I am SOOOOO Stupid ( My First Rev Experience

[weebaldy]

Hi Guys

Just had to share this with you all so you can have a bit of a laugh at my expense ( not that you guys are that cruel!!). After having watched the DVD that came with my new REV 1.5 SLE I took it for its first flight at the weekend. its the first time in a long time that I have flown ANY kites but I was quite confodent it would be alright. When I arrived at my local beech and the tide was in so there were a lot of Kite surfers and some other sport kite flyers and not a lot of beech!!. After setting up the Rev my gut feeling that there was not a lot of room ( boy I wished I have listened to that inner voice of wisdom:-)). Anyway excitment took over and I launched the kite. Things went really well I had not forgotten all I used to know about 4 liners, I kept it high and was doing some very gentrly sweeps. I guess you all know what happened next, yep your right, over confident me decided to try some spins and thats when it began to go wrong. I only just managed to get it back under control when an over correction sent the rev into a power dive, I paniked and then the worse happened, I had not noticed that when I had been flying I must have walked up the beach towards the place when the cars were parked. CRASHHHHH My rev did a lovely tip stab onto the bonnet of a car breaking the outer leading edge and making a not insignifcent dent in the card bonnet. I then run up the beach to the speak to the car owner ( who only seconds after the crash had walked towards her car with her dog). She was VERY understanding and we swapped addresses so I can pay for the dent to be repaired. OK lessons I have learned.

1- If you take the time to watch an instuction DVD DONT then proceed to ignore the warnings

2- If you dont feel FULLY Confident that the conditions match your skills DONT fly

3- GET INSURANCE. I was horrified when I thought what may have happened if the kite had hit the owner and not the car.

4- it takes a LONG LONG time to untangle lines that have been stuffed into a kite bag in accute embarrsement

I should have known all the above as I flew traction kits for years but that was a few years ago and I guess I just got complacent. I am now Morally and financially chastised ( Love the REV tho so a new set of spare spars are in the post ). I deem myself VERY lucky to have gotten off so lightly and feel better now that I have paid the pennance of making my stupidity public.

Ray G

[CLTKiter]

Nope, no laugh from me.

I think it's valuable to post this type of information. It's always good to be reminded that we need to be careful. Even being careful, I've hit folks before. Fortunately when that's happened, I've either had a soft kite or low winds or both.

Thanks for the reminder. I'll also take it to heart.

Doug

[Penny Lingenfelter]

I'm not laughing either.

It is also extremely important to *check your area..

Setting up to close to people, or objects is only a few of the ways that flying a kite can turn into a disaster. Being aware of logs, and holes that you might fall into.

When we see people coming towards the kites we holler, "People on the Beach" that means be aware and for beginners to take the kite down.

Another piece of advice. Don't play in the road.

And don't feed the animals.... oh, wait that's advice for something else.

Safety First..........

BB

Penny

[Mousie]

Anyone that is willing to share one of those experiences for the benefit of others is all good in my book.... Glad you are ok.

I needed the reminder as well.. thank you.

hugs ,

Mousie

[weebaldy]

Thanks for the kind words and the advice. Cant wait for the new REV spars to arrive so I can practice again. This time on a QUIET beach. :-))

RG