Kite Tube DEATH

[Andrew]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

lol, don't kid urself. the little handles on the kite tube provide no control whatsoever. only thing u can do is try and keep ur body centered. if u ever start rocking from side to side ur screwed.

[Nates78Ski]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

honestly ive ridden the Manta Ray up to heights of 30+ft and yeah it is dangerous & somewhat stupid & after reading that story i would definitely think twice or probably just not do it at all anymore, but it also helps to have a good driver, (1.) drive only directly into the wind, when turning around just basically idle back to your starting point. (2.) once the tube's in the air DO NOT just let off the throttle, causing the tube to sink like a rock. (3.) understand your own body strength/weight ratio & be honest with yourself if you can handle it, dont take it to heights that exceed your control. it is possible to keep the tube within 10-15 ft from the water, you just need to take the right precautions.

[BigBald]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

I have seen some amazing statistics about injuries and deaths from tubing accidents. I can easily see that these flying tubes are pretty dangerous...but you would be amazed at how many accidents are happening each year from just basic tubes.

Nates78Ski has got it nailed...so much depends on the driver. The rider is totally without control. So it's the driver's responsibility to watch the tube, speed, rope, waves, other boats, obstacles, and the shoreline. That's a huge responsibility. I am really glad that both my boys have switched from tubing to kneeboarding. Much less stress and easier on the gas comsumption.

By the way, I tried to find where I had seen the data about tubes and I couldn't find it....sorry...

[ag4ever]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

When I was younger (in my teens) my cousin who was in his 30's and I would compete on who could stay on the tube the longest. My dad would drive, and creat double and triple up that you could only imagine. Then he would sling us across it. We were probably traveling over 40-50 MPH when we would hit the wave. Well my cousin got the brite idea to wedge his feet between the tube and the outer covering to help hold him in the tube. When he hit the wave, it snaped both of his ankles. After that we would not tow any tubes behind the boat. After they came out with the totally enclosed tubes, then we started to tow them again.

I would say that there are some really stupid designs on the market now. You do have to admit that sportsstuff is trying new ideas, and most of them are flopps (like the wearable tube, man that thing sucked). But, if they stumble upon the one that is an all star, then good for them.

We as consumers need to learn to take responsibility for our actions, and if we do some thing stupid, don't blame the manufacturer, not that anybodey here has, but I see it coming.

[Onthewater]

Re: RE: Kite Tube DEATH

I would say that there are some really stupid designs on the market now. You do have to admit that sportsstuff is trying new ideas, and most of them are flopps (like the wearable tube, man that thing sucked). But, if they stumble upon the one that is an all star, then good for them.

We as consumers need to learn to take responsibility for our actions, and if we do some thing stupid, don't blame the manufacturer, not that anybodey here has, but I see it coming.

I couldn't agree more. Are you refering to that "sumo tube"?

[skiswm]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

I would have to believe the Consumer Product Safety Commission can't WAIT to get into this one. But, i think we can all agree some of the dumbest things we've seen are done on tubes. Someone gets a brand new boat, has never towed anyone before they get the tube out and start whipping them all around. Never looking once to see who's around them until they hit someone else, get too close to the shore, or flip the person off but don't bother to see the person is now off the raft. I rarely take out my tube, maybe once a season at the most. I thought the flying tubes looked cool, but I just can't see spending that much money on something that you have to take an hr to blow up and then worry about storing on the beach all day long.

I'd tend to agree with the others who have said, if you want one you best go find it now because they are gonna disapear pretty soon I'd have to guess. I gotta imagine some lawyers at Sport Stuff and other such companies are sweating right now and hoping to locate all product not sold ASAP. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[BigBald]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

The Kite tubes are in the news again. I saw an interview on the Early Show this morning...

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/earl...in500202.shtml

Go to the lower right section and look for a video called "Dangerous New Water Sport".

And it looks like the Kite Tubes are being banned all across the country. For sure in Missouri, Arkansas, Lake Powell.

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/...1&psp=news

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/stor...5-81140E1CED52

http://www.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_4009434

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3944049

And, its looks like there is a federal probe that is starting to investigate the safety of these tubes.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,640189574,00.html

Amazing to think about...but this might start some other interesting issues. The Lake Powell ban also included Parasailing and Kite Surfing. These type of investigations start to get me worried that the statistics related to Wakeboarding and other "high impact" water sports, might become scrutinized? I would hate to see some lakes use this as a reason to ban water sports that they don't like....like monstrous wakes from wakeboard boats?

[Onthewater]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

They will get away with banning these in certain areas but watersports that already have a foundation even if they are considered somewhat dangerous. I think it stems from the fact that the rider has less control than the driver. I don't think it has to do with lake associations or goverments not liking kite tubes.

[nautique06]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

I bought one a few months ago from Bart's, used it one time and hurt my knee pretty bad, and then I saw all of the news releases about deaths and injuries from these things. I called Sportstuff and expressed my concern to them, they referred me to Bart's. I talked to Bart's and wanted to know how I could get refunded and they said send it back to them and they would credit my account the full amount of the tube. One week later I was given a full refund. I think these companies are realizing the dangers of these things, and don't want any additional liablility if someone asks for a refund.

[AbunDiga909]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

I am surprised there hasn't been a lawsuit against SportsStuff yet... just a matter of time IMHO...

[Hydrofoilmaniac]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

Here's another........................A couple weekends ago we were sitting in the water at the far end of our lake getting ready to foil and a guy in a MC went by us pulling one of
these things. The rider was probably 15-20' above the water and the boat
had to be going at least 30 mph. I wasn't concerned about that part except
the guy had to snake between a couple boats and he came within 80-100' from
us. It would have been a special landing if he would have caught a wind
gust. I don't think he was close enough to hit our boat but who knows if
he would have been flipped off. Regardless, he would have had to clean out his shorts if he was tossed.

I forwarded some of the recent posts I've seen on the list lately to my
cousin. He then had forwarded them to his buddy. Here's a copy/paste of
his e-mail response after he got hurt last week. They must have not followed the instructions:

__________________________________________________ ____________________
Too late for my buddy in Chicago....I forwarded this stuff to him but not in
time.
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 7:49 AM To: xxxxxx Subject:
RE: Another tube death..
Well buddy, I appreciate this. Wish I would have seen it before I left
Got back late last night. We put the boat in the water at 4pm Sunday night,
I was in the ER by 7:30. Massive concussion, torn ligaments and trauma to
the back and neck. I'll give you a call after work to give you the details,
but in a nutshell..... This thing is SUPER unpredictable to say the least.
It's pretty stable at about 5-8 feet, but once it gets slightly above the
boat it catches full wind and climbs until it can't climb any more. Boat
speed 30-34mph, tube height estimated by everyone witnessing the event is
about 25-30 feet. She climbed as high as it could go, stalled out, inverted
and dove straight into the water on top of me. Kent said there was about 30
minutes I couldn't even speak let alone know my name, where I was at or who
I was with. I don't remember anything until about ½ to the hospital, then
throwing up in the ER, followed by CAT scan, MRI and x-rays. Not a good way
to start out vacation, and needless to say this thing is going back on Ebay!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[redelf75]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

I frankly can't believe the manufactures didn't recall them after the fist wave of bad press. It's too late now, the law suits will be forthcoming...THe fact that they put the disclaimer "don't ride higher than you're willing to fall" only indicates that knew there could be serious injuries.

[Hydrofoilmaniac]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

agreed

[Bobby]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

i know that those things are banned on all Army Corps of Engineer lakes in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. wouldnt want to ride one anyway

[scottrob]

RE: Kite Tube DEATH

In watching the videos and reading these, I think the boat driver has too much control. The driver should be targeting to stay within 6-12 feet above the water and adjust throttle accordingly.

I have to admit, I was at Lake Degray in Arkansas two weeks ago and if they had the tube in stock, I would have bought one for the adults - but no kids. Given this, I guess I'll have to live the excitement through watching others, cause I definitely cannot afford that level of risk. Thanks for posting this Austin!