Wind gusts and lulls. The first thing I want you to do is look at the graph above. The wind was steadily increasing from 4:00-6:00 until something drastic happened! It went from an average of about 15 to a gust of over 40! In our area, a wind speed of 15 means kiters are either already out on the water or getting ready to go. During the previous day and that day, the wind had been very gusty, jumping from 19-30 throughout the afternoon. On this particular day, it was overcast and a system was sitting right off the coast.
Why is it gusting? A few things can cause this. If you’re kiting in a wind direction where the wind is passing over obstacles, then it is going to create a wind shadow. A wind shadow is where the wind goes to DIE! If wind hits a building or trees, that object will kill the wind in front of it (multiply the height of the object by 2 and that is the length of the shadow!). So, it is important to avoid these areas so you aren’t caught in the shadow or the gusty wind in front of it.
“I don’t care if it’s gusty, I’m going out!” If you want to go out in gusty conditions, that’s OK, but you can still be safe about it! Reading wind graphs is going to be very important. Having a range of 5-7 mph between the lull and the gust is OK. Having a range of 10 mph or more becomes a more advanced and dangerous condition. This is where you need to make smart decisions about your kite, board and skill level. When choosing a kite for these conditions, assume that you will be flying mostly in the gust. In a situation with a smaller wind range, you can fly to the average. However, in these conditions, you want to assume that it could continue to gust. Choose a smaller board that will allow you to hold down the power as you’re riding. A bigger board will plane nicely, but could make it difficult to ride if the wind gets too strong. Finally, be a good self-evaluator! If you struggle in normal conditions, then maybe a really gusty day is not the best day for you to try out your luck!
So you’re out riding and you catch a big gust, what do you do? In these conditions, don’t forget about the edge of the window. Bringing your kite to the edge of the window and edging in hard with your board helps kill your power. Ultimately, just stay relaxed as you are flying in these conditions because you always have your safety system. If you get too overpowered, don’t be afraid to pull your safety and swim in!
It’s windy, let’s go! If that phrase isn’t already something you commonly use, then it will be as you become more involved in the sport. Just don’t forget, that you still need to evaluate each situation based on what you know about the conditions and your own abilities. Doing this will keep you from having the dreaded kitemare and you’ll likely enjoy your time on the water much more!
