Page 1 of 1

This Week's Darwin Award

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 07:32
by scot
And the winner is.....this guy in Florida who had the bright idea of taking out his kite board during tropical storm Faye.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/weathe ... arder.wfor

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 08:25
by Dug
Looks like Lauderdale.

Ouch.

Well, he may not do that again...

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 10:02
by Carl
Dug,
He just might as he don't seem all that bright. Just a first impression.

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 11:35
by Harry Babb
Unless I missed something along the way...........LET GO! ! ! ! after the first bounce..............

Harry

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 11:46
by jspiezio
Harry- He is harnessed to that thing around his chest.

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 11:48
by Buju
Them guys are in a harness (with quick releases), he wasn't holding on to anything...
especially common sense.

Bet those other kiteboarders who watched him fly by, packed it in right quick.

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 12:04
by Dug
There was a guy bombing around an anchorage I was in on Sunday. Made it look like a total blast!

I actually thought it looked like something I would like to try.

Until this video!

At least make sure the quick release is ready to go!

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 12:40
by Harry Babb
Thanks guys
The guys here at the shop just informed me, just as you did, that the surfer is attached to the kite........

Guess I should crawl out of the bildge a little more often and see the daylight/smell the roses.

Harry

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 17:13
by Carl
Dug wrote:There was a guy bombing around an anchorage I was in on Sunday. Made it look like a total blast!

I actually thought it looked like something I would like to try.

Until this video!

At least make sure the quick release is ready to go!

Dug,
That video would stop you from giving it a try???
Where you going to give it a whirl in a Tropical Storm? If not, I think it would be a blast to try.

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 19:19
by jspiezio
Dug wrote:There was a guy bombing around an anchorage I was in on Sunday. Made it look like a total blast!

I actually thought it looked like something I would like to try.

Until this video!

At least make sure the quick release is ready to go!
This summer I watched a guy up in Leland, Michigan repeatedly get blown within a few yards of the jetty there. He almost got wiped but managed to get himself on terra firma and release the kite, resulting in a long walk back down the beach.
His buddy had no problem going into the wind, so I guess it's like anything else- some folks know what there doing, some folks have Hatterasses! Happy B-day Timmy!

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 20:24
by scot
I guess it's safe to say: "that's gonna leave a mark"

Actually we need to say a prayer for the guy, he's listed in critical condition. I'm sure when he comes around he has learned his lession and I hope he doesn't have to pay the ultimate price for his lack of judgement.

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 21:25
by Pete Fallon
Guy's,
Doug was correct about the location, Ft. Lauderdale at the end of the street from the Quarterdeck, the guy is in critical condition at Broward Gen. Hospital. His quick release failed, slammed into the sand first, then across A1A, bounced off a truck and then into a building, news people said it was the start of a waterspout that picked him up and across the street.
Storm wasn't much here in South Stuart 3-4" of rain and maybe 45 mph gusts. I had to go to Port St. Lucie this AM, rainfall on the other side of the bridge was incredible, 5" in 1 hour, Route 1 looked like the canals in Venice, Italy with all lanes except the part passing lane under two feet of water. Went to FT. Lauderdale this afternoon and the sun was out, dry streets and just a quick shower. Weird track of storm, 1 st landfall at Key West, 2nd just above Naples, now going out to sea around Melbourne and then back on shore south of Jacksonville. Watch out UV, it might be heading to your area in the next few days.

Posted: Aug 19th, '08, 21:30
by Capt. DQ
If you noticed that wall he nailed, it look like cender blocks were protruding out from the block wall, that gonna hurt @ a 50mph sudden stop. Hope he's able to know better next time.

R,
DQ

Posted: Aug 20th, '08, 08:16
by Dug
I may try it sometime soon if I can find someone to give me some guidance up here in NE.

Not something I would try in a tropical storm.

Pete, I would believe the quick release must have failed. Or it all just happened so fast.

I cannot believe he is alive!!! That is good news at least.