Yesterday we had rain squalls and 35 knot gusts coming through. I had finished kiting and packed up when the biggest and wettest of the squalls came through. Think of full-on tropical torrential rain (in Melbourne).

A heap of beginners and a few experienced riders just kept on riding through it all as though nothing was happening. The last time I saw anything like that a kite ended up on the roof of a house with the owner (former Oz kiteboarding champion)pursuing it past the torn down power lines.

You've got to love the in-built safety of the new kites. (Mostly Cabrinha and one North Vegas). While it might not be the wisest thing to do, the fact that the kites will tolerate such extreme conditions is a good thing.

Gorgo good points you make but it scares me that these people don't know the danger they maybe putting themselves under. And when they lose control in gusts they can cause trouble for others. I experienced this first hand on Sunday (although i think it was kiter had half decent skills).

No harm done but its a worry when people who are most likely beginners are launcing kites as a storm is clearly coming across the bay. Please note i did warn them.

35 KNOTS

you must be kidding. thats bloody windy. you need a kite smaller than a 7m in that kind of wind.

i think your wind gauge is broken.

surfingboye said...

35 KNOTS

you must be kidding. thats bloody windy. you need a kite smaller than a 7m in that kind of wind.

i think your wind gauge is broken.

That would be the Fawkner Beacon weather station. 4ks away and dead in line with the air flow.

35 knots is not all that strong for an 8m bow. It's nowhere near the top end of Switchblade 8m or Rebel 7.

35 Knot"sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss