Kite Tubing

A variant of tubing dubbed "kite tubing" has begun to emerge.

When tubes being towed on water achieve high speeds, they may begin to experience a tendancy to take flight. This owes to the body of the tube acting as an airfoil and creating lift. In this manner, the tube acts as a kite. A tube's ability to achieve and maintain flight depends on a number of factors including the speed at which it is traveling, the shape and size of the tube, the weight of the rider, and how the tube itself is oriented. As most tubes are not designed for flight, the rider often has little or no control over a tube after it takes to the air. This can lead to a violent crash as the rider, with or without the tube, falls back to the surface of the water.

To address the meager flight characterists of most tubes and to target thrill seekers, tubes specially designed for kite tubing have been introduced. Such tubes may feature channels to allow air to flow through the tube's body as well more streamlined, aerodynamic designs. Some U.S. states have already taken legal measures to limit the use of such tubes.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC for short, has already issued a warning concerning the dangers of kite tubes and kite tubing. The warning followed reports of two deaths from kite tubing in only three months and several reports of serious kite tube injuries.