Summer Florida Kiter Survival Guide

[ricki]

... To Coping With Windlust, Unrequited no less!?

Originally Posted by naishhead

we have had a pretty bad winter and spring and last summer was great so any weather men want to take a guess????? rick? thanx
DAVE

Updates for Summer 2008 appear on the last page of this post


On average, summer is NOT a good time for kiteboarding in Florida. The wind is often too light or too unstable.

Jonesing for a wind fix when the season typically offers little in useable wind, much of the time, is a way to set yourself up for some trouble.

There are exceptions of course, thermal winds before the afternoon squalls and lightning set in, the odd late season cold front or other useable weather system. Thermal winds are better and more reliable in some years than in others and perhaps in some places (like Tampa???).

Here is some advice for kiteboarders to get through the Florida summer:

1. Plan a trip(s) to a reliable wind destination over the summer (e.g. OBX, SE Texas on the Gulf, one of the windier spots in the Caribbean, etc.. It will give you something to look forward to and allow you to try to dodge some of the shortcomings of riding in the conditions described below.

2. If clean, useable wind comes up be prepared to use it, while checking out all the normal weather Internet info sources first MORE HERE. Keep your eye on conditions and if some unstable stuff moves in, call it a day BEFORE it arrives.

3. In your weather planning avoid squalls associated with tropical systems (e.g. waves, depressions and hurricanes. Some guys don't take this seriously despite all the past accidents and obvious hazardous conditions. Sigh ... there will always be cannon fodder sad to say.

4. Have other interests to carry you through the lighter wind months, diving, wakeboarding, WINDSURFING! Yes, windsurfing, as long as you aren't struck by lightning, you might consider going out in squally conditions with a windsurfing rig, IF you know what you are doing. You might still break or strain something but it is harder to get severely injured (read taken out!) windsurfing in unstable wx than kiting. Just have something lined up to try to take the edge off of your wind lust. Wind lust can force us into taking some stupid chances speaking from personal and collective experience.

Be of good heart, the frontal winds typically don't turn off until mid May in many years. There are other activities to do during the summer and there is that good wind destination trip to look forward to. Before you know it those nice clean cold front winds will be back in the fall. Hopefully, without a severe hurricane interlude this time around.

From: http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2315378