www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=2059

that 1? if ya really dont want to leave dry land point the wind in our direction plz

We were having a really good session up until the BIG ONE. The graph doesn't really show the impact of wind jumping 20kns in an instant and coming into contact with your kite. Just goes to show that sometimes all precautions taken can't deal with a " smacker "
col

quote:

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Originally posted by sarc

Was there and thankfully opted to stay on dry land. Done it several times before and seldom regretted it.
Any metereologists out there - was there a way to foresee it coming thru synoptic charts/BOM webpages/watching the conditions?

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Unfortunately there is no way to predict the freak gusts!!!
However, you can see them coming (and ditch the kite before it strikes you): the surface of the water upwind may tell you a gust is on its way, if they are sale boats upwind, they will be hit first.
Kitesurfing is not just go on the water and jump, is looking around and being alert to ever changing wind and water conditions.
If you kite always in the same spot, you should be aware of specific winds which may be prone to generate freak gusts. Look at the clouds, a black front may signal a big gust.
A wind change will be signaled by anchored boats or ships (they will change their position relative to the anchor) and always asume a wind change will come with a big gust.

If you cant predict a gust then get yourself a BOW, i had no trouble where i was, you blokes are unreal you been crying about no wind and when it comes you cant handle it.

u get gusts and blackies, blackies are those bastards that send u flying off your edge with an agenda. gusts are just stronger puffs of wind, if ya in a gust and a blacky hits u prob wouldn't have bn able to see it coming.