Kiting Into Squalls

[ricki]

1. Kiters should check forecasts including hazard warnings, realtime winds (in the area and upweather), color radar and satellite imagery to assess the odds of storms impacting a session.

2. Kiters should be on the beach with their kites secured, ideally put away before winds change direction, speed or the temperature drops. Runaway kites have done damage in past squalls.

3. Do not try to ride out a squall with a kite up. If you are too late to land, totally emergency depower your kite EARLY before gusty winds arrive, don't wait as seconds may count.

NOTE: You may be able to ride out some squalls by keeping your kite low and plastered to the surface. Some squalls will pluck you off the water or land despite this and slam you into what ever to live, be severely injured or die. You never know how strong the winds will be in advance. Kill the kite power totally EARLY.

4. Have your hand on the kite release to detach if the kite fails to properly totally depower.

5. Wear proper safety gear including a good helmet, impact vest, hook knife, gloves, etc..

Some riders get a second chance and some aren't as fortunate. Is a questionable session worth the possible destruction of your kite, loss of income from work for several months, painful and costly rehabilitation, permanent impairment, perhaps paralysis, loss of access for yourself and friends and perhaps your death?

Think about it.

While you're at it, take a hard look the following table of reported but unconfirmed kiter fatality information:


Fatalities vs. Experience

Skill and experience don't seem to help much when things go wrong in severe accidents. Why not try caution, good technique and judgement instead? Things are upside down when our most experienced riders are also the ones most at risk of losing it. Something is fundamentally wrong to where riders would do well to have a fresh look at how, when and where they kite, safety practices, etc..