Ok boys. I thought is was apt to start a discussion about surviving those storm sessions.
So the forecast calls solid 20-40 knots, squalls, massive seas. Here's what I do.
check several forecast web sites.
check live wind readings on the day.
check rain radar and cross reference live wind data to hopefully see the wind spike when a squall goes through.
arrive at the beach. check actual conditions at the beach.
select a kite which has a wind range between max lull and max gust of the day.
eyeball the sea to spot the best riding spot.
rig up and launch.
Cruise around for a few mins to get the feel of the wind/waves. then let it loose and go for it.
Spot an incoming squall. Decide are the squalls coming through ridable? If not land with plenty of time to spare before the squall arrives. if yes then head out to sea a bit when a squall hits to get a safety buffer.
What advice do you have?. Add you experience here.
How would you go about deciding whether a squall is ridable, with enough time to make it to shore to land?
Another tip to remember, after the squall has passed.....it can be followed by an even bigger lull - or even a change in wind direction (offshore), so make sure you know your own local conditions.
So for my local (sunny coast), usually head out into the squall...then when it feels like it may be passing - head back in before my kite falls out of the sky.
If you have misjudged the squall and it hits don't come to the beach! if it is a corka, even get ya body in the water baord out in front and kite low and ride it out. Repeat don't go to the beach, water is softer than land!
Select to expand quotezarb said..
How would you go about deciding whether a squall is ridable, with enough time to make it to shore to land?
you don't really. but some days are more repeatable that other. you really need a lot of experience with you local area and the weather.
but typically if its an actual squall line that presents as a massive heavy rain line 100's of km across. don't ride through it. that squall line can change the wind direction massively. if its black and angry.... don't ride through it.
if its a microburst. which is a smaller patch of rain cloud that you can physically see the size of if. those are typically ridable and don't change the wind direction. they typically increase the wind speed 10-15 knots.
for me the decision to ride through the squalls is strongly based on what the rain radar has shown and what the live wind readings state backed up but what I actually feel on the actual water.
... a couple of things to add ,,,
- let some one know your going out if solo session!
- have a safe spot to punch out kite (safe spot meaning where you won't be putting yourself in further danger).
- don't use old or used lines!
- be prepared to let your beloved kite go when sh!t hits the fan!
- don't self land, punch kite out and go to safety!
cheers for now,
Robbie 
i'd add don't look to other riders to decide if a dark storm front is safe - decide for yourself. I am cautious because I have seen how quickly the wind gets up over the years to the point where you may regret not landing in time.
To those that do not know - heavy rain storm fronts upwind of you - the rain pushed the air in front of it making the wind speed rise - so just before the rain arrives it can go mental - also the first of the rain will accompany that wind speed increase also. eg 25-28k knots - 3 mins before rain hits 34knots rain just hitting from cloud gusting 38knots.
Today 65 knot gusts forecast and 42ft swell (that's not even face height..) (Buoyweather) 
- one of largest swell I have seen for a long time. Rode west coast yesterday it was massive, going to check it again later today.
+1 stay away from beach when squall hits . Also rig smallest usable kite using freeride setting for more depower . Stay warm for longer session . Ive used a moto dri rider type plastic jacket with great results.
some good info. when it gets really cold. its snowing down to 300m 20km away today. I bust out the hoody, booties and gloves. keeps me toasty for hours in what feels like polar blasting winds
Yeh to back up plummetts points, the rain radar is your friends to see what is coming and what is behind it.
Also that's a good distinction he made. If the cloud mass is broken a little / diced up with patches of clear sky generally you can be okay. Even a darkish cloud that has a boundary.
But when she starts wrapping around the horizon, start considering your options. Watch it carefully and judge the size and depth of it. Better to be safe than sorry. But hey I've always erred on the conservative side I'm sure there are those that push it much harder and do fine.
Plus drying my kite is such a pain in the ass! but worth it on the right day!
Select to expand quotePlummet said...
some good info. when it gets really cold. its snowing down to 300m 20km away today. I bust out the hoody, booties and gloves. keeps me toasty for hours in what feels like polar blasting winds
What hoodie do you use in the water? I'm looking at the Mystic and NP hoodies with spreader bar hole, but unsure whether they are very usable in the water.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
if its a microburst. which is a smaller patch of rain cloud that you can physically see the size of if. those are typically ridable and don't change the wind direction. they typically increase the wind speed 10-15 knots.
Are you sure you mean a microburst. A microburst is a relatively small cold column of air moving rapidly vertically down out the bottom of a thunderstorm, once it hits the ground it then spreads out in all directions so the wind direction would change 360 deg. It usually only lasts a couple of minutes, and you cant see it coming without the aid of doppler radar.
This reminds me of another point not yet mentioned, don't fly a kite anywhere near a thunderstorm.
Select to expand quotejuicerider said..
This reminds me of another point not yet mentioned, don't fly a kite anywhere near a thunderstorm.
You can get caught out even if there is not an obvious thunderstorm. Last weekend I saw a fast approaching squall so came in. A mate jumps on a smaller kite already pumped up and we launch him. Lines start humming, he touches the bar and gets a shock. Problem: kite is still flying, he wants to bring it down and the lines have started humming again. He grabs the bar end and a spark comes off the rivet and shocks him as it comes down. Very very funny, but 20 metres of potential difference can create a big charge even if there no obvious thunder and lightning about.
Patience
I have spent countless hours waiting for storm fronts to arrive, or too settle down. Don't let the desire to kite overcome common sense.
More patience to check your gear on one of the many no wind days to know everything is as it should be. If a pinhole is going to become a tear it will be when you least want it too.
More patience to learn your gear, what's the smallest kite you can take, what pigtails and other setting give most depower. Now is not the time to be unfamiliar with your gear.
An extra helping of patience to change out depower ropes far before they might fail, I managed to find a bar and lines that wears even faster than a North for my storm kite, will likely change it every 15 sessions.
Best kiting of the year if you do it right, and no crowds!
Select to expand quotejuicerider said..Plummet said..
if its a microburst. which is a smaller patch of rain cloud that you can physically see the size of if. those are typically ridable and don't change the wind direction. they typically increase the wind speed 10-15 knots.
Are you sure you mean a microburst. A microburst is a relatively small cold column of air moving rapidly vertically down out the bottom of a thunderstorm, once it hits the ground it then spreads out in all directions so the wind direction would change 360 deg. It usually only lasts a couple of minutes, and you cant see it coming without the aid of doppler radar.
This reminds me of another point not yet mentioned, don't fly a kite anywhere near a thunderstorm.
fair play. my terminology must be wrong. I know what I mean when I see it in the sky......another reason to build experience at your local spots and not rely on internet muppets like myself.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
Ok boys.
So the forecast calls solid 20-40 knots.
select a kite which has a wind range between max lull and max gust of the day.
So tell me,
Name a kite that has a 20knot wind range ? ^^^
lol.
Spend at bit of time on the beach looking at the conditions before rigging up, throw up the anometer for minutes not seconds
Choose a kite that likes gusts, not one that hates them
Straight onshore winds mean if things go wrong your gonna have a tree change
Keep an eye out to sea , dont get too wrapped in what your doing, the signs of a squall are generally just behind you
If you get caught out sink down depower and keep kite low with 1 hand on the safety, or kite low and ride with an edge not flat on the board, again hand at the ready
Always rig smaller than you might need and power up rather than bigger and running out of depower
If tether launching dont unclip until your happy, ( see plenty unclip while the kites on the ground only to discover its too powerfull overhead)
Colder means stronger more powerfull dense wind, downsize kite a couple of mtrs
A thicker wetty is better than a thin one in winter especially if youve a long swim
Give someone the heads up when youll be back
Better having a buddy even if its a poley
If in doubt dont go out, the wind will blow another day.
The strong conditions can be a buzz but are generally ****e wind conditions, imo id take a 25knt wind rather than a 20 to 35knt gusty wind
Select to expand quotewaveslave said..Plummet said..
Ok boys.
So the forecast calls solid 20-40 knots.
select a kite which has a wind range between max lull and max gust of the day.
So tell me,
Name a kite that has a 20knot wind range ? ^^^
lol.
At 82 pies I can ride 20-33 with relative ease on my 8m catalyst. Then survive 33-40 knots gusts if need be.
On my 6m reo i'll be underdone sub 25 but don't even reach for the trim until 38-40. I haven't found the top end trimmed yet. But I've been out in conditions gusting close to 50 knots.
So if conditions are 20-30 with 30-40 occasional squalls i'll be on my 8 cat. I may decide to land the kite before the approaching squall. or ride through it depending on my feel and research that day.
if its solid 28-30+ i'm on my little 6 reo. my main concern with the 6 reo is being underdone. if a lull comes through and i'm donkey deep in a monster swell the last thing I want is to not have enough power.
Through winter around here we get storm conditions frequently ,with gusts that vary up to and over 20 knots,the rule of thumb is small kite big board unless it's 20 + in the low end.
To answer waveslave there's tons of kites that can handle 20-40+ knots even up to 50 knots I see them out all the time,we do ride in some crazy conditions here but through winter you have to as its normally gusty as ,I usually always start a winter with a new set of lines for the high wind days ,and swap out any worn bar parts.
The guys that get hurt are usually the ones who don't know the area and set up too big a kite or have worn lines not realizing how explosive the gusts can get.
There's a lot of good points above but the main thing to remember is if your in doubt due to your ability level or incorrect gear then don't go out.
Yep board selection is key for sure. Hence always good to have a board on the beach if it drops back a bit! And the other way around but as I said don't go changing to a smaller board when it is already up your ass.
Yea, kiting in squalls is fun...................what a load of bull. Winter has always been crap for kiting and will remain so, but be my guest, if riding a bronco is your thing by all means.
This kind of thread makes it seem like going out in over 30 knots is fun and even a manly thing to do.
Select to expand quotegruezi said..
Yea, kiting in squalls is fun...................what a load of bull. Winter has always been crap for kiting and will remain so, but be my guest, if riding a bronco is your thing by all means.
This kind of thread makes it seem like going out in over 30 knots is fun and even a manly thing to do.
My most memorable rides have been in 20-40+ knots ,huge surf tons of power on tap on a 6-8m kite that turns fast as ,there's nothing like it I'd take a good storm session over a mild 15-20 knot day anytime,absolutely love those sessions
I don't think it's anything to do with being more manly it's just the buzz factor.
Select to expand quoteradman4 said..gruezi said..
Yea, kiting in squalls is fun...................what a load of bull. Winter has always been crap for kiting and will remain so, but be my guest, if riding a bronco is your thing by all means.
This kind of thread makes it seem like going out in over 30 knots is fun and even a manly thing to do.
My most memorable rides have been in 20-40+ knots ,huge surf tons of power on tap on a 6-8m kite that turns fast as ,there's nothing like it I'd take a good storm session over a mild 15-20 knot day anytime,absolutely love those sessions
I don't think it's anything to do with being more manly it's just the buzz factor.
Yep I agree. my most memorable sessions are the same. But it does take a while to come to enjoy those sessions. For some time it scared the tits off me and also I had the wrong equipment. The gear with the right mindset makes those "crap for kiting winters" become a highlight of the year.
It's a big sport with lots of sub sections, luckily we get to choose which we enjoy.
I doubt I will ever be doing megaloops, or a myriad of other tricks. Might try a race board or buy another big kite someday. But a 7m kite with (nearly new) 20m lines is a priority in my quiver.
Storms are not for everyone, and I would never encourage someone to learn in them, or go out against their judgment. I have been at the beach back home and seen a lot more Kiters on the beach than on the water, and was pleasantly surprised to find a complete lack of 'peer preasure' to do anything other than be safe and not even think of pumping up unless they were 100% confident.
But judging by the smiling faces and thumbs up exchanged while on the water, I am not the only one who thinks storm kiting has it's place.
Be patient, safe, and be thankful for the smooth consistent winds of summer!
Yeh I did t start winter kiting until a few years back when I believed the gear was good enough. But then again I have always erred on the side of caution. Going out in big swell and decent winds reminds me off the time we hit margs on a big swell surfing. It's cold it's intense it takes all your focus. But for me personally anything over 32 ish knots I don't go out even now. So there is storm weather and there is storm weather! I also come in well before a squal hits and have only been caught out a few times but has assessed the situation beforehand and worked out the worst case scenario ( what I feel the max wind gusts will be) then taken out a kite and board that could ha dole that. Reckon if I was younger though and didn't have kids I'd be pushing the limits for sure.
yeh winter kiting is not for everyone. Infact my fav wind in winter is those north westers we get before a big front and it turns westerly south westerly on you. Surprisingly consisten wind with smaller gust range. To the person who bagged winter kiting these are sessions you miss out on.
Well, I had a great session yesterday in the rain :).. 25 intense minutes. Started on my 11M fully depowered and just coping and finished on it fuly powered and falling off the sky. 2 rain showers and quite heavy and then the wind just died on me.
I looked at the charts later and those 25 minutes were the only ones I could have had so I am happy about it after 2 weeks of no water for me.
But I agree with all the comments above.. I was always on the lookout for lightning, none in the vicinity fortunately. I also didn't venture out far from shore especially since I was kiting alone. Playing in waves is mostly close anyway.
Beware of winter storms.. but how lovely they are :)
Stay safe and good winds
Dont forget the Fight or Flight pooping syndrome! I dont know about you lot, but I get this every time I'm about to kite in storm conditions and big waves. Pre-Adrenaline effect? I dont know... I guess its just fear leaving the body...
