Five
 

San Andres, Colombia
Colorado, USA
Mauritius
California, USA
Hindeloopen, Holland

All have reportedly had fatal accidents in roughly one month.

The season is just getting started and we are giving up quite a few riders.

Some happened in light conditions with others in stronger conditions along with other factors. Information is still coming in on some of these sad accidents and accounts are yet to be prepared.

One thing is for sure, we can't always get away with poor practice. We never have been able to, only some of us thought we could is all. We aren't getting away with much these days looking at the accidents.

Use your head, kiteboard safely, responsibly and use reasonable safety gear (helmet, impact vest, knives, etc..). One of these days, KOOKS may be the only ones that DON'T use it.

Get back to basics ... use distance, weather planning & monitoring, proper kite & launch selection and all the rest that goes into safe, sustainable kiteboarding.

If you think none of this applies to you, think again. Denial and lack of suitable appreciation of hazards has long taken a serious toll on some kiterboarders.

Some ideas along these lines that are worth considering and discussing appear at:

http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=478

Information has been received that indicates the fatality in Benicia, CA actually involved a long time windsurfer and not a kiteboarder as apparently misreported by the media.