Kiteboarding accident

I would like to share  my little story with the deep hope to prevent similar things from happening to anybody.

I had an accident last weekend that was caused by overconfidence, disobeying basic safety rules and wrong judgment of risks. I never had any serious accident since I started kiteboarding over 10 years ago. Now I realize that this was a rather unfortunate condition, which resulted in a lack of risk awareness in my case. That is why I would like to share the story and hope that it might prevent others from a similar experience.

It was a rather light wind - last Sunday - and I planned to use the 12 m kite. However the wind was too weak so I exchanged the kite with my 17m kite. After inflating the big kite I realized that the wind picked up again, but it was still doable with the 17m. At this part of the beach there were mostly windsurfer and just one other kiter. The beach here was rather narrow and next to the local outdoor pool that was closed during this season. Most kiters were further up the beach. I should have been there too.

I had to fix the kite at the beach for self launch. Once I connected my harness to the kite I was suddenly pulled towards the fence of the pool.  Before I noticed what happened the kite had already pulled me over the fence of the outdoor pool. I was dragged over a sun roof behind the fence, landed hard on the concrete floor and was pulled into the pool, luckily still containing some water. At that time the kite released, either by itself or I did it unconsciously. 

Writing this from my hospital bed and going through the moment in my  memory makes me shaking my head in disbelieve.  I consider myself very lucky that I got away with a few broken bones in my foot, cracked ribs and bruises. The ribs and bruises will heal by itself, however the foot required surgery and will allow me to take a longer break  from any sports and sufficient  time to reflect.

I could ask why did this happened to me. But in the same time I need to be grateful that not more happened, and thank god that nobody else was harmed.

I wish I would have respected some basic rules. Never compromise safety! Keep sufficient distance  towards any hard obstacles. Practice quick release from time to time. And finally develop risk awareness - probably the most important and most difficult thing.

I cannot rule out any malfunction of the kite just now. I had the feeling it pulled too hard. But sometimes I think no matter what you do how careful you are, if destiny has other plans with you there is no escaping. 

I will definitely continue kitesurfing and other outdoor sports if my foot allows. Kitesurfing is a beautiful sport that lets you enjoy the ocean and forces of nature. It gave me so much joy in the past that I have no bad feelings or regrets. 

Of course sometimes no matter what you do or how careful you are, if destiny has other plans with you there is no escaping. But if I can prevent even one accident with my story I would be very happy.

This was the view to Fuji san from the south beach on that morning when the world was still OK.