how to stack?

[skinduptruk]

yesterday out with Stu at Amaroo and a gust of wind pulled me forward and i stacked awkwardly on my left elbow. my left upper arm propped up my body weight and my left shoulder blade made a series of "squishing" type noises (ligaments). muscles were sore but are no longer painful, ligaments still are...

i've asked Dr. Google and it seems that I have been lucky with only a grade 1 tearing of the ligaments. i read they should stop being sore within 1 month and back to 100% within 1 year.

makes me think: is it worth thinking about how to fall? i think i hung onto the bar until the end which made the elbow contact first. if i let the bar go early and aim for both arms and knees hitting the deck it might spread the load a bit...what do you think?

PS. calls for HTFU already noted - thanks!

[plummet]

First of all you need to pilot the board correctly. lean back more. that way when a gust comes through the you will slide as aposed to flying over the front. Get your technique right and you will NEVEr fly over the front of the board. you may fall off it backwards but thats way better than a face plant.

Secondly fly the kite to the zenith if you get lofted and hopefully you will just get a nice floaty landing (depending on what kite your flying).

don't let go of the bar in the air . thats your control and its the thing holding you in the air.

[SoutherlyBuster]

In addition to Plummets comments ...

Occationally the gusts will hit strong enough to pull you over the board (ie strong and quick enough that neither depower nor lean back will not help), so what I do is pick up the board and spin it round forward pointing down wind and just go with the pull. You don't get pulled over the board that way. The kite line tension lowers, gust abates, then carve back up wind on your normal course. Some times this is not even enough and you get a wee lofting, again I just point the board down wind, glide for a bit, land, and carve the board back up wind to continue. A good practice for this is to stand on your board (no kite, not travelling) and spin your board around, ie 90 degrees or 180 degrees if you like.

Not that I have done this too often or been in the situation where I have had to do it, but if you do get pulled over the board, I believe pulling up your feet behind you and going for a knee slide (that is what the knee pads are for, and the scrap marks on mine attest to this) is the better option. If there is a better technique, please correct me if I am wrong.

Regards,

Norman.

[plummet]

ok abit more advice.

the gustier it is the more i crouch down. lower your C o G and you will be far less likley to be torn over the board.

lastly maybe you are over powered on a kite thats too big for the conditions?

in those crazy gusty days think about using a kite thats a little underpowered until the gust hits then it becomes powered. that way your not going powered to overpowered.

[JKS]

Getting into the science of stacking your land board (if there is such a thing) I have always tried to stick to the following procedure -

This is assuming you have come off your board, and there is no saving the situation.

- The moment you know things are going pear shaped, it is essential to have the presence of mind to decide weather or not to eject the kite.

- Quickly evaluate where you think you are likely to be dragged. Are there obstacles ? Where will the kite end up if ejected ?

- Try to kick the board upwind/away from you, this will reduce the chances of a second collision.

- If your still hooked in, try to control the kite as best you can but if your copping a gust make sure you fully sheet out on a de-power or hit the brakes on a fixed.

- When you hit the ground and are getting dragged ...... relax ... have a matrix moment. the stiffer you are, the more likely you are to be injured.

- If I am being dragged, I usually try to roll on my back and turtle along if I am wearing body armor, otherwise ..... relax some more.

- Keeping the kite at 12 will make things easier to control, provided your not being lofted.

It always happens very quickly and unexpectedly. No 2 situations are the same ..... practice practice practice

Hope that helps

Marty