Roy takes a swim back, Sunday 13th July 2003

On 13th July 2003, I was out surfing when my strop broke while I was aroung 300-400m off shore. Arggghhh! I spent some time convincing myself not to panic as I began the swim after the kite. I was wearing a buoyancy aid, the water was quite warm and there were plenty of hours of daylight left. Before long, I encountered the lines and realized that I had made much better progress than I had thought. Having bundled up the kite and lines, I started the swim back. Paul Cleverley was out too and stuck around to make sure I was OK. It was a relief when I looked to shore to see that it was getting closer. It was an even bigger relief when the Southbourne beach rescue RIB appeared over the horizon and gave me a lift back. So, I got away with it, and I am not too annoyed about it since it is the first time I have had to face a long swim in the 4 years I have been surfing. But a few valuable lessons were learned.

• always check your gear before every session!
• Always wear a buoyancy aid.
• A wet-suit is a good idea, even in the summer since it gives you longer in the water
• Avoid surfing alone. And if you can't, make sure somebody knows where you are and when you expect to be back

Daily Express, 19th May 2003

Kite takes man on death ride

Be warned, this man was jumping with his kite, got lofted about 30 ft (10m) and was dropped (or let go). He died later from his injuries. So, my warning is this...

• NEVER jump over land
• Ensure your kit is in good condition EVERY time you fly. A broken strop ar 30ft (10m) up could be disastrous
• Wear protective gear
  • Helmet - essential. A Gath helmet is inadequate on land. Wear a bicycle helmet (preferably BMX or something of similar substance) or even a moped helmet, especially on a buggy.
  • Knee and elbow pads
  • Impact vest
  • Sturdy boots to protect your ankles (I nearly broke my ankle from a badly executed jump)
• Only use a harness to take a break, not to fly beyond your capabilities
• If you must fly hooked into a harness, use a quick-release (click here for a description of how I do it)
• If you find yourself lofted higher than you are prepared to fall, hang on unless greater danger presents itself if you don't let go (such as landing in a road or power lines) since the kite is likely to give you a softer landing. Be prepared to let go/pull the quick release as soon as you hit the ground
• Use "Kite-Killers" if flying on handles (click here). Attach a safety leash to the brake lines if on a bar
• If you have footpeg straps on your buggy, ensure they will break away easily if you come out
• Shout out to warn others if you are in danger of colliding with them
• Check out the BKSA web site safety recommendations www.kitesurfing.org/news&pr/safety.htm
• THINK SAFETY!