Squall survival techniques...

[uchuche]

Someone asked, so are some tips which have helped me. I learned the hard way as a beginner (~1yr experience) in 2004-2005 what happens when you are oblivious to the weather. I got hit real bad by an innocent looking rain column on a sunny day, and dragged about 100-200 yards from beyond the sand bar, unable to release due to a quick release failure. The wind went from 13 knots to 35 knots almost instantly and I was on an 18M C kite.

I made multiple mistakes and here is what I learned over the past 4 years to avoid it happening again.

PRE-PLANNING

What did it do YESTERDAY and what time? That is the first thing you should be researching (iKite) before you even rig your kite. Have you been checking the horizons during your session?

IT'S APPROACHING

Rain Columns: Remember, rain columns pull air down with the droplets, which hits the surface and flows out in every direction.

Wind Fronts: If you see clear blue sky behind a line of clouds approaching, it means strong winds are coming.

Rain up wind usually means the outflow will combine with the current wind. STRONGER wind gusts may be approaching. This is unless of course the rain is causing the current wind, in which case you should not be kiting at all.

Rain down wind usually means the outflow will meet the current wind head on. LULL or offshore winds may be approaching..

Long thin line of clouds approaching with blue sky behind it... this means more wind in most cases.

IF ITS UP WIND

If you are within a couple of line lengths of shore and can land RIGHT NOW, then land immediately.

If you are out a good distance or the landing area is congested and you don't feel you can drop the kite immediately, go out further (as far as you can) to get away from hard objects and be prepared to put the kite in the water. Look down wind and decide if you would be comfortable getting dragged there... (ie highway, trees, rocks, or empty beach? Now is the time to choose). Do not ride back and forth trying to make a decision and watching for the wind. Do something right now.

IF ITS DOWN WIND

Land immediately. Don't risk getting stuck off shore.

IF YOU CAN SEE IT COMING IT'S TOO LATE

See those whitecaps in the distance approaching? You are screwed. CRASH the kite in the water RIGHT NOW, LE DOWN AND GET YOUR HAND ON THE RELEASE JUST IN CASE. Releasing now that the kite is in the water is up to you, but suppose you release and the kite starts looping? Think about it before you pull it, check for tangled lines, leash attached, etc. You have time with the kite in the water to do this.

IF IT HITS WITH THE KITE IN THE AIR

You are getting dragged. Don't panic and hunt for the release or try to land. You won't find the release in time and your hands are already on the bar. Steer the kite into the water and KEEP IT IN THE WATER. Don't pull the release until you have crashed the kite.. Once you crash it and steer it into the water, you will usually find you are in control of the situation, and if not you will have plenty of time to look for the release.

It can't loft you or drag you when it's in the water.
In most cases you can wait the squall out with the kite in the water.
Everyone knows you are in trouble since the kite is in the water.
You can relax and find the release with the kite in the water.

Releasing is always a gamble... bar will always end up out of reach, but kite may not always die. The kite may hit someone if it releases completely, or it may not release at all. Be prepared for the hammer to come down on you or someone else.


STRANDED OFF SHORE

7) Stay with your kite. It floats, it's easy to see, and that is where the rescue team is going first. The other kiters are watching your kite also and may come for you.

I believe squalls are our #1 cause of injuries.. try to never be surprised by what the weather is doing. Be there when they come for you.

Take care.
-tom

[Unimog Bob]

Very, nice write up, Tom. I think foot injuries are number 1 though.

[uchuche]

Guess I meant life threatening injuries ops:

[Unimog Bob]

"Grave danger?"
"Is there any other kind?"

AFGM

[Steve-O]

A Few Good Men.

One of my all time favs!!!!

[ricki]

The best squall survival technique I know, is to avoid it in the first place. Avoiding them is fairly easy, have to use your head but that should hurt less than playing russian roulette with them over time. As a rule, you really don't know what a squall will do before it is on you. Spike wind, kill it, shift direction, variations of all three or leave it largely unchanged. One thing is for sure, we have some of the most violent, powerful squalls in North America in Southern Florida and on a fairly regular basis. It is worth thinking over carefully. Tom makes some good points in his post worth considering too. Best advice is to work to avoid them, pilots do and with a lot more power and stability than we'll ever have.

[ricki]

Unfortunately, a number of folks deliberately ride in squally conditions. Stupid acts are a numbers game. Not everyone will get spanked or killed, just an unacceptable percentage over time. There are those that may have no clue, never asked themselves can that really hurt, do it because other guys are still riding or think skill and technology will always carry the day.

I just finished that article for the German magazine. The day one experienced kiter got killed and another smashed up pretty well getting lofted inland a long way, there were several dozen guys on the water. Maybe more than a hundred, not sure, as a cold front forecast to have wind gusts into 50 mph range moved in fast, all black and ugly. Wonder how many among that hundred would be willing to trade places with the guy that hit the rocks and stayed down permanently or even the 21 year old that flew over the restroom building and broke a bunch of bones? Every single one of them was in fact offering to do just that, their number simply wasn't called up. North Sea storms are different from what we have in Florida. In some ways ours are worse, more sudden, powerful and frequent. The North Sea variety often come with strong, sustained winds unlike ours that can go from 10 to 50 kts. in seconds.

People will do stupid things, we've all done them in our time. Some of us have moved on though and for good reason. Wonder what is holding the rest back? Lack of awareness and appreciation for just what can go wrong and how bad, who knows. Maybe they actually think their kite will depower through most squall winds or that it will work reliably. How many have had kite depower fail or been insufficient in extreme winds or simply react too late or not at all?