So I was kiting at Port Melbourne today (approx 3:30 to 4:30pm) and started getting some pretty serious electrical shocks through my bar as I was kiting around. Based on comments I have previously read on Seabreeze, I came in immediately, packed up and came home.

There was no sign of lightning and the clouds were pretty broken up. I've checked the radar and there's no rain anywhere to be seen.

Was I being over cautious? Did anyone else have similar issues?

maybe u started to kite on carpet?

Sharks with fricken laser beams?

^^Bullsh1t

I have sometimes found that when I have done a boost - and there has been a helicopter cruising around that I have got some sort of shock through the bar.

Not sure of the technical reason

maybe kbv should ban helicopters.

paradigm said...

So more info:
- It seemed to only happen up the West end of the beach (towards the ferry).
- It happened whenever I put my right hand back on the bar (if I had taken it off for whatever reason).
- There were no approaching storm clouds or fronts (there were some low clouds in the sky). The only vaguely serious clouds were well past the city to the North. I was kiting in a sea breeze southerly.
- There were helicopters around.

rubbing your nuts with your right hand while wearing a wetsuit will cause this static friction... it helps to swap right hand to a left handed transition so when returning hand to kite bar a reduced amount of energy wil have built up in your hand