Brett Yager Accident

[bfrank]

Real Scary stuff!!

Have any of you ever had your arm go through the handle?
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Ski Paradise Acapulco
Newsletter
Our good friend Brett Yager died yesterday May 2nd in Acapulco after a skiing accident. Brett was a great friend and a well liked skier from Central California and had homes in Pismo Beach and Lake Anna in Arvin, California. Brett is survived by his two sons Justin and Tyler ages 20 and 16 respectively, his parents Bill and Doris and a sister.
Brett died doing what he loved best: competing in a friendly water ski tournament with his friends.
A Memorial Service will be held in Pismo Beach, CA on Saturday May 17th. In lieu of flowers there will be a college fund set up for Tyler Yager. If you would like to make a contribution please send a check to: P.O. Box 3087, Pismo Beach, CA 93448.
Details of the Accident
With all three coaches having run 38 off on Thursday it was only natural for Bob Edie, Brettski, and myself to have a tournament on Friday. After the guests had all taken a ride, the coaches were going to take their turn. Brett was the first one off the dock. He ran smoothly through 35 off and was coming back towards the palapa on his 38 off pass. This is a big pass for us all. Brett had told guest Rob Sterne earlier in the day "All I want to do is ski because it makes me feel so good. I love it!" He also said, "I don't care who wins, but I'm not letting go." Brett proceeded to do his patented body slam on 1,3 and 5 balls and he just held on and somehow managed to make it around 6 ball. He was traveling extremely fast. I don't know how he managed to turn his ski, but he did. We were taking video from the dock and the video shows an unusual fall with slack rope and most likely his head passing through the handle. When the rope came tight it was all over. I'm not going to go into other details, but the 14 of us watching were in shock. Our group gave Brettski 30 minutes of CPR until the ambulance arrived and Brett died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Trust me, you don't ever want to be involved in an accident like this.
The family has requested a cremation and this procedure will be carried out later today. I will bring his ashes back to California on May 16th.

[skyski_tige]

That sucks! I always ride with a cinch release. You never know what might happen.

[Costigan]

Wow. I am so sorry to hear that. Skyski tige what is a cinch release? Sounds like a good purchase if it could save a life.

[tigesinaus]

heavy stuff.. sorry to hear it.

[dogbert]

Real Scary stuff!!

Have any of you ever had your arm go through the handle?

No, but there was a kid around here who's head went through the handle while wakeboarding. He ended up in a halo, but did recover.

[skyski_tige]

CINCH Release with Brass Swivel and Microfusion Rope tie for your Tower. CINCH 'Release' adds a measure of safety to your ride. Releases on line tension. Adjustable.

http://cinchmax.com/_wsn/page3.html

[dogbert]

CINCH Release with Brass Swivel and Microfusion Rope tie for your Tower. CINCH 'Release' adds a measure of safety to your ride. Releases on line tension. Adjustable.

http://cinchmax.com/_wsn/page3.html

I guess that would be required equipment given the kind of tricks you guys do on a hydrofoil. Thanks for the tip...might be a good idea for wakesurfing.

[talltigeguy]

Sad to hear. Definitely a freak accident to have your head go through the rope. My condolences to his family and friends.

Skyski,

I wonder how much tension the line has to get in order for it to release...it never comes off prematurely?

[Seanmcd]

Was it his head or arm that went through the handle?

I am confused..

So sad, RIP....

[skyski_tige]

You can adjust the tension based on the amount of overlap in the material. I have heard of it coming off in the middle of a trick but more than likely it was not set properly.

[Duncan]

Anyone have any experience with the cinch release device used for wakeboarding? Seems like a great idea.

It looks like a piece of velcro that backs on itself. I assume the dangling loop is for a manual disconnect. And the auto disconnect occurs when the load dramatically increases on the line, the level of which can be set by how much overlap in the velcro there is?

When it releases, does the loose end of the wakeboard rope go whipping around? If so, could be ouch.

[skyski_tige]

it is actually hook and loop (supposedly better than velcro). The rope releases but I have never seen it whip back toward the rider.

[jwanck11]

Was it his head or arm that went through the handle?

I am confused..

So sad, RIP....

His head in my understanding. His neck snapped.

This story is a bit old, but a good warning to remember.

[Duncan]

it is actually hook and loop (supposedly better than velcro). The rope releases but I have never seen it whip back toward the rider.

I am worried it would whip someone in the boat sitting below and behind the tower.

[skyski_tige]

I have been using this on every run I have taken over the last 7 years. When it releases, it is back in the water before you realize what just happened.

If you had it on a ski pylon on a direct drive, it might hit the rider in the back seat. I spoke with manufacturer and he has never heard of one that was put on the tower and came off, hitting anyone in the boat.