This afternoon my dad was taking photos at Happy Valley, Caloundra. As dad was leaving a kiter approached him and asked him for a launch as the conditions were not ideal for self launching, it was a gusty 30 plus knots! Dad had never launched a kite in his life so the kiter gave him a few quick pointers. He gave dad the thumbs up and he let go of the kite. The kite briefly launched and as dad was walking away the kiter lost control of the kite and hit dad throwing him on his back. Members of the public come running over as too did the kiter, apologising that he lost control due to a freak gust of wind. Dad ending up with a deep line cut to his wrist and a 4cm wide gash down the whole length of his shin, ripping the skin off to the bone (from the kite lines). I've been a kiter for over 10 years and this is a timely reminder as more heavy weather approaches this weekend not to be an idiot and ask an inexperienced member of the public for help! I hope this dickhead has learnt his lesson as my poor dad has been left sore and sorry after spending the afternoon in hospital.
I agree that it is reckless to ask a non-kiter for a launch in the conditions described but unfortunately sometimes accidents do happen.
Hope your dad recovers quickly.
What's more reckless : self launchig when you're not confident or asking a bystander for help?
Never ask a non-kiter who has no idea about your sport for help. A 60 second crash course, can end in just that...a crash. If conditions are too gusty for a tether launch or self launch, leave members of the public alone. It's incidents like that, that get your sport banned from your local.
Hope your old man recovers quickly!!
