Kiteboarding Tragedy in Avon
Update: Per the Harness the Wind blog
I was out of town over the weekend; however picked up some flash news over Facebook regarding kiteboarding chaos on the waters off Island Creek in Avon. Apparently a strong weather front rolled across the islands producing gale force wind gusts and a direction shift which sent kiters out of control. One fatality was reported.
See more at:
- Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog
- Island Free Press
- Virginia Pilot Online
Our condolences go out to the family of the victim, and others traumatized by the experience.
3 Comments:
Final report indicate that the tragedy had nothing to do with sudden change of weather. The guy had switch to a 6m kite and performed a kite loop very high in the air, the landing was very hard, that's probably what killed him ..
My guess that the fact that the kite loop whether intentional or accidental caused the hard landing, but there is a difference between a hard landing in 5 or more feet of water and a hard landing in 2 foot or less of water. The landing occurred between the south side of the boat channel and big Island. Where the water depth varies from calf to thigh deep. He landed on his board which may have quickly bottomed out, then was immediately dragged face down according to withnesses. If the impact occured in deeper water the outcome may have been different.
Here is an update on the accident.
http://harnessthewind.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-information-regarding-death-of-tim.html
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