“Nexen” tragedy

[8mdude]

Today is downgraded from sad to shitty day at Nexen. Someone dropped his kite on winger fin and cut into halves. Just glad it ain’t a windsurfing fin to be blamed this time.

[Ryan]

It looks like it would induce an updraft, I was thinking you might see some Flare Moustaches ridge soaring on it.

That's a good point, any one who had only kited at a flat beach might get caught by surprise. I know it was a huge gust in this instance, but looking at the wind history of the area, they are quite common.

[Slappy]

By the sounds of the news article he was in the water when it happened.

Was he heading out just getting his board on in shallow water?
Was he trying to tack out up wind and riding when it happened?
Was he returning to the beach to land?

I assume it was the south west mole he hit, but it could have been the center one if he was tacking.

Also keep in mind the old Nexen launch was quite a was away from the new launch. And they have added over 100m of reclaimed land upwind of where we used to launch:

OldNexenLaunch.jpg (115.74 KiB) Viewed 20934 times

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q0-OFE ... sp=sharing

[SplitCoast]

Nexen now closed to kiting while the tragedy is investigated. https://squamish.ca/yourgovernment/news ... -underway/

[Cathulu]

What a tragedy and my heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased.

Things may get worse with shifty winds once residential buildings get in the mix.

There are also no anchors for equipment in the rigging area at Nexen, something bad may happen until that is rectified especially with the public path wandering through there.

The Spit seems a more reliable launch for kiting, but I have seen a guy get injured there. Be safe out there folks!

[dan.e]

FWIW where I used to kite in Perth Australia there was a very experienced Kiter killed after getting pulled in an updraft and hitting a concrete pillar while doing some storm kiting. That beach had more of a cliff (so higher), but this type of hazard I haven’t seen in any of the local spots here so something worth to be mindful of.

Avoid keeping your kite at 12 when going out / coming in at nexen, especially when gusty or overpowered.

[Ryan]

Flare Moustaches ridge soaring on it.

This popped up in my feed, looks like a similar slope to the Oceanfront launch.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/442316011506145

[Cathulu]

https://www.squamishchief.com/local-new ... on-9290097

Investigation ongoing update expected by end of August.