ricki
03-23-2006, 10:00 PM
I once saw a guy ripped from the water while riding and lofted into a car with a gust of up to about 26 kts. up from an average speed of 16 kts.. (NET gust of about 10 kts.). Squalls were in the vicinity with a passing cold front. More here (http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=224)
Shannon Best was lofted at speed a distance of about 80 ft. horizontally about 20 ft. high in a gust under about 25 kts. in a squall above an average windspeed of 11 kts.. He chose to free fall to a hard impact to sand rather than risk flying into the road, cars and possibly some powerlines. (NET gust of about 14 kts.) More about the accident HERE (http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=121)
A well experienced rider was lofted at very high horzontal speed a horizontal distance of about 30 m into some steep wall-like waves in winds ranging from 3 to 6 bft.. He died as a result of the impact (7-10 kts. to 22-27 kts. resulting from dirty side offshore winds) or a net gust of about 17 kts.. More here (http://kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2308940)
A well experienced rider was out in 10 to 15 kt. winds and was attempting to land when a squall hit and the wind boosted to an average of 35 kts. gusting to 51 kts. He was lofted over 800 ft. horizontally and 100 ft. high. He lived by aiming for and hitting a pine tree. Most other points of impact would likely have killed him. (Net gust of about 38 kts.). More here (http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=842)
and MANY other stories.
How gusty is too gusty? That's a simple question with a complex answer. How much of a boost in windspeed does it take to loft you off the water with a given C kite? Things become more complex and potentially better with flat kites particularly if you use them in appropriate wind range to begin with. If not, could get ugly.
Lots of us have been out in gusts, even greater than those associated with a few the accidents listed above. Still, it all is relative, kite size vs. gust range, distance from hard objects, kite aimed at lofting position (near the vertical), were you already airborne when the gust hit, etc..
One thing is for sure, riding in a higher gust range is more work and often a lot less fun.
How gusty is too gusty? It's a question we all likely need to answer at one time or another. If things go well, maybe just a lot of extra work. If not, it could be yet another story.
Shannon Best was lofted at speed a distance of about 80 ft. horizontally about 20 ft. high in a gust under about 25 kts. in a squall above an average windspeed of 11 kts.. He chose to free fall to a hard impact to sand rather than risk flying into the road, cars and possibly some powerlines. (NET gust of about 14 kts.) More about the accident HERE (http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=121)
A well experienced rider was lofted at very high horzontal speed a horizontal distance of about 30 m into some steep wall-like waves in winds ranging from 3 to 6 bft.. He died as a result of the impact (7-10 kts. to 22-27 kts. resulting from dirty side offshore winds) or a net gust of about 17 kts.. More here (http://kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2308940)
A well experienced rider was out in 10 to 15 kt. winds and was attempting to land when a squall hit and the wind boosted to an average of 35 kts. gusting to 51 kts. He was lofted over 800 ft. horizontally and 100 ft. high. He lived by aiming for and hitting a pine tree. Most other points of impact would likely have killed him. (Net gust of about 38 kts.). More here (http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=842)
and MANY other stories.
How gusty is too gusty? That's a simple question with a complex answer. How much of a boost in windspeed does it take to loft you off the water with a given C kite? Things become more complex and potentially better with flat kites particularly if you use them in appropriate wind range to begin with. If not, could get ugly.
Lots of us have been out in gusts, even greater than those associated with a few the accidents listed above. Still, it all is relative, kite size vs. gust range, distance from hard objects, kite aimed at lofting position (near the vertical), were you already airborne when the gust hit, etc..
One thing is for sure, riding in a higher gust range is more work and often a lot less fun.
How gusty is too gusty? It's a question we all likely need to answer at one time or another. If things go well, maybe just a lot of extra work. If not, it could be yet another story.