Insane winds! 3rd Ave video footage

[robotvox]

yeah, i figured it would be appreciated, i know i'd love to see myself if it was me out there. But I realize that some people are camera shy so I'm just trying to put it out there, if you don't want me to record you for some reason just let me know.

[glenn]

Sick! 7 seconds airtime is fun no matter how you look at it! On those days you're just happy to land in one piece!

[goosh]

the video shows perfectly why one should not go out in these winds as noone has real fun like on a good 20-25 knot day. All are at their limits, overpowered, hard time to get any edge before a jump, pulled up just by the kite powered and not by loading something into it.

I for my part rather wait for the good days and enjoy my riding than to proof that it is possible. I also dont want to add a 4 m kite to my library for the 1-2 days per year...
G

I find it funny that people think it's cool and crazy and wild to go out on these winds.

Then something like last year happens when a kiter gets totally trashed (Kevin in Florida?) and then people go "Well, he should have known better and not be out in those winds"

We have plenty of great winds in the bay area. No need to be out on 50+ no matter how small of a kite you have. The difference of highs and lows that day was of 30 miles. Stay home, watch a movie and stay safe.... then go kiting the next day.

[Greg]

I've kited a handfull of times when the wind was blowing sand 4 feet high (about 50)..
It's a hell of a thrill but it's NOT fun- it's survival kiting... We do these things to prove to ourselves we can do it... kinda like climbing Everest!
Even the crazy's tend to be look like sain kiters on video in such conditions because the cost of a minor mistake is so great... If you think jumping 50' high is exciting-try not to poop your pants when you go 50' sideways in the blink of an eye.....
L.M.G.

[robotvox]

Dont compare apples and oranges now. I dont think the florida kiting incident has any relevance to this video. That guy Kevin launched a 9m kite into an oncoming hurricane with no helmet, and I don't believe he is what you would call a seasoned kiter.

Everybody who went out at third that day was fully aware of what he was getting into. If we saw some newbie pumping up a 9m, he would have been stopped.

[wjb]

the video shows perfectly why one should not go out in these winds as noone has real fun like on a good 20-25 knot day. All are at their limits, overpowered, hard time to get any edge before a jump, pulled up just by the kite powered and not by loading something into it.

I for my part rather wait for the good days and enjoy my riding than to proof that it is possible. I also dont want to add a 4 m kite to my library for the 1-2 days per year...
G

I find it funny that people think it's cool and crazy and wild to go out on these winds.

Then something like last year happens when a kiter gets totally trashed (Kevin in Florida?) and then people go "Well, he should have known better and not be out in those winds"

We have plenty of great winds in the bay area. No need to be out on 50+ no matter how small of a kite you have. The difference of highs and lows that day was of 30 miles. Stay home, watch a movie and stay safe.... then go kiting the next day.

That is like saying don't charge a steep chute, stick to the groomers. A man has to know his limitations. Not a day for newbs for sure or guys like Kevin.

[goosh]

That is like saying don't charge a steep chute, stick to the groomers. A man has to know his limitations. Not a day for newbs for sure or guys like Kevin.

Not really the same..

When it comes to a steep chute it is pretty much all about your skills. (and if you trigger an avalanche because the conditions weren't good enough to ski that chute, yet again, it comes down to skills and recognizing that the terrain is dangerous) and the end of the day it's you and your skills.

When you are kiting in winds that shift 30 miles an hour in what could be a blink of an eye you are at the hands of mother nature. No matter how skillful you might be and how many years you might have kiting.

It is true that a seasoned kiter will feel a lot more comfortable going out in these kinds of winds than a newbie. but you are still dealing with extremely strong and unpredictable winds.

All I was saying is that if nothing would have happend to Kevin everybody would be saying "That's just sick, you guys are wild and crazy"
Something did happen and it turns into "you are stupid and should never be out there, you are hurting our sport"

[5150]

cool footage.

but it wasn't blowing that hard, guys. i've been on the ocean in 45kts before and there is spindrift and spume everywhere once it goes over 40.

no spume on video- no 40 kts.

that was a real 35 knot day for sure, and *maybe, just maybe* touched 40 in the biggest puffs. and yes, i agree that it was windy, but it gets like this every year in the spring.... remember?

[jrg]

The airport reported 2 hours of 40 gusting to 50 knots. The 3rd locals agreed it was the windiest they had ever seen the inside. And Chilly surfed the point :)

http://www.teamcoyote.net/2009Coyote/ga ... index.html

[5150]

that graph (assuming the sensor is calibrated) shows maximum gusts of 50 mph, which is ~40kts, and an average in the range of 36 kts.

not saying it wasn't windy- i was out there lit up on a 6. just calming the hyperbole.