*** Hurricane Riding, the Real Deal ***
 

I keep reading about quite a bit of hurricane riding anticipation. I hope that people that consider going out in these tropical systems appreciate what they are risking and what conditions to look for and avoid.

Squalls associated with tropical systems can routinely vomit gusts in the 40 to 50 to 60 kt.+ range in seconds. Guess what the average reported windspeed has been in kiteboarding fatalities, 28 kts., ranging from 12 kts. to over 50 kts.

Experience will win out? Not necessarily, 65% of these riders had 2 to 4 plus years experience. The reality is the experienced guys are the ones MOST at risk, by far (almost FOUR times more likely to lose it than newbies). Question , why do you think this is the case? Your answers could be important not only to yourself but to others, well experienced riders.

This weather isn't always that obvious to the naked eye either, it can all look gray. Even if it is obvious, you have to notice it before it arrives which hasn't always happened.

Color radar can help but it isn't perfect and unless you have someone shoreside who can reliably communicate with you and is closely monitoring it (i.e. laptop with an aircard, a very good idea) things can change.

Flat kites are great in managing gusty weather within operating specs usually, as long as nothing goes wrong. What if it inverts because you are sheeting out too much at the upper wind range or something breaks? Your major depowering and control ability can vanish in seconds leaving your overpowered and perhaps being dragged out of control. This has happened. Flat kites are a great advance but they aren't magic.

Typical C kites in tropical systems carry even greater risks as the ability to depower is always limited whether things work properly or not. There are other articles on this site with ideas on weather planning for sufficiently experienced riders at this time of year, some links appear below. Finding a large enough, clear hole with stable weather is key in this. Often there WON'T be such conditions in many areas experiencing higher winds with tropical systems. The squalls are simply too numerous. This is a fact and fairly common.

http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=808

It comes down to individual education, evaluation and choice in picking riding weather. Still, it is important to truly understand what you are getting into. Sometimes blowing it off to ride in more stable conditions is the way to go. I believe there was a guy in Okinawa who would back me up on this, if he could. A feederband squall from a distant typhoon jerked him off the water and lofted him 50 m horizontally into a concrete wall. The result wasn't pretty and he didn't make it. Rest in peace, I hope others learn from your experience.

point taken rick.
it's a fact of *kiting* life in florida
right in the middle of dry season we get these tropicals and many can't resist.

you nailed it breh.
get out between the squalls.

internet access@ the launch is a good thing....T-mobile rocks
i-kite comes in full view...so duz animated babenewz9 doppler
wake me up when september ends

Right you are, look for the holes. Those that are big enough may allow some leeway to ride. This is a repost of something from last year from the above link that deals with conditions around Hurricane Dennis worth taking a look at:

"So, I went to Delray checked out things. The sky was partially cloudy but lacked any obviously threatening clouds. I asked some of the guys what size they had been riding and was told 10 m kites. Well as it happened I had a new 10 m with me that I wanted to try out. I was a little underpowered at times but eventually the wind filled in a bit and I reasonably powered most of the time. It was a fairly technical session particularly with the waves and uneven wind.

I came in about 8 pm and put my gear away. I had noticed some slightly darker clouds moving in and thought it would be good to call it a day. Driving south about 8.30 pm the wind boosted to about 50 mph, viz dropped with driving rain. I think I caught this squall on radar, see below.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album125/...and_squall.gif
It is that fairly small lump of red, yellow, green passing out from the "95" symbol. I have seen violent, dangerous squalls that show up even smaller than that on the radar. Scale is relative which is worth remembering.

Tomorrow is another day and with luck the storm may not strengthen. As it moves north the squalls in the feeder bands will continue to rake over the peninsula of Florida. Lots of microburst and tornado opportunities in this system. A big part of this part of the state is under a tornado watch for most of the coming night. There may not be anything close to a clear corridor like what developed off of Delray this evening. So, it may not be rideable, at least not in my book.

Do your homework and think carefully about whether to ride or not. I believe some guys were probably out in Miami complete with squalls. Life and kiteboarding can be a numbers game. Make an informed "wager" based upon readily available information and pick your own venue/terms or bet like a fool? Players choice, choose well and as Toby says, live to kite another day.

Good luck to the people impacted by this hurricane.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album125/...im_tribune.gif"

So, even with as large a hole as opened over Delray a small squall, probably only five miles across slipped in and could have kicked my butt had I still been out.

Looking at the larger scale image at the bottom of the post above this one. Guys in Tampa Bay may have had a large enough hole for a while at least until the mass came closer as in the latter part of the loop. You would need to look at the radar under higher resolution, realtime winds, outside and make your own call on whether to ride or not. There could have been enough storm fragments at higher res. to make going out a poor risk.

For guys coming out of Naples in the record shown above, I would say no way. At least not for guys without a death wish. Every squall won't kick your butt just like every drunk drive won't see you mashed up. Just enough of the time to make either proposition a bad one.

Important stuff to think about while you are analyzing weather during tropical wx season. Hurry up fall!

If you decide to ride, be sure to scope out radar/sat. images, marine forecasts, real time winds, etc.. to see if there is even a large enough hole between squall lines to be worth going out.

It is quite possible that there won't be large enough holes at times, i.e. keep your kite in the bag.

Just because the eye is no where near you doesn't mean the hazards are past. There is a case well worth reading over at the link below. It involves 50 to 60 mph squall winds kicking in about 200 miles south and over 100 miles east of the center of the tropical depression.

The rider never saw the squall cloud that boosted the winds 50 to 60 mph when the wind was 15 to 20 mph. That particular feeder band and many others like it can be many hundreds of miles long and contain ugly powerful squalls.

http://fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=210

Any other guys want to volunteer to ride in 15 to 60 mph winds with a 10 m kite like that guy did? In choosing to ride in tropical systems that is exactly the sort of thing you are potentially exposing yourself to.

Squalls can come before, during and after hurricanes and other tropical systems. Stay aware and take care of yourselves.

Here's something from a couple of years ago. Worth reading and thinking over. There have been quite a few flat kite and new 5th line high depower kite incidents since this post went up. Guys getting flight lines caught on their harness hooks, legs when the kite hits the water temporarily, even on the line itself through strumming, wrapped wing tips, seized and broken pulleys, broken bridle lines. The kites go into powered spinning and sometimes stay that way ripping the kiter along at high speed on and under the water sometimes until the kite rips apart. Things happen. Pick your conditions well and don't bet too much on a system working perfectly in weather extremes.

hurricane riding,the real deal
 

You got to be real careful, even a 5 mph gust can can cause problems if you have no buffer zone, my biggest worry tomorrow is if we get some newbies on the water and and we also get some strong onshore gusts,Ijust read a kiter got killed in Brasil while riding when a squall came through , I will not be taking any chances if the weather is squally, and hope some of the other riders will help set an example for the benefit of some of the newbies.

Greg

i have raced boats through tropical storm and huricanes, don't be stupid and get your kites down, with big pressure changes the wind directions that veer dramatically. a bunch of years ago i was doing a race up the east coast off of southern tip of NJ and a tropical storm chase us down, saw a 60' race boat gets its rig ripped off the deck by a veering gust 25 to 50+ in a instant, could'nt imagine having a kite up when that stuff hits. always live to fight another day :cool:

Our forecast is for 40 to 70 on Tuesday.
Think I will pass. I had a ss bar (a real one) get snapped in two a few years ago in sixty.
I am not real interested in seeing what a real kite would do in 70 :rolleyes:

hurricane riding,the real deal
 

Remember ,you dont always have to have dark ugly clouds to get a squall, The worst squall I have been in in the Keys was from a greyish looking cloud, the winds went from 16mph to 35-40 mph in a few minutes. The only indication of it,s approach was a hazy look just above the water and the wind shadow from the wind on the water.The point I am making is always be aware ,and keep a lookout behind and upwind of you for changing conditions even if the clouds aren,t dark and scary looking.

Greg

I just might go windsurfing instead.

http://estatico.tudonahora.com.br/im...b-destaque.jpg
From: http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.p...t&sd=a&start=0

The kiter was lofted or dragged into this building by squall gusts. I wish what comfort can be found to his family and friends. Brazil is not known for having a lot of violent squalls from what people have told me. Our area on the other hand Florida has very powerful squalls on a regular basis particularly in tropical systems.

I agree new kiters should sit this one out. Here's a harsh fact though, it is the experienced guys who are getting taken out more often in these tragic events. I'm updating this information but up to around 2006;

65% had three or more years of experience with 42% with four or more years kiteboarding
The average age among the lost kiters was 39

From: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=412...ight=100%2C000

When it comes to squalls everyone should sit it out and well before the wind or temperature changes too. If it is roaring in at a mile a minute and the gust front kicks out five or more miles in front you don't have much time to react. Sometimes with impediments to sight, you may have no time at all. The main thing that claimed these kiters were the choices they made. It all starts with us and what we choose to do, when, where and how.

Excellent idea! Been saying that for years when it comes to squalls sans lightning. As long as you have the skill set, right sized gear, a helmet for sure, have at it. When was the last time a windsurfer was picked up and lofted a 100 ft. into a tree? If you want to mess with storm winds, it can be a more sensible way to do it. There still are risks but the lofting and death spiral hazards go way down.

I am curious if anyone is actually debating going out (windsurfing or not) if it is actually gusting to 70, or if you are talking about riding after it passes. The title of the thread is "Hurricane Riding, the Real Deal".
So, are you guys talking about going out in the peak winds? Get it on video if you do decide to go out in the peak.
Video of people just standing in that usually makes the news. ;)
I would love to see vid of someone kiting or windsurfing in 70 (if we get that).
It's impossible, is the other reason I want to see it. :)

That's the point Scott, windsurfing allows a narrow wind range when you're there, that's it. You can't hold the mast and you get catapulted across the water. Of course you might slam and break something against your mast (head, hand, foot) or simply blast through your sail. If you pass out you may well drown. It it is too strong you can't even launch and go very far. If the gust range is too large and you are stuck with one sail up, you go from way underpowered to your arms pulled out of their sockets to being spun at high speed across the water. It is a lot harder to do than kiteboarding. Even putting your gear together in high wind is dangerous, about broke my nose with a sail reversal when I was rigging the sail in 38 mph years back. It is a lot harder to fake it windsurfing, either it will work or it won't.

You can launch a kite into almost anything but if it is too strong immediately or an hour later, if your gear breaks, if you get tangled, if you mis-control things, your lines tangle or any of a few dozen other things you may get burned.

Here's something else to think about, a newer kind of accident with flat and high depower kites. If your kite goes down and you get tangled on your hook, harness, legs, whatever (this is easy in extremely gusty winds) and it relaunches your depowering likely gets disabled as does your primary and secondary quick releases. Essentially you're tied to that high wind wonder machine as it loops with little to no chance of getting free of it as you are dragged and perhaps lofted along at high speed. You might be able to cut your way out but likely you are in for the full ride (usually ends in drowning or heart attack) until your kite rips or enough lines break. So, avoid weather extremes and tangles with a passion.

hurricane riding, the real deal
 

I am talking about riding in winds produced by the hurricane, not hurricane force winds,just the water blown droplets at hurricane speed alone would make it almost impossible to ride, never mind trying to use a kite small nough to to handle gust ranges from 75mph to 100 mph. If I remember correctly Flash Austin went out in 60 + mph and did not do to well.

Greg

yeah im talking about tomorrow afternoon or after it passes . Not during the storm!

Good to hear guys. Just making sure.

If someone tries it in 60 plus, video tape it please. :mrgreen:

Several years ago I rode a B3 in 35 knots and I've also ridden a 2 meter trainer kite in 45-50. I was just slightly underpowered on the trainer in 45 but in 60 knots it should be perfect.
Dont know if I will try again, but maybe.

its amazing how quickly the kites power increases with the wind speed....

ive been on a 9m in 35 and on a 3.5m foil in 45 fully powered and jumping... scary stuff..... that was the last time i saw that kite, had to cut it lose and watch it fly away.... :(

I'll be in Florida 8/27/2008-9/02/2008 hoping to ride in Lauderdale by the Sea area; however, I just found my hotel has no internet...

Anyone in the area want to clue me in on the forecasts for my stay? Rick?

Thanks.
Nick

You may have dead calm winds OR you may have hurricane force winds....

Anything goes....


Most likely no winds but as you can see, there is a small chance of 75 mph winds as well

Well, it is more than a week away, 10 days from today. I think the hurricane will be passed by then...

I don't mean clue me in to what it says now, I can check that, I mean during the time I'm down there.

Most likely 5-10 knts,

alotta times after these things pass it'll calm down , if it can calm down much more than 10 kts

it usually does not blow any wind in FL during august

Hello Nick,

Typical wind that time of year is light to no wind at all. This year has been different in some respects then again, I think it has been five weeks since I've had a kite up. Missed a few sessions in that time though.

We've had some unusual late/early season cold fronts, strong ones too in recent weeks. If one of these comes through while you are here with strong easterly winds you could be good to go. Regarding tropical activity, IF there is a system nearby that is generating easterly (N to E to S winds actually) AND there are few squalls or large clear holes between them, then again, you're good to go.

Sorry but it is too far off to say. Guys are getting excited about riding today. Here's what were looking at in terms of squalls currently:

Click - http://tinyurl.com/6hdm7l

You want to watchout for the more colorful stuff particularly the red cells. Although the green stuff can dangerously boost winds as well at times. That raft of squalls just passed over my location south of West Palm Beach. Doesn't look all that clear of squalls to me. btw, that northern red line of squalls was moving at 66 mph north or about a mile a minute. It could be on you within five to ten minutes of your seeing it, perhaps less. See a few spikes close to 40 mph on some of the wind stations up from wind in the low 20's. It could go a lot higher in some squalls, you never know.

Sorry to be so indefinite about the wx during your visit but that is about all I can say for now.

Hey Rick,
seeing the storm going to cruz up the western side then accross, does Naples/Sanibel area get waves?, going to be hammering offshore there till it passes. Just wondering., J-

Hey John,

I was wondering if their models were all screwed up at 5:30 am this morning as it looked to me like the storm mass might get sucked up and squirted out the top of the Florida Straits along the east coast without crossing over to the Gulf. The center of rotation is supposed to be in what seems to be clear, squall free space in the SW quadrant of the storm mass. So, who knows but I thought Fay might be well north of us later on tonight. I guess we'll see.

Regarding waves, here's what Magicseaweed has to say for Naples and the SW Coast:

http://charts.metcentral.com/nww3/f4...1929756/30.png

and for waves heights: http://magicseaweed.com/Naples-Surf-...dLongRange/us/

They're saying the swells should shift to NW tomorrow morning. Not mega surf but perhaps rideable. There hasn't been much of a long term wind field with this one and all the land has obstructed swell development. Not that I'm complaining about any of this.

interesting, if it gets sucked into the Atlantic that will set up promising windows for us up here in RI, we love south swells marching up the coast :p

Sorry, I guess I have not been clear...

I was hoping for a local kiter (or anyone with internet access) that I could call, or would call me during 8/28/2008-9/02/2008 to check the weather. I know it is unlikely that there will be wind. I can call friends in MI, but normally a local kiter can give a much better weather interpretation based on what the forecast says. For example, at a local spot near me, if forecast is south and it is sunny, it will most likely be ridable no matter what the number shows...and...another direction that would seem good to a non-local, is usually very gusty...

Thanks...

I know wind is unlikely, August is bad, but I'm also there September first and second. I'm sure there is a switch that clicks at midnight on August 31st....

I'm telling you guys, I'm coming down and I'm bringing the wind....

Sorry, I misunderstood. I'll PM my phone number to you.

Thanks! Don't worry, I won't be a nuisance...and if your in the area, you may get a free lunch/dinner out of it...

Nick

Looks like it is getting organized slightly. You can make out what looks like an eye wall forming around a center of rotation below Marathon. Feeder bands are dragging up from across Cuba to the east as it develops the characteristic counter clockwise rotation. It is interacting with the Mainland, Keys and Florida Bay and may loose some organization. The eyewall seems to collapse as it comes close to the lower Keys and what may be another is forming below it to the south. Noticed the lower Keys are seeing sustained winds to 44 mph, may build.

http://images.intellicast.com/Weathe..._None_anim.gif

And, it looks like it is tracking to the NNW as they have been saying. The west coast may well be in for some wind as they have been predicting.

HEAD'S UP -

Just heard from Lloyd, Channel 4 is supposed to show footage of a kiter being lofted into a building around Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale today in squall gusts. It should be on in a few minutes in the 6 pm news I would guess. I am not sure if my cable even has Channel 4 anymore, I would appreciate if someone could tape it. Lloyd thinks the kiter survived the impact. Let's hope so.

STAY OUT OF THE DAMNED SQUALLS!

It's on Channel 4's website:

HERE


.

Ouch
 

This brings me back to another post, I believe it was yours, Rick.

LET GO OF THE BAR. Yes, ladies and gents, his hands never left the bar.

I just hope he survives to kite another day.:shock:

holy crap... my heart stopped completely. Wow! Any word on the rider?

i just saw the guy on the news get lofted and hit a van or something it looked like tiki beach ?

I saw it on WINK news and was completely taken back... still in shock at how fast that happened. He was naturally hanging on for dear life.

hurricane riding, the real deal
 

I saw on a later segment one kite flying loose through the air and another kiter trying to land his kite also get into trouble, surf and kiteboards were also according to the reporter blowing dangerously across the beach, he also commented that the authorities are getting concerned with these activities. As I said on kiteforum ,I really hope the guy that got lofted recovers completely but there are no excuses for anyone been out in those conditions, any look at a radar or sattelite image should have been warning enough, that and the fact that for at least the last 24hrs, there has been almost nonstop coverage of the storm on all local TV and radio stations.

Greg

Wow, I hope that kiter pulls through. It's amazing that some people are willing to make a life or death decision, when the circumstances would lead one to believe that the only outcome is DEATH! How many guys rode today and were lucky enough to escape harm? I hope that many Florida kiters see this, and then think twice about going out. With kiters making these kinds of decisions, city/county officials can easily make their decision to ban the sport on the beaches. Let's live to kite another day. It's almost fall!!!