Was doing a downwinder today in really epic conditions when a big ass beast of a cumulonimbus came over and started sending down bolts of lightning. I was still a few kilometres from the edge of the storm cell but thought better of it and just walked the rest 
just wondered how close people had got and whether anyone has ever been struck while kiting?
Ye man I've been out at rosebud in a lightning storm and every time I jumped I got a small shock just before I landed. Freaked the hell out of me at first but then I did it a few times and it was pretty fun. It wasn't a strong shock just a small zap.
Select to expand quoteSimonreed said...
Ye man I've been out at rosebud in a lightning storm and every time I jumped I got a small shock just before I landed. Freaked the hell out of me at first but then I did it a few times and it was pretty fun. It wasn't a strong shock just a small zap.
Yeh iv had a similar experience, little zaps, freaked me out. Anyone no why?
Are you serious ?? Farking mad I reckon!!
Nothing like giving lightening a short cut to ground zero !! Kite in a storm is a very short rush I reckon !!
My 2cw!!
Select to expand quotekemp90 said..
Simonreed said...
Ye man I've been out at rosebud in a lightning storm and every time I jumped I got a small shock just before I landed. Freaked the hell out of me at first but then I did it a few times and it was pretty fun. It wasn't a strong shock just a small zap.
Yeh iv had a similar experience, little zaps, freaked me out. Anyone no why?
Reading about how Benjamin franklin "discovered electricity" by flying a kite in a lightning storm (back in the 18th century) it sounds like he was never actually struck by lightning but rather the storm clouds charged his kite, lines, key and Leyden jar capacitor sufficiently for his lines to repel each other and for him to receive a jolt when he touched the metal key attached to his lines. He thereby concluded that electricity must be involved. Anyone who has tried to repeat the experiment and actually had there kite struck has died.
Most lightning strikes are from a negative discharge of electricity from the cloud to the earth so I suspect when you jump in a thunder storm you and your kite are accumulating electrons and when you land and earth yourself this flow of current results in the zaps you are talking about
.......... Sounds exciting and the higher and longer you jump for the more charged you'll get
Yep, you can get hit though. Had to take a mate to hospital after he did a jump, and landed with a crack - I heard it from a decent distance away.
.....not the best idea kiting in a thunderstorm IMO . These little zaps are not the problem.
It is one thing to be out there when it is building up but when the real storm arrives you don't want to be on the water or the beach with your kite attached. Thunderstorms have their own weather patterns which are typically unpredictable, turbulent and intense. You have the likelihood of violent gusts at a time when you don't expect it and /or getting a real lightening strike passing through you. You have no control.
My yacht suffered a direct hit 80 miles SE of Mackay, annihilated everything on top of the mast, sent a tongue of flame out of the USB port on my 3G modem, and blew all the electrical fittings off the diesel engine. The 3G antenna on top of the mast turned into floating bits of molten copper that drifted down on to the deck and melted into the deck paint. Pretty much one of the most terrifying and awesome things I've ever experienced in my life. Whenever I see any cloud that looks suss I'm off the beach and out of there asap.
Geeesus! This forum could cause severe injury or death if taken literally.
Do not kite in a storm numb-skulls!
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said..
Geeesus! This forum could cause severe injury or death if taken literally.
Do not kite in a storm numb-skulls!
The chance of getting struck by lightning is about the same as getting sick by lightening.
These storm cells have been crazy!
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
I licked the end of a battery once
just like the old one about a 9v battery and your girlfriends touche! you know its wrong but you are going to stick your tongue on it anyway!
Select to expand quotePrawnhead said..cauncy said..
I licked the end of a battery once
just like the old one about a 9v battery and your girlfriends touche! you know its wrong but you are going to stick your tongue on it anyway!
yuck
dude
Taken near Newcastle yesterday (from newks fb group): 
"I think it might be time to call it a day"
So many 'storms' lately - on a dw to city in in a sw with some big bolts discharging Hillarys way. System was moving south east . Pulled in and waited for it pass inland! They reckon lightning can strike upto 16km from the edge of cell..
Select to expand quotePhoney said..
Taken near Newcastle yesterday (from newks fb group):
"I think it might be time to call it a day"
one crazy idiot
Did a DW yesterday,lightning everywhere,
wind died and had to walk back up the beach 
,lightning everywhere,
Had to ride home,pouring rain and lightning everywhere
Glad to get home and have a hot shower 
Is that Mark? .....In Newy? if you think that's crazy, you should go drinking with him!....Lightning strike would be the least of his worries.
That cloud looks more like a atomic blast! I suppose we are talking about Stockton.....there's enough chromium 6 over there to melt ur face off.
I'm a strong believer that kitesurfing is full of stupid, half retarded and careless people... There are around 50% I believe..
And natural selection dictates that one day you will be rewarded for your efforts and no doubt we will read about and green thumb your misfortunes.
Select to expand quoteRPM said..
I'm a strong believer that kitesurfing is full of stupid, half retarded and careless people... There are around 50% I believe..
And natural selection dictates that one day you will be rewarded for your efforts and no doubt we will read about and green thumb your misfortunes.
I believe you may be right and windsurfing is full of fully retarded people.
