I had an incident at Long Reef that has prompted me to get people thinking about surf rescue in big surf.
I was out with 3 other kiters in a 15 to 25 knot Southerly with 8 foot waves and a lot of water movement. There are a couple of bommies about 800m off shore which break in a big swell. The waves and wind were both moving in a SE direction. I was on a wave which I couldn't get off when it turned to white wash. I overtook my kite and it fell out of the sky. The kite got a pounding, I couldn't relaunch it and the next set was going to wash me into the lines so I ejected and swam south and out of the break zone. My strapless board with no leash was well gone. I started the long swim in but after copping a few scary waves I realised the surf was too big to swim in. There was a rip running straight out from beach so I swam towards this flatter section an floated back out to sea. The only way I was going to get in was by helicopter or kiter.
I let the first kiter go because he wanted to save my gear. The second kiter couldn't get to me. The third one got to me, we had a chat, he dumped his board and body dragged me back in. Thanks Francois.
LESSONS LEARNT
Think about your exit plan if things go wrong.
Look after the person in the water first. Don't worry about gear. It's easily replaced.
Don't hesitate in dumping board to body drag someone in.
Be very careful when wind and waves are going in the same direction. It is very hard to escape whitewash.
I had an impact vest on. It was very difficult to duck dive under big waves. But I was still glad I had it.
A leg rope can be a good idea in big surf.
Be sensible and don't push your luck.
Look out for each other.
Steve

Sounds like Francois is owed a few coldies for his efforts.

Well done on looking out for each other...that's what the sport is all about.

Glad your ok Steve !!!
Thumbs up to all that helped !!!

Can someone explain to me why would you ditch your board? Could you give it to the stranded kiter to lay on while you take your safety off and give one end to the stranded person. Then you body drag back to the beach with the person in tow on your board?

Leash/legrope on a surfboard in big waves is a BAD idea.

Learned that lesson the hard way and nearly didn't live to tell the story--also at Longy Bombies. Big day -- big surf and strong southerlies, about 10 years ago. Riding a strapless Slingshot SST and a standard surfboard leash. Was heading out the back and as I got to Third Bombie, thought I had time to easily crest the wave and pop over the back before it broke -- it's a big, fat wave before it breaks and you have plenty of time to see it coming an sus it out and work out whether to hop over the top or turn around and run away before it eats you.

It was a couple times overhead and I made my way up the fat face preparing to ollie over and slide down the back, but as I crested the wave, the wind got under the board and lifted it out from under my feet, blew the board up in the air in front of me -- out of my control, then back over my shoulder through my lines and it hit the water behind me, through my lines, just in time for the crest of the wave the grab the board and drag it backwards -- with my legrope still attached to the board and to me.

So, now, the wave is pulling the board toward the beach with the leg rope stretched, the legrope is now pulling my bar down hard on the left side, causing the kite to immediately steer to the left and hit the water while the same wave that's grabbed the board now grabbed the kite and is now pulling the kite toward the beach.

Meanwhile, I'm being pulled backwards underwater by my legrope with my leg through my lines over my bar while I'm still hooked in and attached to my harness.

I struggle, but I'm unable to reach my legrope on my leg due to the sheer force of the wave pulling me through the water by the kite and the board. I'm frantically trying to reach for my leg to undo the velcro, but not making any headway, but did manage finally to pull my safety on the chicken loop, which released the pressure from the kite, eventually then managing to get to the leg rope and remove it from my leg.

By now, still no air after what seemed like a minute but was probably closer to 15-20 seconds, I managed to the surface and get a short breath of air just in time for the next wave to explode on top of me in the impact zone. Luckily, at this stage, I'd manged to jettison everything except the kite leash.

Nearly out of air waiting for the next wave to pass, I eventually surfaced and caught my breath and swam back to the beach.

Fortunately, on this day, the wind was relatively onshore, so the swim in wasn't too awful -- somehow the both the kite and the board survived, though the board did get a crease that resulted in it snapping a few weeks later.

Lesson learned.

No more leg ropes in big surf.

SO, unless the waves are tiny and the wind light, leave the leg rope in the car.

Gazuki said..
Long board leg rope everytime, never had an issue. I couldn't imagine not having one.

That's the problem, we get away a million times with the sh&t we are doing. Story above should make us rethink and perhaps adjust. Short safety leash unless unhooking, knife, no leash, looking out for each other. Also (this does not refer to above story but in general), keep fit and take up swimming lessons if needed. Still remember someone in trouble back in NSW who told me he has troubles staying afloat as he was not a good swimmer. In big swell we need to be top swimmers, fit, and be lucky...

I am in absolute awe of you guys out doing this in big surf. True kite heroes in my eyes. Seriously though... this has to be a pinned post, as it's a very good reminder of what can go wrong - no matter what your level of skill and expertise kitesurfing. Glad you're ok.

As a paddle surfer I would not go out in double O/H, let alone solid O/H unless I am surf-fit so I am not sure if kiting feels like it makes you more brave to tackle these kinds of waves. But in this situation I would have thought a leg rope might have given a better outcome despite potential tangles. Let the kite go, catch the whitewater in.

Like Steve, same spot but a week later... same situation in that I got on to a big 8ft bombies and outsurfed my kite. Kite backstalled, not enough wind (and on too onshore) to correct it and all I could do is keep surfing the wave until most of its energy dissipated. Kite hits the water behind the wave, I punch out, hit the water, board gone (no leash). Next wave pounds my kite (it's shredded - total loss). I was still attached to my safety so pull the bar back towards me and used what was left of the kite to wash me to shore. Took a few on the head but without a floatation jacket so I managed to dive under a few of them.

I have been thinking about the "what if" scenarios for a while - well before this incident. How to rescue an unconscious kiter, how to drag someone in from the back when the big bombies are breaking, how to engage life guards in kitemares, etc. In fact, I sent messages to all the strapless kiters on the Northern beaches with info on a custom rescue course led by one of the guys that trains the professional lifeguards. Lots of interest so think it's time we set it in motion.

Also, in the last 2 weeks half a dozen of the more experienced big wave kiters decided to buy helmets - for those days when you do decide to use a board leash.

Lastly; I've been eyeing up an inflatable life vest that's small and snug enough to wear without getting in the way of the harness. Wear a rashie over it. For when it all goes to **** (as in Steve's case).

glad to hear it ended well aus126.

i reckon it's important to always wear a legrope in the surf. having your board in reach is invaluable when you're out the back and the kite is suddenly taken out of the equation...

DutchRooster said..
Like Steve, same spot but a week later... same situation in that I got on to a big 8ft bombies and outsurfed my kite. Kite backstalled, not enough wind (and on too onshore) to correct it and all I could do is keep surfing the wave until most of its energy dissipated. Kite hits the water behind the wave, I punch out, hit the water, board gone (no leash). Next wave pounds my kite (it's shredded - total loss). I was still attached to my safety so pull the bar back towards me and used what was left of the kite to wash me to shore. Took a few on the head but without a floatation jacket so I managed to dive under a few of them.

I have been thinking about the "what if" scenarios for a while - well before this incident. How to rescue an unconscious kiter, how to drag someone in from the back when the big bombies are breaking, how to engage life guards in kitemares, etc. In fact, I sent messages to all the strapless kiters on the Northern beaches with info on a custom rescue course led by one of the guys that trains the professional lifeguards. Lots of interest so think it's time we set it in motion.

Also, in the last 2 weeks half a dozen of the more experienced big wave kiters decided to buy helmets - for those days when you do decide to use a board leash.

Lastly; I've been eyeing up an inflatable life vest that's small and snug enough to wear without getting in the way of the harness. Wear a rashie over it. For when it all goes to **** (as in Steve's case).

i wouldnt call that a total loss mate. plenty of life in that kite still. easy and strait forward repair.

DutchRooster said..

Adam'KiteRepair said..

DutchRooster said..
Like Steve, same spot but a week later... same situation in that I got on to a big 8ft bombies and outsurfed my kite. Kite backstalled, not enough wind (and on too onshore) to correct it and all I could do is keep surfing the wave until most of its energy dissipated. Kite hits the water behind the wave, I punch out, hit the water, board gone (no leash). Next wave pounds my kite (it's shredded - total loss). I was still attached to my safety so pull the bar back towards me and used what was left of the kite to wash me to shore. Took a few on the head but without a floatation jacket so I managed to dive under a few of them.

I have been thinking about the "what if" scenarios for a while - well before this incident. How to rescue an unconscious kiter, how to drag someone in from the back when the big bombies are breaking, how to engage life guards in kitemares, etc. In fact, I sent messages to all the strapless kiters on the Northern beaches with info on a custom rescue course led by one of the guys that trains the professional lifeguards. Lots of interest so think it's time we set it in motion.

Also, in the last 2 weeks half a dozen of the more experienced big wave kiters decided to buy helmets - for those days when you do decide to use a board leash.

Lastly; I've been eyeing up an inflatable life vest that's small and snug enough to wear without getting in the way of the harness. Wear a rashie over it. For when it all goes to **** (as in Steve's case).

i wouldnt call that a total loss mate. plenty of life in that kite still. easy and strait forward repair.

Third time it's been through the bombies washing cycle, mate. It already had the nickname "grandma's featherbed" because it had more patches than original canvas! Lol. It's a goner. Donating it a kiterepairer who can use the material to repair someone else pride and joy. After 15 years riding North, I'm currently considering switching to Eleveight!

yep, I get that. keeping a kite alive can become a rabit hole. Best to kn9w when to pull the pin.

Keen to get a view from others here if an inflatable life vest (similar to the one pictured) is a good idea on big days. Opinions seem to be divided. Some see it as an obstruction to being able to duck dive waves, others think it's good to have something to keep your head above the water when kite and board are gone.

DutchRooster said..
Keen to get a view from others here if an inflatable life vest (similar to the one pictured) is a good idea on big days. Opinions seem to be divided. Some see it as an obstruction to being able to duck dive waves, others think it's good to have something to keep your head above the water when kite and board are gone.

I think first and foremost, we have to look at all this as a reminder that if you are surf fit, you will be able to swim out of most situations. time for me to spend some time doing laps again! outside of that I always feel safer when i have a leash on.

And nearly impossible to swim in once inflated. The thought of wearing a self inflating lifejacket in big surf scares me more than having a long swin and a couple of set waves on the head.

TimAus said..
And nearly impossible to swim in once inflated. The thought of wearing a self inflating lifejacket in big surf scares me more than having a long swin and a couple of set waves on the head.

When you get smashed so bad you can't swim, then thats the problem.

A lot of the best surfers and fittest crew have been in this situation.

You think you will die.

Then it's nice to have something to point you towards the surface.