Squall Strikes Oz Rider In Thailand

[ricki]

I just learned of an incident that involved:

-- unstable weather,
-- a relatively narrow beach,
-- headland wind turbulence at the launch initially then shifting to onshore with looming squalls,
-- rigging too large a kite for developing conditions,
-- getting overwhelmed in squall gusts,
-- the importance of having a kite leash CONNECTED, SO YOU CAN LET GO IF OVERPOWERED,

Fortunately, both rider and kite came through OK and even took things a step further ...

ALL THIS WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO! And, it is presented in an entertaining tonge and check approach complete with ironical sound track.

Kudos to Boxburg for sharing and preparing this effective narrative on what can go wrong IF you set yourself up for it, as so many of us have already (myself included in the past).

See it for yourself at:
http://homepage.mac.com/boxburg/kitesurfing/iMovieTheater109.html

Be particularly careful of potential unstable weather, especially at new launches. I can remember Ian Young losing a finger in a sudden squall that blew up at an unfamilar launch off Australia years ago. It can be a pain to back off when you are on vacation but think things over.

[ricki]

I just learned of an incident that involved:

-- unstable weather,
-- a relatively narrow beach,
-- headland wind turbulence at the launch initially then shifting to onshore with looming squalls,
-- rigging too large a kite for developing conditions,
-- getting overwhelmed in squall gusts,
-- the importance of having a kite leash CONNECTED, SO YOU CAN LET GO IF OVERPOWERED,

Fortunately, both rider and kite came through OK and even took things a step further ...

ALL THIS WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO! And, it is presented in an entertaining tonge and check approach complete with ironical sound track.

Kudos to Boxburg for sharing and preparing this effective narrative on what can go wrong IF you set yourself up for it, as so many of us have already (myself included in the past).

See it for yourself at:
http://homepage.mac.com/boxburg/kitesurfing/iMovieTheater109.html

Be particularly careful of potential unstable weather, especially at new launches. I can remember Ian Young losing a finger in a sudden squall that blew up at an unfamilar launch off Australia years ago. It can be a pain to back off when you are on vacation but think things over.