Important winter kiting info....

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laurie

QLD

3902 posts

laurie

QLD, 3902 posts

24 May 2010 6:42pm

The summer breezes have gone, and in the southern parts of Australia it's now time for the more advanced winds of winter.

These winds can give you some of the most memorable days of your life, for good and bad reasons!

They're completely different to the nice stable summer seabreezes, and at their worst can shift 90 degrees in the space of 15 minutes. They can be gusty, they can be squally and double their strength.

Part of coping with this means learning to become a weatherman - being able to read clouds and synoptic charts will help you understand the nature of a passing front. When it's safe to go out, and when it's downright dangerous.

Read more about Safe Kitesurfing in winter
www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/Winter-Weather-Warning-for-new-Kitesurfers_2879690.aspx here

getfunky

4485 posts

getfunky

WA, 4485 posts

27 May 2010 10:29am

Noobs (and all kiters) take note: Loz knows what he is talking about here.

There are also less punters and no clubbies to notice your drama if you get into strife - so not much chance of assistance.

Keep a closer eye on fellow kiters (hell - even poleys

) for signs of distress.

EDIT: Just read the excellent post by KH on the link above. Mandatory reading for anyone thinking of winter kiting.

Loz - is it poss to make this thread or a link to KH's info a sticky?

laurie

QLD

3902 posts

laurie

QLD, 3902 posts

27 May 2010 10:39pm

getfunky said...
Loz - is it poss to make this thread or a link to KH's info a sticky?

It already is.

Here's a graph of a recent cold front on the West Coast.. check out the wind range, and gusts as the storm fronts/rain squalls come through.

Some periods of 18 knots doubling to 35 knots, and drop outs to 7 knots, making winter kiting "challenging" whilst you learn how to read the weather.

If you're caught out in this stuff, bring your kite down water level to reduce the chances of lofting

getfunky

4485 posts

getfunky

WA, 4485 posts

2 Jun 2010 4:19pm

Noice work Loz and KH.

jas73

QLD

796 posts

jas73

QLD, 796 posts

24 Jun 2010 2:23pm

I Went out for a kite yesterday 23rd june and yes it changes dramatically. When i got out of my car it was blowing 20 to 25 with the odd stronger guts. i was reluctant to set up but within no more that 10 min it dropped to about 10 to 12. I set up and it got back up to 15 or so. went out and had 3 or 4 runs and it died off. when i came back in there was a rain squall coming across the bay ( Moreton Bay) towards us. Went back out and my god what a ride. One minute your cruising and the next holding on for dear life. This is not the time of year for anyone to be learning unless they are with an instructor or someone who knows what there doing. We had about a dozen experienced kiters out where we where and one ploey but i would be reluctant to go if i was on my own with conditions like that.

DaGodfather

280 posts

DaGodfather

SA, 280 posts

8 Aug 2010 8:04pm

Yep, squally/frontal weather can be dangerous.

I went out last Sunday (1/8/2010) to Parham in SA and after a few minutes of kiting in sunny weather and 12kts of wind a cloud came and with it a 32kts squall. It was too late to land so I stayed about 300m away from the beach. About 10 minutes into the squall i stopped to do a careful turn and in that instant a massive gust came and ... IT RIPPED THE KITE OFF ME!!!

There was another kiter in the area about 250m from my position, but he wasn't affected by this big gust. He also managed to chase my kite down (after it landed back in the water some distance downwind from me). I don't want to speculate how strong this gust may have been, but just to illustrate what can happen this is a record I found from the same day from a wheather station on Lake Alexandrina near Milang in SA:

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