...just maybe don't try it during a Tripical Storm.

http://cbs4.com/local/Kite.Surfer.las.2.798049.html

See the videos on the upper right.

This quote from the story is the best: "...when a huge gust of wind from Fay blew down the beach and took 28-year-old Kevin Kearney by surprise."

Uhmmm...when there are TV crews out filming the weather b/c there is a Tropical Storm, that's a hint that you might expect "a huge gust of wind".

Actually, I feel for the man and understand the thrill of "challenging" nature a bit so-to-speak, but strapping myself to a kite in a tropical storm, when I evidently can't release the thing easily/quickly is past my current thrill seeking level!

Ouch. That video is hard to watch. Looks bad... I hope the guy recovers well.

I've windsurfed for more than 20 years, and have seen many windsurfers give up the sport in favor of kitesurfing. One of the many reasons it doesn't interest me is the safety factor. Every year the kitesurfing manufacturers say the sport is safer, and they've come out with new quick-release technology. And yet every year people are injured or killed when they can't release the kite when a sudden gust hits.

Let go! What ever happen to the natural instinct to let go?

That's the problem -- he was tethered to the kite. The lines to the kite are attached to a downward-facing hook on a harness that goes around the kitesurfer's waist. The harness and hook are intended to allow the surfer to use his/her entire body to resist the forces generated by the kite, rather than using arm/hand strength alone. Without a harness, a windsurfer or kitesurfer's hands will tire out in a matter of minutes; with a harness, one can sail for hours.

However, when the sail or kite gets hit by a gust, it is incredibly difficult if not impossible (especially with the huge kites used nowadays) to pull back on the lines sufficiently to get them free of the hook. With a windsurfing sail, it's no big deal -- the sail slams itself and you into the water and you stop. With a kite, it just keeps on pulling... toward pilings, and buildings, and power lines, and whatever else might be in the way.

Thanks for the info SeaVet, I wasn't sure how the actual harness was set up. It sure seems like w/ some engineering some type of "rip-cord" could be devised either to release the harness or collapse the kite. But as seen in that video, there is not much time to fumble w/ anything in an emergency so an effective solution is probably harder than it would seem.

Just for that stupid act during a tropical storm he should have to pay for all the service personal that saved his A SS! Almost a "Darwin Award"

Almost?

I agree on this person paying the bill. Too bad it would be too hard to enforce.

Glad the camera guy didn't have the compassion to put the camera down. Great footage....