Got some stitches today :( (Added a picture)

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

So I was at the sandbar today - really flukey winds - but some guy asked me to launch his kite - I said sure. Something went wrong and his kite went down wind of him - leading edge down - and was headed towards another kiter with his kite in the air. I chased down the runaway kite and ended up slamming my foot on a rock. I didn't think it was a big deal - I even thought about getting back on my board - but the winds were so flukey I decided to pack up and call it a day.

I got home - tried to clean the cut and saw it was a lot deeper than I thought - and there was a sh*t load of sand in it. So I went to the hospital. I got five stitches - the worst part was having them clean it out. Totally sucked having then inside my wound picking and scraping all the sand out - hurt pretty damn bad.

I am always trying to help other kiters whenever I can - but I am a little frustrated. Maybe I feel a little (just a little bit) like bandito - I get hurt helping someone else. The guy probably just rigged up his kite wrong or something.

I'm still going to try and help kiters as much as I can - I'm just going to be more cautious about putting myself at risk.

the doctor said I'll be back on the water in a couple of weeks - but said if I went out too soon I'll get it infected cus there is a lot of sh*t in the columbia river.

I'm hoping I'll be back to catch the nuclear easterlies - I got a 5M waroo that needs to be ridden!!!

And if the guy who I launched is reading this - its all good man - we all misrig our kites sometime or another.

Garret · Since 07 Sep 2006 254 Posts Portland Obsessed

Sorry you got hurt- Sad

but thanks for laying it down to help a fellow kiter. Hope it heals well--

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 264 Posts Obsessed

get well soon dude.

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

man, two weeks is a load in late august.

disclaimer: i am BY NO MEANS suggesting you disregard the advice of your physician.

understand this: medicine is a risk-vs-reward game, sort of like kiting in a way. the risks to you as a kiter for sitting on his a** while the winds go bye-bye for the season -vs- the risks of getting back into the water too early.

and the malpractice risks to the doc for suggesting that (given you are a healthy fellow with no diabetes or other history that suppresses immune function) you may well be fine kiting after 3 days clean and dry. . .maybe a little aqua-seal on top of the suture line?

you get my drift? medicine is about taking care of patients, but some solid percentage of one's thinking involves taking care of one's own malpractice concerns.

it is what it is.

thanks for helping the kiter in trouble though. maybe booties next time?

jimmi

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

So was the guy still attached to his kite when it was LE down going downwind or was it completely free of him?

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Sounds like a you gave the
guy a limp launch. His fault
though since he probably gave
you the thumbs up in a lull
or when the kite wasn't filled
with wind. <-canopy tight. Or
wasn't ready to move upwind
a bit to power up his kite. Most
likely stood there like a stump
watching the kite slide downwind.
while you chased it.

I don't chase kites. Seen too
many stubbed toes and cut
feet. Now that dude is riding
and you're not.

couple of tips:

Don't jump up to grab the kite
when catching someones kite.
The pilot should be able to fly the
kite out of your hands at launch
and into your hands when landing.
That ensures that the pilot has full
control. If things don't set up right
then the pilot should move to a better
position before launching or landing.

Don't ever try to 'save' a catch by
grabbing some other part of the kite.
Mostly goes wrong and gets ugly fast.
Let the pilot bring the kite up and
then set up again. A kite is likely to
surge forward at landing so be well
upwind of it and the move towards
it as it comes in.

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 538 Posts Oregon Addicted

yup, I just got some staples in my head after taking a fin to the head while surfing.

my advice, stay out of the columbia until its closed and water tight. i have seen to many infections turn bad from the columbia water.

go to the coast and get some salt......

Ryan

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

jbruxer · Since 24 Jul 2005 398 Posts Beaverton, OR Obsessed

terremoto, sorry to hear about your battle wound. I know how much of an ambassador to the sport you are, which makes it that much worse!

Heal up fast! Very Happy

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Thanks everyone for the well wishes! I even got a couple of PMs. One guy said I should put super glue on it and duct tape LOL!!

The guy I launched was still attached to his kite - but he was losing ground - right into another kiter. It could have been much worse - imagine the guy I launched getting dragged into the other kiter - then we could have had a dirty superman race!!!!

In a couple of weeks the ocean doesn't seem too bad of an idea, mmmm, salt!!!

Something sort of good did come out of this - I got groped by a hot nurse Thumb's Up

She gave me a tetnus shot in my ass. She told me to assume the position (bending over, hands on the bed, and then pulled down my pants). She felt around my ass for a good spot to stick the needle (I'm thinking to myself - does an ass really have parts? is any spot better than the other - its an ass). So then she stuck me, and then proceded to grope me while she put the mickey mouse band aid on my left cheek!!!

forrest · Mon Aug 27, 07 12:47 pm

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

that was pretty sweet. I'm glad you are looking on the bright side.

Nak · Tue Aug 28, 07 12:20 pm

Definitely need to be awarded a Purple Heart... Very Happy

Kudos for watching out for other kiters!

vic20owner · Since 10 Jul 2007 1 Posts New Member

part of launching means checking that the lines are going to the right places and that the guy is standing in the right position. If he's all screwed up and puts up a thumb then you put up a middle finder instead of letting go of the kite. j/k

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Aug 31, 07 9:50 am

The HR hospital has some super cool nurses. Also they have an awesome view of the river and mt. from the ER window. I had a nice visit after glissading down from tilly jane beind an empty keg of beer a couple winters ago. Fell and put my hand right on a big broken branch-- Snap--and lots of blood.

"Wow, awesome view, Mt. Adams is like...right....there....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

nielsenmartin · Since 05 Mar 2007 15 Posts HR

ahh, no pictures of the carnage?

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

It has been healing up pretty quick - so there is not much left to see. But here it is. (Maybe I should have washed my foot before I took the picture Smile

)