I’ve had a few close calls in my life so far.. a couple in the Alps mountaineering, a fall rock climbing, landing in a tree and skewering myself in the chest, a near drowning after running a waterfall canoeing and falling 40ft from a rope swing over the Yestraveltre valley in Wales when the handle snapped at the apex, and most recently ending myself mt biking (see post below and vid!).. Kitesurfing is a sport I have seen many accidents and other than some broken bones, stitches and being knocked out a couple of times I have always been in control and never had a real near miss…(actually that’s a lie.. I’ve had one at Rhosneigr but that  was in the early days, so doesn’t count) It was all about to change…

With a massive low rattling in myself and Luke Whiteside loaded the van and headed down to Cornwall to hit some waves. Stopping with Rich Boughton and Sarah Sylvester for a couple of days they showed us their local spot and had some great sessions.. Heading down from the chill NE we were hoping for some warmer weather but it was pretty cold.. freezing infact so it was cool for Rich and Sarah to put us up and Bantham was rocking with some big waves rolling into the bay. It was hard going just getting out past the 1st line of white water and Rich Prageter stuck his kite down in the impact zone and it was eaten and spat out instantly in 2 pieces. I managed to make it out strapless right out the  back and right in front of the  cliffs I picked up some huge swells and had a blast only once getting a bit too close to the rocks with  a huge 5 set closing out upwind of me. I risked a downwind dash towards the edge of the rocks and made it out in one piece.. Kiting in waves, big waves is an absolute buzz.. I’ve freestyled for years and put all my efforts into this, but it doesn’t give you the adrenaline rush kiting in waves does. Being mostly cross on we decided to carry on down to Cornwall to hook up with Dom Moore (Kitesurf Mag Dom) and Bennett and smiler to hit some point breaks. The word on the beach was that Daymer bay was going to be working, so we headed down and as the tide came up, the waves started to build. Out the back there were some monster swells rolling in and these were sweeping in to the bay giving some nice but small waves to warm up on but were still pretty crappy onshore stuff… Why ride in this when there is a point break 100m’s away? So I headed out with Bennett, Smiler and later on Dom out to the point to a really nice right hander. The wave is as mellow as you want it to be but was big and hollow breaking straight onto the rocks at its most critical point and then sweeps around the point towards the beach. We rode it for nearly 3 hours and had some sweet strapless rides and got nice and deep just making sure I didn’t cock the turn onto the wave. The wind was strong but pretty gusty but I still had plenty on my 7m Vegas, but I was pretty tired out and headed in for a break and a warm. I should at this point just have wrapped and called it for the day but I decided to head out for one last hour. The wind was getting pretty iffy and I was flying the kite hard to pick up the wave. I got some more great rides and Luke was up on the cliff taking some shots. I headed back out towards a big set that I could see rolling in and turned really deep to pick  up the second wave. I made the turn and sent my kite to power me onto the wave that  I could feel jacking up way above and behind me… NOTHING! The wind in that instance completely died on me. The wave picked me up and I went up the face and straight over the falls. I was flipped over and over at one point feeling the lines round my legs which I frantically kicked off. Then came the drag. The wave at reached my kite which at dropped just  upwind of the rocks and It dragged me so hard and fast backwards it seemed to go for ever. Absolutely gagging for breath I swam as hard as I could for the surface. Too late though as the second wave came over me and ragged the kite again dragging me further towards the rocks. I remember the realisation at  this point vividly of thinking, this is it! Fucking game over. Now anyone would say.. Just release and I had tried reaching round to release but the drag made it impossible and all I needed was to get a breath of air. I swam hard towards what I hoped would be the surface and managed to break the  surface and snatch a breath before the next wave came over me just  as I released. I knew I was right next to the rocks and covered my head and then felt rocks with my feet and legs. I grabbed my board leash and pulled in to help me to the surface and when I did started paddling best  I could back out. I have never felt so exhausted! so tired I didn;t have the energy to release my harness bar which I need to do to swim out through the next set which was building right infront of me. I managed to pull the clip and began to swim. People afterwards said that I should maybe just have swam towards the rocks and climbed out, but the power of the waves hammering into the rocks would I believe have broke bones, possibly knocked me out or even jammed me in the rock channels so I kept swimming. I was thankful at this point that I could surf and knew how to duck dive well otherwise the next set would have taken me back onto the rocks. A long and cold swim later I made it to the beach and I headed along the cliff top to recover my kite and lines. The Kite was destroyed apart  from the bladders which were all still inflated! North construction rocks! but I managed to recover it and my bar and lines. The adrenaline was now wearing off and the  blood started returning as my feet were shredded and started to bleed like mad and the pain in my bruised heels kicked in. Nothing compared to what I could have ended up with! I had swolled that much water that late that night I was feeling pretty nauseous and I started throwing up during the  early hours. So lessons learnt?? Yeah get back on the horse and carry 2 7ms with me at all times! The next day we headed to a different point break, the location of which I don’t think I can say, but with a super dodgy launch and land, which Dom has the scars on his forehead to prove, we headed out into a quality right hander and kited it till late. I was still feeling pretty rough and lacking serious energy but loved the wave and had a great day riding with  some seriously good riders! Time for home and we headed back north. One hour up the road with  Luke driving as I was feeling rough again and the window came down quickly and I chundered twice doing 70 on the motorway. Apologises to the guy behind who got covered and came flying past, windscreen wipers going full speed and showing us the finger!!! hahaha Carrots are good for you in the dark! what’s the  problem? Cheers for Dom for letting us stay in his pimp guest house and for showing us the spots to go! Pictures coming soon!

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