I can image that carbon masts are bad conductors. While carbon fibre will conduct very well the epoxy "matrix" (or whatever you guys call it) does not. So in basis the carbon fibres are inbedded in isolator material The current will first have to jump these obstructions to get to the fibre and then cross those layers once again to get to your hands. At very high voltages this can be done, but only with alot of heat creation. This probably explains why it burns up before really conducting alot of current.

It all makes sense to me.

Wouter