WHO IS SORRY NOW?

[JRN]

AFTER YEARS OF RANTING ABOUT SAFETY...It is my turn to eat crow, taste humble pie, plead mea culpa, and do my rendition of Patsy Cline,"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please accept my apology!" Full of wind induced exuberance, over confident in my skills, and totally lacking in judgement, I thought I could get upwind of a fellow rider who also happened to be trying to get upwind to retrieve his board. Well, you guessed it, the gust pulled his kite to windward, then lulled dropping my kite right through the middle of his lines. We were both surprised, & I felt bad for ruining his session by riding too close. After unhooking our lines, and pulling free of the tangles, we hoofed it back to Malmo. I am so thankful that he was a VERY good sport about it, & totally cool in accepting my apologies. Thanks for being such a gentleman, and forgiving another rider for his indiscretion. It also gave me alot of time to think about my actions on the drive home, and reflect about sharing the wind and water in a safe, and mindful manner. Hope more of us can be like our friend, who completely let me off the hook. JRN

[mdh01]

Sorry to hear of the mishap Jim! I noticed a different collision out there on Saturday - looked like some lines crossed leading to at least one leading edge explosion! The two involved seemed to be working out the details afterwards...

I also see a few people still self launching with lines wrapped around the bar (and aggressively trying to unwind while the kite drifts...please help our new members with the dangers this brings! Letting all the line off before drifting or asking for launch assistance is the best way to avoid a potential bad situation.

Mark

[scottman]

Yeah that was me who deflated a fellow kiters main bladder and tore his kite. I did something I almost always not do, I did not look behind me before I transitioned to back the opposite direction, If I would have looked over my shoulder I would have see him behind and I would have kept going. I tore the kite and ripped the leading edge bladder beyond repair, I apologized right away knowing this was my fault, I offered to buy him a new kite if the damage was to extensive, but we both went back to shore it was only the leading edge bladder that went and a tear. My kite was on the down swing and his was on the upswing and bam! Anyway I am going to get his kite repaired, totally at my expense, I still feel really bad about it I ruined his day. He was really nice about it and was glad nobody got hurt, he's right it could have been worse. Lesson learned, before you tack back a different direction look around and make sure your not being followed to close before you tack.

[mdh01]

Bummer! Thanks for sharing the story...excellent reminder for us all, especially when it gets crowded out there, like it was on Saturday.

Mark

[Geo]

Yesterday was great at times, but I also think it was one of the tougher days to sail up at Milly. I've taken my 9m out in mid 30 winds before and felt comfortable, but yesterday I actually came into see if my gear was working properly.

Only when I got home found that the winds were 17 gusting mid 30s at times. That can (did) lead to some off balance situations if those gusts. I counted 3 dozen cars - that's a lot of people out in one area, even for MIlly.

[nickfastswim]

I happen to witness both of those collisions over the weekend while riding.
Glad no one got hurt!

On Saturday, I myself was riding downwind of a newbie learning to fly their kite when they lost control and the kite slammed just ahead of me into my lines, knocking me off my board. A few feet closer and I would have been ether hit on the head by the kite or cut by the lines. It makes you really appreciate wearing a helmet and a wet suit in such events....

[Randy]

Jim, I love your humble post and all the great vibe it's brought out. I've always found that when I step into judgment of another, bamm, it comes back to me. Whenever I lock into being 'right' I'm humbled to find just what a silly proposition that is as I miss the next arising moment. This thread gives a compassionate look at the continual need to maximum awareness with a soft attitude for those moments when things don't go as expected. I doubt any of us feel we're above saying sorry for the times we unexpectedly got in the way. For now, sorry to all you out there who had to alter your course because I was lost from awareness to your course.

[Lebowski]

As the newbie with the exploding kite, I can't help but feel at least partially responsible for the mishap on Saturday. I was attempting to finally get up on my board when I saw scottman travelling to my right between me and the shoreline. When I was ready to dive the kite, I didn't see him tack back to the left and the rest is history.

I applaud scottman for his response to the situation as he took all the blame (unnecessary) and immediately offered to fix the kite (even before we were able to untangle!). I was petrified that I blew HIS kite or hurt him somehow, but thankfully we were both fine.

After all, this is only just "stuff" and can easily be replaced - we will be able to kite again soon... Perhaps with some more space between us next time!

[mdh01]

Great example of "Minnesota nice" and the willingness to work out some differences....I shutter to think how this would have gone down in the Gorge or a few beaches I've been at in California.....I fear more than a leading edge would have been broken...!

You each are a great part of this positive community...I hope I never collide with someone, but if I do, I hope it's someone with your same vibe! Ha!

[Barry P]

I've had a few near miss occasions too on transitioning when I was being trailed closely and was not aware of it. Reading this, I'm pledging again to look back before I execute... but I have to ask the question: Why trail another kiter less than a line length? If your a tack is a little higher and conditions are not gusty, then perhaps OK. To the kiter behind, the guy in front is obvious. To the guy in front, hopefully he's aware of the one trailing him and will make the right move, but you can never know. I was not the problem this time, but again, I'm pledging again to always look back before I turn.

Anyway... this community is just tremendous. We are blessed.

[scottman]

I have to agree we do have a great community here in Minnesota, yeah some people may have some differences at times but as a whole I don't think there is a better community out there. I feel very fortunate to call alot of you guys and gals out there my friends, it's really interesting that we all really do get along as good as we do? I don't know of any other sport where you have so many different varieties of people and job skills that when it comes time for kiting nobody wears it on there shoulders, everyone is out for the same thing and that is to just have a great safe time.

[ollie]

I agree with Barry and Scott both!
Us midwesterners are way nicer than most maybe because of the less crowded conditions or we just can't help it.
However following along behind or just downwind of another rider is a little rude! Don't get me wrong here cause I've been as guilty as anyone of doing this, (sorry Denis!) but am trying hard to stop. When we do this we are taking away their freedom to transition, jump, or slash that sweet set of waves they just found. So a little up wind or five line lengths behind would seem like a kinder way to give each other room to play. Again I'm not trying to preach, what does everybody else think on this subject?

Bryan Z