Ouch! My rib!

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1853 Posts XTreme Poster

Oh my ribs! kiteloop gone bad and I either busted or bruised a rib. So, those of you in the know, do the kayak life jackets, or impact vests provide the most impact protection for ribs? I wear Nitrous shorts.

Thanks,
Eric

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

do you think your spreader bar played a part?

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2100 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Sorry to hear that u hurt ur rib. Get soon well cohn!!!!!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4910 Posts Portland Unstrapped

McRib - heal up - broke a rib wearing a kayak life jacket - spreader bar impaled it - might of been worse without it but have since lost it - hated extra weight, restriction, etc

I do wear seat harness, since the injury, but still feel the lumps, tweaks 2 years later.

Feel better Eric

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

I am of the opinion that any extra padding you can get between you and the water is a good thing. Especially while learning new tricks. I used to wear an impact vest, but now I wear a life jacket since I take my jetski pretty much every where I go.

Everything is a balance however, my lifejacket is nice for crashing and if I have to self rescue, but it does limit my movement and adds some weight to my 200lb self. Also, its not really that cool looking, so it doesn't help to pick up the chicks. (Good thing I already ahve one Rolling Eyes

)

I would really recommend a helmet to everyone, but again, most of them are quite goofy looking. The helmet actually for me is nice not only for hitting my head on things, but the earflaps help with water impact. I also had a kite loop crash a few weeks back when I wasn't wearing my ear flaps, and just from getting dragged sideways through the water my ear hurt for a couple days.

The only "safety" device I wouldn't recommend is a board leash. those things cause more problems than they remedy. Right Mark? Very Happy

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

I was out there with you and saw you pull off that killer loop with a back flip!!!

When did that happen?

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

i think a spreader bar pad is sufficient and i've taken a couple of unhooked F16 to superman style face plant this year already. I guess the reason the spreader bar didn't smash into my ribs was because i was unhooked.

When learning how to do KL's this year, if i was just way to airborne or gonna come down super hot, i would just throw my feet / board in front of my body and land on my hip / backside. Got some gnarly bruises on my hip, but haven't severly hurt my knees / chest / ribs / etc yet.

mamann · Since 16 Jul 2007 76 Posts Gorge East

This is the third season in a row that I have messed up my ribs from my harness. I use the Nitrous Shorts with a pivoting hammerhead spreader bar and pad and I wear a impact vest. I keep the bar on low and tight, but when I get yarded doing front roll kiteloops(the kiteloop is unintentional), somehow my body curls up and I get the spreader bar ends jammed into my ribs. This year I actually felt my rib pop and separate from the cartlidge in the front of my chest. Massive pain, I had to call it quits immediatley, where the last two years I have been able to ride for a little while until the pain set in.

So the nitrous shorts do not prevent rib injuries, I'm sure they help, but not for me with the yarded kiteloop. The bar pad and full impact vest don't do it either. I figured the last two times this happened the vest rode up and that's why I got injured. But this time the vest was secure below my ribs and the bar end still punched through. So the culprit is the spreader bar ends, every time.

I love the harness, but I don't know what would prevent this injury than not doing what caused it(which is my plan for now) along with picking up a Dynabar V5 Freeride, as it looks like the bar pad extends past the bar ends, so it might help a little, and the more powered toeside riding with the short harness should be a big plus as well. We'll see.

At least this year I waited to hurt myself until after I got more than a solid month of kiting in. Hopefully I will be back on the water soon, but it's hard to imagine when hickups, laughing, sneezing, coughing, sleeping,... and living hurt.

I think I'll stick to strapless for a while, once I'm back on the water.

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Sucky man. Sorry to hear that. I think I was out there the day that happened if you did it at SI. Get better quick!

I have been riding with just my wet suit but I'm definitely getting an impact vest now. Especially since I'm going to be doing jumps and stuff.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1853 Posts XTreme Poster

Actually, that post is about three years old now, and I have separated my ribs many times since. Mostly ride strapless now, with only the occasional kiteloop session on a twin.

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Haha. Nice. I guess someone resurected your post. I didn't even notice.

Well someone hurt their rib out on SI earlier this week. I guess they were doing a jump and landed face down and the spreader bar got them in the ribs. I'm pretty sure he was wearing an impact vest and it still did something nasty to him. That's the event that taught me I damn well better get an impact vest if I'm going to keep this up.

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

It was Adam who messed up his rib at SI about a week ago. I haven't seen him out for a while now....

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

I did a rib about 5 weeks ago.
was using a waist harness with no impact protection.
KL gone a little hot with some body rotation.
wore the nitrous and dakine impact vest for the next month.
much better now and am finally back to a waist harness.
problem is now my knee hurts.
getting old sucks

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

Dude the mystic d3o impact vest is money!! Has saved my ass sooooo much! Doesn't absorb water, is super comfortable and seriously takes all the abuse without my ribs feeling it. Amazing stuff!! I'm in love with it, could marry it lol...
But seriously it is the best 170 bones you can spend to avoid the pain of nasty common crashes in this sport. Also helps keep the waves from smacking your chest in the ocean and knocking the wind out of ya.

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

I took a superman digger when my lines were twisted attempting my first self launch last week. Seriously painful experience. Ate sand, whiplash & my rib is very messed up. Sucks! I was wondering how my rib got so involved. Spreader bar makes sense. Sneezing & laughing is a challenge. I'm out for awhile.

Mel

G-man · Since 03 Aug 2010 1 Posts New Member

It seems that most of these injuries are coming from the harness. If anyone at Mystic, Cabrinha, Dakine and the rest of the manfacturers are listening...spend your R&D dollars on a better harness! There has to be a better way.