event Site - barefooted. Huge mistake and tore my feet up. In retrospect I probably should have just hitched a short ride with someone, but it wasn't that far and I was seething a bit over my experience.
_________________ JackAubrey Last edited by JackAubrey on Fri Apr 26, 24 3:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Sasquatch
![](images/avatars/1600822174dbf26f1023a6.jpg)
Since 09 Mar 2005
2084 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
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Fri Apr 26, 24 1:52 pm |
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JackAubrey wrote: | It's not just the ride/swim. Last summer on a hot day I had a front (flag) line knot slip off, causing the kite to safely flag out. Go for self-rescue, no problem. At one point my board got away and one of the schools out on a ski kindly brought it back. I managed to keep it with me after that. There was not much wind and I started about midway upwind of Wells Is, so I made gradual progress and landed at the Hook. I walked back to the Event Site - barefooted. Huge mistake and tore my feet up. In retrospect I probably should have just hitched a short ride with someone, but it wasn't that far and I was seething a bit over my experience. |
When I ride out at 3 mile, gnarlington, or Rufus, I utilize a carabiner and a hook on a pair of Chacos sandals on the back of my harness in case things go south. I also stash a $20 bill. I suppose I should do the same when I do a downwinder from Viento as well.
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