EMERGENCY / Safety issue : looking for Wes's contact

[Alanternier]

Hi,

Does anyone has the phone number of Wes (from California)?
I was kiting with him with offshore condition, the guy was a bit far and suddenly disappear from my sight.
My guess is that he is ok (he was close to the Pier so probably got on it), but I want to make sure.
As he did not leave his stuff on the beach, I was unable to see if he made it back to the beach or not.
Does anyone has is contact?
Wes if you are there can you confirm you are allright?

Thanks

Alex

[skysurfr]

Adrien is our man on the case for this one.

I've asked Adrien to notify the Chicago Marine Patrol and ask that a Police Car look for Wes' car near the beach. If his car is still there, then he's still in the water or walking back in the park somewhere.

If he's still out there, he needs to be found ASAP.


yikes!

[Dutchkiteboarder]

Hope he is ok or will be founded in one piece! There is some bad weather coming! Keep us posted and Wes if you might read this please respond!

[4w7s]

Alanternier,

We need to know more. Please provide as much information as possible:

--skilled kiter or not? able to go upwind? self rescue skills?
- wetsuit?
- any signal device?
- last position sighted and time
- direction of travel
-direction of wind
-type of kite/size/color, board?
what possible landfall did he have given the conditions?
what was the current water temp?

- any other info that might help.

Let's hope this is a false alarm. There hase been a strong band of t-storms sweeping from west to east along the IL/WI border all evening. If he was blown offshore this could be a serious problem.

This brings up another issue -
The Emergency Plan:
What circumstances require action?
What is the protocol?

If a kiter or unpowered vessel is being blown offshore immediate action should be taken so that responders can locate the vessel in distress, especially with the onset of darkness.

[skysurfr]

on the phone wity the pd now....looking for his car.....,.

[skysurfr]

No black audi with california plates in the area. I assume he's off hte beach.

Wes is a VERY experienced bay area kiteboarder.
I had to ask him last time to not kite outside the pier, alone and far out of sight from anyone.
He is certified.

Offshore winds?
Offshore winds without a rescue plan, without a buddy?

wtf?

[skysurfr]

Police were checking another Audi by the Bird Fence end... when the owner walked up. Not Wes.

[skysurfr]

Found his phone number in the lost and found section here.

Left a message.

Mike

[4w7s]

I found this CKF thread with a 415 tel# for Wes. I assume this is the guy (?)
I called and left a message for him to get on the forum ASAP if he is safe.

Hopefully we get a response soon.

[4w7s]

Found his phone number in the lost and found section here.

Left a message.

Mike

must have done this simultaneously
I also sent a text.
Fingers crossed for Wes.


PS...Mike, perhaps it would be a timely idea to develop a protocol system. One thing on the list would be to "never lose sight of a kiter in the water who is having trouble, in an off-shore wind, etc." It's the same for a man-overboard drill. Once you lose sight of somebody in the water the chances to find him are severely reduced.

[zulutimer]

WTF!?!?!?
midnite, and no word??

Mike, you mentioned the bird fence. This happenend at M today with those SSW 20-30 offshore winds??? They don't kite in SanFran in offshore winds. why do it here?
Was transportation an issue so he went nearby? Maybe the lack of an Audi means nothing. Do we know if he even had a car at M?

[Like To Kite]

I have the same number for Wes that is listed on the lost and found. 415-845-5050

Just called and left a message and also PMed him through the forum.

Hope he's safe. Sending lots of positive energy his way.

[4w7s]

I just posted a message on the Bay Area Kiteforum.

http://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/foru ... f=1&t=8694

I have to hit the hay...hope we hear from him by morning.

[4w7s]

Just got a text from Wes. He is OK.


phew....now I can sleep!

[Like To Kite]

Wes is OK, big sigh of relief! I know we were all very concerned for his safety.

Hope we can use this event proactively to prevent it again in the future and know how to react if it does.

[wesmatson]

Hi guys,

I'm alive. In fact, I've had a pretty fun night starting off with a decent session at Montrose then grabbed a bite to eat and went to the movies (which is why I wasn't around my phone the last few hours).

So while I appreciate the extra concern, please call off the man-hunt because I'm safe at home. Also, I'd appreciate if any related posts in the Bay aarea kiteboarding forum could be removed.....because I really don't want to use up my 15 min of fame on this situation.

Cheers,
Wes

PS: I am rarely on these forums, so I appreciate the extra calls letting me know that things were spiraling out of control on-line with everyone trying to figure out my whereabouts.

[Alanternier]

Great news!
Sorry for the false alarm guys, and thanks a lot for your support on this

[skysurfr]

Montrose advisors....please txt me, call me, or pm me. I guess we have a decision to make here. Rules wern't just broken, they were ignored. This resulted in 20+ man hours being spent last night by all of us and the Chicago Police.

Great response by everyone last night! Thanks very much for your help.

Alex...even though you were doing something wrong by kiteboarding offshore wind, thank you for sending out the alarm. It was 100% the right thing to do. Worry about a friends safety first, then worry about the beach being closed etc...after they are found!

Mike

[4w7s]

Wes is OK, big sigh of relief! I know we were all very concerned for his safety.

Hope we can use this event proactively to prevent it again in the future and know how to react if it does.

Yes, if nothing else this should serve as a wake-up call. Some of these issues should be covered in a good lesson lecture, and a few places I have been have emergency plans posted at the beach. Some people may think this was an overreaction to go on a man-hunt, but considering the possibilities/being aware of a waterman/waterwoman* lost at sea is hard to swallow.

The protocols and "rules" of safe kiting must apply to every spot we ride, not just Montrose. I've already read about several kites blown offshore this year and that is a serious "red flag". Sometimes you can get caught by a surprising wind shift, but we need to understand the weather as much as possible - and plan for the worst case scenario.

Skysurfer Mike, any suggestions on generating a set of protocols? Not to impose more work on you, but being an airline pilot you probably have tons of experience with that sort of thing.

* geez, is Amanda our only Chicago area kitesurfing lass these days, or at least the only one writing on the forum?

[nicole]

* geez, is Amanda our only Chicago area kitesurfing lass these days, or at least the only one writing on the forum?

I'm still here!

Glad Wes is ok. I am curious though...if he was so far out that he was no longer visible to another kiter, how did he get back in?