High wind - go!
Cracked out squally wind - NO!
I can't wait for east winds of 30-40 in the keys every year. We don't get much of it but when we do, it's on. But! Squally winds of 25 -55 is asking for bans. Some beginners see us do these things and think it's ok not realizing the potential dangers even after you warn them against it. I remember being in Delray with Shannon and a few others lit on 7-9m kites and a local asked me if I thought his friend would be ok as an intermediate rider on an 11m. I said no way. I am lit up on my 9 and if you don't have a 7, forget it. Then I went out riding. @ 10 minutes later I saw him launcing his kite and he pulled a little to hard on the bar and WHAM!!! Can you say 20 ft. loft? He was then slamed to the ground and his kite hit the shack. He said after that he should have listened to the better riders advise. But of course that was hindsight. When the wind is cranking and people are riding, it sets the stage for others to think it is OK even if you tell them otherwise.
|