Storm Hell & Amazing Indifference

[ricki]

I count at least nine guys out within ready striking range for the gust front from this monster. Amazing indifference, stupidity or ignorance, what is it?
Then they try to land in it instead of emergency depowering early? Lucky guys but luck doesn't last forever. Use your smarts next time.

Put another way, if you stick a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger, it could smart, right? This is the same thing, just involving kites and insanely obvious dangerous weather.

...

"I'm sure there's some of you guys on here who were out there today!

These words are by eazyrider from the kitesbuggiesandboards forum:


"Well if ever the phrase "OMG" could be used today was it!

It started offnice, sunny, warm and around 15mph then after a while me and peter32 noticed the mother of all storm fronts coming
in from the sea, I had been keeping an eye on it for around half an hour and everyone on the land and water was enjoying the effects of
the front moving in.

Then a flash of lightning around 10-20 miles away after the 3rd every landbased kiter had landed and sanded there kites. As we stood there
watching this monster grow and the front was moving at a rate that made you move your head to follow it.

After the 6th flash of lightning most of the water lads where running in and I went on kite catching duty and that was it!

ALL HELL BROKE LOSE!

The wind went from 20mph to 60-70mph in a second! Two lads where picked from the water one covered the entire beach Around 500m
without touching the ground and only came down as he was tangled with another kiter who was in flight. People where sliding down the beach
at around 30-40mph with their kites at the edge! I went to chase after one person but then he had around 10 people running after him so I
made the mad dash back to my kite that was still weighted down yet moving up the beach. People left right and centre were trying to fire
their safety but the load was to much to fire off from Naish to slingy not people where on their knees going across the beach tugging with
both hands at the safety yet nothing!

Pampers is 18st and was setting up his kite he ended sat on his un-inflated venom and it was dragging him up the beach, here's jonny
was knocked over by the wind and it was like nature just went "F**K YOU"

On the up side no one was badly hurt and only a couple of kites got damaged but it could have been so much worse!

Do you remember that video from 2 years ago of the kitesurfer who was out in Miami when he got lofted and slamed into the
building and went over the camera man?

Well it was like that but with around 15 experienced local lads.

The mad part is (and the worrying part) it was a buitifull sunny day with a 15mph breeze with around 30 kites up in total and I dread
to think what would of happened if it was at the weekend as there would have been around 60-70 beginners on the land and water and
30+ experienced people on the land and water. Now think of around 100 kitesurfers all overpowered and tea bagging across the
beach with all the bucket and spaders

Anyway a quick warning!

Keep an eye on the weather behind you and know and understand what a storm front looks like and if you see on get your kite down
and packed up. It might take 30 minuets to get to you it could take 30 seconds or it might just die out but you will be safe and it only
takes a few minuets to set up again.

Be safe guys!"
http://www.kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesur...hp?f=1&t=40473



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z51bx...layer_embedded



Here's a video of the same cloud flying over land. These storms can travel a mile a minute (60 mph), in low visibility it can be on you before you know it, literally!

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