My accident...
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wes
Nov 18, 2009, 1:36:50 PM11/18/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
All,
Just a note to let the group know I had a serious accident while
kiting last week at Dauphin Island, Alabama, resulting in a broken
left femur just below the ball joint to my hip. An excellent
orthopedic traumatologist was able to save the joint (there was
concern that a hip replacement might be needed), and I'm expected to
fully recover. I'll be off my leg for 90 days though. It happened
when I tried to execute a turn too close to the beach and the next
thing I remember I was slamming down hard into the sand at the water's
edge (I'm guessing I brought the kite to 12 too fast and got lofted).
Luckily I was able to get the attention of a couple walking down the
mostly deserted beach and was rescued in an emergency SUV to a waiting
ambulance. Of course at least 1 decision could have avoided this...not
approaching the beach too close at my skill level. I also should
NEVER have launched along such a deserted stretch of beach by myself,
and was very lucky someone heard my call for help. My dear wife flew
down and stayed at my side until we drove back early this week. After
a lot of thought, I've decided to give up this wonderful sport. I wish
all of you safe kiting!
Wes
Just a note to let the group know I had a serious accident while
kiting last week at Dauphin Island, Alabama, resulting in a broken
left femur just below the ball joint to my hip. An excellent
orthopedic traumatologist was able to save the joint (there was
concern that a hip replacement might be needed), and I'm expected to
fully recover. I'll be off my leg for 90 days though. It happened
when I tried to execute a turn too close to the beach and the next
thing I remember I was slamming down hard into the sand at the water's
edge (I'm guessing I brought the kite to 12 too fast and got lofted).
Luckily I was able to get the attention of a couple walking down the
mostly deserted beach and was rescued in an emergency SUV to a waiting
ambulance. Of course at least 1 decision could have avoided this...not
approaching the beach too close at my skill level. I also should
NEVER have launched along such a deserted stretch of beach by myself,
and was very lucky someone heard my call for help. My dear wife flew
down and stayed at my side until we drove back early this week. After
a lot of thought, I've decided to give up this wonderful sport. I wish
all of you safe kiting!
Wes
Chris Mihill
Nov 18, 2009, 5:08:08 PM11/18/09
to windf...@googlegroups.com
Wes,
Sorry to hear about your accident. However, I'm glad it wasn't worse (Head injury for example). Yes serious accidents are the downside to kiting, especially early on in the learning curb. If, next year, you still the miss being on the water, I'll gladly teach you how to windsurf. Serious injuries are rare if ever, and with plenty of accessible launches, you'll greatly expand your time on the water.
CM
BTW, If you're so inclined, keep the weather forecasts coming! --- On Wed, 11/18/09, wes <wes.br...@noaa.gov> wrote: |
wes
Nov 18, 2009, 5:54:05 PM11/18/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
Thanks Chris. I LOVED being on the water and feeling the wind so much
that I suspect windsurfing may be next, and will likely take you up on
your offer.
I'll gladly continue to be a resource for local wind forecasts for the
group.
On Nov 18, 4:08 pm, Chris Mihill <cmih...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Wes,
>
> Sorry to hear about your accident. However, I'm glad it wasn't worse (Head injury for example). Yes serious accidents are the downside to kiting, especially early on in the learning curb. If, next year, you still the miss being on the water, I'll gladly teach you how to windsurf. Serious injuries are rare if ever, and with plenty of accessible launches, you'll greatly expand your time on the water.
>
> CM
>
> BTW, If you're so inclined, keep the weather forecasts coming!
>
> --- On Wed, 11/18/09, wes <wes.brown...@noaa.gov> wrote:
that I suspect windsurfing may be next, and will likely take you up on
your offer.
I'll gladly continue to be a resource for local wind forecasts for the
group.
On Nov 18, 4:08 pm, Chris Mihill <cmih...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Wes,
>
> Sorry to hear about your accident. However, I'm glad it wasn't worse (Head injury for example). Yes serious accidents are the downside to kiting, especially early on in the learning curb. If, next year, you still the miss being on the water, I'll gladly teach you how to windsurf. Serious injuries are rare if ever, and with plenty of accessible launches, you'll greatly expand your time on the water.
>
> CM
>
> BTW, If you're so inclined, keep the weather forecasts coming!
>
Hossfeld, Tim W
Nov 18, 2009, 6:43:24 PM11/18/09
to windf...@googlegroups.com
Hey wes I hope you consider changing your mind...I don't think kiteboarding is any more dangerous than other sports such as motorcycles, mountain biking, snowboarding, ect. You can get hurt doing just about anything! Respect your position though, getting hurt is never fun. And as I age I question the effect on my wife and daughter if I got hurt or worse.
Tim
Tim Hossfeld
Boeing - Phantom Works
314-233-5692 (desk)
314-422-5560 (cell)
314-545-6083 (ste)
tim.w.h...@boeing.com
Tim
Tim Hossfeld
Boeing - Phantom Works
314-233-5692 (desk)
314-422-5560 (cell)
314-545-6083 (ste)
tim.w.h...@boeing.com
wes
Nov 19, 2009, 8:47:29 AM11/19/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
Tim,
Believe me, I really would love to continue kiteboarding, but I have
to consider the consequences of another injury not only to me but to
my family, coworkers, etc. I am convinced that kiteboarding can be
done relatively safely by those who are much better than I at not only
recognizing risk, but properly reacting to it. There were many times I
accepted significant risks (stupidly and needlessly) so I could
squeeze out every moment possible on the board. It's a beautiful sport
and I'd highly encourage anyone interested to pursue it with a
certified instructor.
By the way, this is the sixth broken bone I've managed to inflict on
my clumsy self...all in separate incidents :) ! This may say
something about my level of risk-aversion.
Wes
On Nov 18, 5:43 pm, "Hossfeld, Tim W" <tim.w.hossf...@boeing.com>
wrote:
> > Wes- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Believe me, I really would love to continue kiteboarding, but I have
to consider the consequences of another injury not only to me but to
my family, coworkers, etc. I am convinced that kiteboarding can be
done relatively safely by those who are much better than I at not only
recognizing risk, but properly reacting to it. There were many times I
accepted significant risks (stupidly and needlessly) so I could
squeeze out every moment possible on the board. It's a beautiful sport
and I'd highly encourage anyone interested to pursue it with a
certified instructor.
By the way, this is the sixth broken bone I've managed to inflict on
my clumsy self...all in separate incidents :) ! This may say
something about my level of risk-aversion.
Wes
On Nov 18, 5:43 pm, "Hossfeld, Tim W" <tim.w.hossf...@boeing.com>
wrote:
> Hey wes I hope you consider changing your mind...I don't think kiteboarding is any more dangerous than other sports such as motorcycles, mountain biking, snowboarding, ect. You can get hurt doing just about anything! Respect your position though, getting hurt is never fun. And as I age I question the effect on my wife and daughter if I got hurt or worse.
>
> Tim
> Tim Hossfeld
> Boeing - Phantom Works
> 314-233-5692 (desk)
> 314-422-5560 (cell)
> 314-545-6083 (ste)
> tim.w.hossf...@boeing.com
>
> Tim
> Tim Hossfeld
> Boeing - Phantom Works
> 314-233-5692 (desk)
> 314-422-5560 (cell)
> 314-545-6083 (ste)
>
> - Show quoted text -
Marcos Vidal
Nov 19, 2009, 9:55:27 AM11/19/09
to windsurf group
Hi guys,
Everybody has kitemares. I almost kill myself when launching at Creve Coeur lake on a very strong gusty day, but left the beach without any injury. I did never again kited on that gusty lake. I prefer to windsurf when the wind is strong and gusty.
We all made mistakes, it's just a matter of luck the price you pay for such mistakes. There are pro kiters who were fighting for the word title and are now on wheelchairs so it's not a matter on how good you are. But it's an extreme sport and it's good that some people want to take risks; look at this recent article and video from the BBC: "Two kite surfers jump over pier".
Amazing jumps!
Marcos Vidal
Richard Hunter
Nov 19, 2009, 11:07:04 AM11/19/09
to windf...@googlegroups.com
Wes,
I am considering retiring from kiting for safety reasons. In my opinion, the sport is particularly risky when one is a beginner and then, perhaps even riskier, when one does not practice it regularly, as is now the case for me. Presumably bones get brittler with age, so that should also be another consideration.
I would imagine most permanently crippled athletes or those with chronic pain regret having partaken in the sport that injured him or her.
That said, I believe sports that require the combination of strength, aerobic intensity, coordination, and balance are usually very risky, but greatly benefit individuals as they age, assuming they avoid permanent injury. Unfortuately luck probably plays the biggest role in avoiding injury in these types of sports.
|
Richard Hunter
Nov 19, 2009, 11:18:34 AM11/19/09
to windf...@googlegroups.com
Marcos,
I had noticed that you were no longer joining me in kiting a while back, when it was just you and me with kites. That's the first time I heard of your kitemare. What happened specifically?
Having only kited Carlyle, Creve Coeur two or three times, and the Gorge, I can say I have had too many close calls to count, including ones away from shore. I believe the sport is much riskier than we let ourselves believe. |
|
|
|
Chris Mihill
Nov 19, 2009, 11:38:30 AM11/19/09
to windf...@googlegroups.com
The human body has 206 bones.
You have a way to go Wes.
CM |
Richard Hunter
Nov 19, 2009, 11:57:18 AM11/19/09
to windf...@googlegroups.com
Bones break falling down stairs, falling on ice, auto accidents and on and on. Wes, you'll have to explain the other five to convince us the broken bones were due to machismo. :-)
Let me start. As you may recall from a previous post by me, I broke my left fibula at the Gorge windsurfing a 3.8 sail one year ago Aug 30. No other broken bones before then, so 205 bones to go for me.
Rich
|
wakeb...@gmail.com
Nov 19, 2009, 12:58:45 PM11/19/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
Wes,
Very sorry to hear about your accident, but as other said, great to
hear it wasn't a head injury and your OK. Wish you luck lots of fun
in perhaps picking up windsurfing.
-Dave from Boulder
Very sorry to hear about your accident, but as other said, great to
hear it wasn't a head injury and your OK. Wish you luck lots of fun
in perhaps picking up windsurfing.
-Dave from Boulder
wes
Nov 19, 2009, 3:35:33 PM11/19/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
Thanks Dave for the kind words, and yes Chris, I suspect the list will
be longer before I finally die, but I hope to put that off for a long,
long time. With regard to the other 5 broken bones, I'd prescribe
none of them to machismo, but rather clumsiness, impatience, or just
plain stupidity :( !
1. Fell out of a tree ( compound fractue of the right arm)
2. Bicycle crash ( right collar bone)
3. Fall after an ice storm in Dallas (left collar bone)
4. Slipped on some oil while filling my ski boat up with gas
(fracture of the left arm)
5. Crash on a snowboard (fracture of the right arm...same bone as in
1, but different place)
Wes
On Nov 19, 11:58 am, "wakeb0a...@gmail.com" <wakeb0a...@gmail.com>
wrote:
be longer before I finally die, but I hope to put that off for a long,
long time. With regard to the other 5 broken bones, I'd prescribe
none of them to machismo, but rather clumsiness, impatience, or just
plain stupidity :( !
1. Fell out of a tree ( compound fractue of the right arm)
2. Bicycle crash ( right collar bone)
3. Fall after an ice storm in Dallas (left collar bone)
4. Slipped on some oil while filling my ski boat up with gas
(fracture of the left arm)
5. Crash on a snowboard (fracture of the right arm...same bone as in
1, but different place)
Wes
On Nov 19, 11:58 am, "wakeb0a...@gmail.com" <wakeb0a...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Juan
Nov 20, 2009, 4:33:42 PM11/20/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
Wes, i'm sorry to hear about your accident. It seems reasonable to
assume that the wet sand at the shore, very compact, much more so than
dry sand on the beach had a lot to do with the magnitude of what
happened. If the sand is fine and the slope is low it's very hard
(very easy to wak on). It also looks like you have a propensity to
break bones; however, at the same time i don't want to minimize the
risks of kitesurfing. Even though i have not windsurfed before, in my
opinion kitesurfing is more fun but significantly more risky; from
several points of view. I'll miss you kitesurfing; however, i can
understand your situation and in your place i would probably do the
same.
Juan
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
assume that the wet sand at the shore, very compact, much more so than
dry sand on the beach had a lot to do with the magnitude of what
happened. If the sand is fine and the slope is low it's very hard
(very easy to wak on). It also looks like you have a propensity to
break bones; however, at the same time i don't want to minimize the
risks of kitesurfing. Even though i have not windsurfed before, in my
opinion kitesurfing is more fun but significantly more risky; from
several points of view. I'll miss you kitesurfing; however, i can
understand your situation and in your place i would probably do the
same.
Juan
J.D. Herdlick
Dec 4, 2009, 2:24:56 PM12/4/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
Hey Wes,
Diana told me about your accident the other day, and I've been meaning
to write you. I'm really sorry this horrible accident happened to you.
Crap can happen very fast, and it really isn't the safest sport out
there, not by a longshot. That said, I'm back in Argentina, and can't
wait for more windy days (2/7 so far!) When I get back to STL in April/
May, I'd like to take you out wakeboarding with me. That's a safer
ride than kiteboarding, and has the added benefit of helping you get
your basic board skills down if you ever decided to resume with the
kite. ;)
Peace, J.D.
Diana told me about your accident the other day, and I've been meaning
to write you. I'm really sorry this horrible accident happened to you.
Crap can happen very fast, and it really isn't the safest sport out
there, not by a longshot. That said, I'm back in Argentina, and can't
wait for more windy days (2/7 so far!) When I get back to STL in April/
May, I'd like to take you out wakeboarding with me. That's a safer
ride than kiteboarding, and has the added benefit of helping you get
your basic board skills down if you ever decided to resume with the
kite. ;)
Peace, J.D.
wes
Dec 5, 2009, 8:23:32 AM12/5/09
to Wind Fun St. Louis
J.D.
Hope you have some great kiting sessions down where it's summer! I
look forward to getting together when you return this spring.
Wes
Hope you have some great kiting sessions down where it's summer! I
look forward to getting together when you return this spring.
Wes
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