PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Bware of squalls .Most people who have been seriously injured or killed have been smashed by a squall.(many are experienced riders )Don't wait for the cloud to be right overhead .Remember the wind usually preceeds the cloud in the cloudburst.
Don't be lulled into any false sense of security.PREPARE AND BEWARE !!

Kite fun and safe

Cheers

Lach

Wavey's right and so is Loch,

In the event of an oncoming squall, head away from the beach as far as practical and if it gets really crazy put your kite into the water on the edge of the wind window which faces away from the land with pressure oon the side of the bar that keeps the kite down, and just wait it out, at least it will slowly pull you away from danger.

Most squalls only last 10 minutes and return to a more moderate wind strength. If however the wind is in to stay and the wind is dead onshore, use the quick release and flag the kite out on the safety leash well before you get too close to shore and again wait it out or go to the winding the lines method but only worry about one line, use the bar as a fulcrum to pullon the lines, do not use your hands (see the tips and tricks page of our site for details).

Squal kiting can be fun if you have the appropriate skills and knowledge and so long as you CONTINUE TO WATCH THE ONCOMING WEATHER AT ALL TIMES.

See you on the water on Monday, looks like it will be a hoot! Go big!

Good winds,

My post was basically a reminder to not f*** with squalls .How many times have I seen guys stay out there just for one more minute and get nailed .Same goes with thunderstorms .Have a little bit less time on the water to live to ride another day.its an old hang gliding policy that seemed to work.

I reckon one of the biggest problems is that the whole marketing strategy behind the new kites coming out give some a false sense of security. "Depower 300%!" etc.
I know cause Im one of them...Ive had my 12 vegas 06 in 30 knots and on a surfboard so judging by the range, I reckon I could handle my 7 in some strong winds...but I know its stupid so I won't do it.

Its a very different kind of day out there today .

Cory and I were out at Scarbs for a couple of hours and it is all arse about today .
Super gusty and not just in the rain squals , a couple of bullets coming through with no warning at all , other than about 2 foot high spray traveling horizontally across the water .

Also lots of water moving , difficult to get out the back at times .

Even with the rain radar not showing anything it doesn't mean its ok to go out .

Thought I would be safe on my 4m unfortunately the wind has got huge holes in it that kept on finding me as I was about to try and climb over a couple of the bombs that were coming through .
Ended up on my 7m and could only just park it and hang on in some of the gusts .

It wasn't much fun , a good day to give it a miss .
It is definitely not as good as it looks .

One thing you have to remember is the leading edge of a squall may have uplift added to the wind strength. I have seen lots of squalls where you can see the leading edge wind and mist travelling in a rolling motion. You may hold a certain kite in strong wind but the uplift may easily have you lofted. I agree with Mr Float 100% and get away from land as much as posible.
I just refuse to kite in unstable weather now and just like to watch the uneducated go out in the stuff. One thing years of sailboarding did to me was always look over your shoulder upwind with every new run and scan the water surface for signs of wind strength. I dont see to many people do this in unstable weather these days.
I must also add that I was witness to a group of kiters a few years ago hit by a wind squall that had no sign of low cloud and no tel tale of the white mist of death in front of it, so looking upwind is no sure fire way of knowing. I have also noticed sailing in Moreton Bay that squalls in the northern bay behave differently and have different strength to those in the central and southern bay. This is another good reason to ask the locals about a area if your new.

quote:

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Originally posted by Kitehard

Slack lines in 35-40 knots

Good winds,

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40 knots is death.
Today was death by kite.
Ballsy.