*** Hurricane Riding, the Real Deal ***

[ricki]

I've just received a full report of what happened. I will be working on a write up of the events and hope to put it up later on today.

In the meantime, avoid squalls and keep Kevin in your thoughts.

[Kiting cutie]

Out of request, I will not be saying much. All i can really say is that he

needs our thoughts and well wishes as he is still in the ICU. Thank you for

thinking of him

[illibilli]

I live in Lauderdale and have had so many family and friends calling me today hoping that it wasn't me or one of my sons in that video. I was on the beach about 1/2mile south when this squall hit. I was shocked at how fast it hit us...watched it on radar coming in (they said band was moving toward us at 37mph....I am sure the squall was in the 50's)) and walked down to beach to experience it firsthand (I live on beach). It was coming in faster than I bet ANYONE realized...
Our sport is somewhat controversial and when this happens and the news media gets hold of it.....well it becomes a big deal. My prayers and thoughts to Kevin and his family. We have all done some stupid stuff and got lucky without learning a hard lesson like Kevin did. I almost lost my youngest son in a winter squall incident when we first started kiting 4 years ago...I'll never forget and thank God for our 400' of beach and that the wind wasn't as hard as what Kevin hit....a miracle that my sons kite hit a tree before he hit the building.
my prayers and support to Kevin and his family.....this is so tragic and I hope he will recover and kite again..He has a story to tell and I sure hope it will do our sport some good....Safety is so huge..
I am going to practice blowing out of my leash more....I would never want to not know what to do instantly...
Kevin...may fair winds forever blow your way!!

[ricki]

A detailed summary with some analysis of this tragic accident appears

HERE


Please talk to your kiteboarding friends about this. No session is worth this kind of trauma, either personal our to our sport. We need to turn a corner on this problem, now.

[STF]

Dont even know where to start but just want friends and family of said kiteboarder to know that Chicago's Crew is pullin for him. The Vid is very hard to watch, the shit hit the fan so fast, that pretty much no one in that situition can pull the releases needed to escape that pounding quick enough.

Are best thoughts and wishes are with you.


STF

Chicago Crew

[rmurray]

The thoughts, prayers and best wishes of the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) crew are with Kevin as well. We are discussing this incident on our forum and will undoubtedly learn from this as well. Heal up, Kevin!

[agatagog]

"Kevin Kearney, the Fort Lauderdale kite-surfer tossed into a building by Tropical Storm Fay's winds, is improving and his condition will be updated from critical to serious, said Kathie Capstack, a hospital spokeswoman.
Kearney has been stabilized and is conscious, his mother said Wednesday."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weat...ry/649692.html

[ricki]

So what have we learned about going out in tropical systems? What should we look for and what should we avoid?

Maybe not kite surfing in them would be a start. But hey, to each their own.