Summer Florida Kiter Survival Guide

[Polaris]

Well, I kinda started to get the ball rolling. I contacted René at Ski-Rixen and they would love something like that. She mentioned to follow up with Andy Hurdman of Best Kiteboarding. Shannon and his team are always there when there is no wind. I wouldn’t mind helping you on getting this together. Mind you I’ve never done this but what the hell.

We can get the local shops….who knows

[ricki]

Originally Posted by Polaris

Well, I kinda started to get the ball rolling. I contacted René at Ski-Rixen and they would love something like that. She mentioned to follow up with Andy Hurdman of Best Kiteboarding. Shannon and his team are always there when there is no wind. I wouldn’t mind helping you on getting this together. Mind you I’ve never done this but what the hell.

We can get the local shops….who knows

I spoke to Shannon and Andy about this sometime back. I feel they would participate in the event and support it to some degree but organizing it would be another matter.

I have helped to put together a number of kiteboarding events over the years, nothing involving wakeboarding of course. The main thing would be getting some declarations of interest in such an event. There isn't any useable wind on tap so the interest should follow.

I will give Ski Rixen a call with some basic questions.

[Polaris]

Thats great. If there is anything I can do to help.
Hopefully we can get some of our local shops with Broward and PB shops involved. If anybody is reading this traffic, jump in.

[ricki]

It seems to be that time of year again, SUMMER! I thought it would be worthwhile to bring this post back from last year, dust it off and pass it around. Anyone up for a zero wind challenge at the cable park this year? New ideas out there?

[Polaris]

I'm still on board. How can I help?

[admin]

So, how is it going out there? We've had more than usual riding hours if not days with storms so far this summer in the SE. How about the rest of the state and Bahamas?

[ricki]

For the fifth year running, it is getting closer to summer so time send the winter thread into the archives and to dust off the Summer Survival Guide. Be of good cheer though as the winds have yet to ebb. Actually got out three times over the weekend a few days ago.

Who knows what summer winds will be like this year. Conventional wisdom suggests they will be poor but we'll see. Best to lay on those wind destination trips if you can to help manage wind lust. There is always Standup and diving to help manage the pangs of wind withdraw.

This year is unique due to the Deep Horizon oil spill threat. We can hope that it doesn't make it to Florida in any substantial form. It has been going for about a month and is creeping towards the Straits via the Loop Current. Good luck to us on that score!

So, all the best on your summer, hope it is a good one!

[ricki]

Thermal wind ...

It is VERY good right now. Will it continue, who knows? For now though it is great and rarely are there the usual storms sweeping to the ocean from the Everglades. Historically, thermals go in May, ease in June, pick up in July. I guess we'll have to see what comes this year.

Case in point, what blew through Delray last night, Friday, May 5, 2006:



and through Delray on Saturday, May 6:



and through Delray on Sunday, May 7:


I see it is going yet again Monday, May 8, a bit lower 15 gusting to 17 kts. Still respectable useable wind.

windgraphs from Jay's windomatic

None of this wind was forecast by NWS. Sometimes they mumble something about a "sea breeze" but not currently.

There have been a lot of thermal winds lately and often without the storms. The later factor is presumed to be related to the drought conditions. The guys from Tampa report similar good thermal winds, it is probably going off statewide I would imagine. Although all areas don't seem to have thermal winds at the same times necessarily.

Often good sea breezes seem to come to our area after a hot, clear warm day. If it clouds up in the afternoon, the sea breeze often fails to fully develop. The sea breeze is usually sideshore and may overwhelm more regional winds. For instance an advancing cold front may have shifted the wind to the SW, W or NW. An afternoon seabreeze can create a local sideshore wind at the coast. NOTE: as sunset approaches the sea breeze can die suddenly, often after but sometimes before sunset. The wind then shifts offshore in short order. You don't want to get caught out by the wind shift. Guys have lost boards and they themselves could get lost as well.

More about sea breezes at:
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/sea/htg.rxml
http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/75846.pdf


The seabreeze can start as early as noon, but more commonly builds up around 3 to 4 pm.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

[mocean]

get an old surf board and chuck some foot straps on it and ride in lighter winds.
(when you make the pug hole marine tex bonds realy well to foam/steal/fibre glass don't put it though your stringers , drill on the side of the stringer)


aj

[ricki]

It's almost that time of year again, the winter wind post was mothballed yesterday, so why not pull this post out of the sailloft and throw it up again?

Repeating, with some additions ...


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. USE AND MONITOR HOWZAWIND? and other resources on this site. Thermal winds can come up fast and localized. If you see it, share the joy.

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. We're talking fatalities, brain damage/coma and severe fractures, still guys keep at it despite this sad legacy. Sigh ... there will always be volunteer cannon fodder stepping up for avoidable injury sad to say. Doing proper wx planning, radar, satellite image and forecast analysis can help, look for those large holes. Monitor conditions at the beach even having someone use a PDA or laptop w/aircard at the beach tuned to radar to try to make sure nothing narly moves into your area. Even green colored systems on radar can toss out dangerous gusts at times.

4. Have other interests to carry you through the lighter wind months, diving*, standup paddleboarding*, 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.

* Stay tuned, more to come on these activities, soon!

5. Have your light wind gear ready to hand if the wind turns on suddenly. Say a couple of boards, a big twin tip, surfboard, skimboard or the like. I find it easier to change boards than kites. Find and learn how to tune for variable power a good light wind kite. Since bows have been out my largest kite has ranged between 12 and 14 m at 190 lbs. Tuning and board size can really make a big difference.

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.