I would have to agree completely with Tom S. on crashing the kite if caught in an unexpected sudden wind increase. If the wind is upon you before you are able to safely get to shore or you are being lifted out of the water when your kite is maintaning the 12 o'clock poisiton...DO NOT GET CLOSE TO THE SHORELINE!

You want to stay far from shor untill you get that kite in the water and collapsed so that it cannot repower. If you crash it in the water, you have additional drag added by being in the water that may keep you away from hitting a har object onshore. That's how I handled a 17m SS that caught me by suprise while riding and the wind went from 17-20mph qquickly to 30+. Things on the water happen fast and staying away from shore will minimize the possibility of injury.

Good Luck...

Big G

There were at least four kites in the air at BS around 5:30 with a dark line of heavey rain moving in from the SW. I know it has been a long time since we've had decent wind but it looked sketchy on the drive by. I saw crazy Jays van and a Rasta colored Ion near the launch. Hope everyone ended up OK.

Bob

we are going to get it first
 

supposed to be 15kts east here in Nassau thursday.
and with this tropical storm coming could be a prity windy weekend, for us and for you guys.
anyways good luck
aj

I also drove by and saw the squall line moving in while 4 kites were in the air riding 20 feet from shore.... hope nobody ended up in the trees.

Tom,
It sounds like we must cross paths almost daily near the Skyway. Give me a ring and We can pull into the rest area and I'll give you the wind meter stuff I've been hauling around in my trunk.

Bob
727 638-0014

no more wind predicted...

i think it moved back to mon/tues

rode at the backside for over an hour yesterday, left before that storm hit though. the wind wasn't much, but i was able to fly my 12.

i got about an hour in on Wednesday at St. Pete beach..
quite onshore and had to do a walk of shame a couple times.. but i did hit a couple great kickers and ....hey... i got to kite for a while.

item of note:

Randy was out there too.. and after i had a kite fall and he helped me relaunch, apparently some guy came up to him and started telling him off about how dangerous the kites were and how we shouldnt be flying them there..etc..etc..

of course, i didnt hear that i was trying to get back on my board and OF COURSE i go to water start and i send the kite right over the guys head..

he ducked like i was going to hit him .. but the kite was far above his head and it wasnt even close..

still.. he looked pretty pissed and then started walking back to Randy to give him more shit.

i didnt realize what was going on until later.

sorry about that Randy.. next time send him my way.. no need for someone else to take any heat for something that i do...

dive the kite a little harder next time :shock:

j/k :lol: