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

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

[greg meintjes]

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

[jim]

I just might go windsurfing instead.

[ricki]

Originally Posted by jim

I just might go windsurfing instead.

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.

[ricki]

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.

[greg meintjes]

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

[jim]

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

[OttoNP]

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

[BigR]

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

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