Windy days are here again!

It's getting windy out there! As you may have noticed, colder air brings in some great wind. If you see a weather report showing some cold fronts in the near future, get ready for a few days of kiting bliss! (Also you may want to invest in a good wetsuit.)

But can you get too much of a good thing? Normally, I would say the answer to THAT question is a resounding NO, but in the case of kiting in high winds, you must know your limits.

For beginners, look for winds that are between 10 - 25 mph. AND make sure you are using the right gear:

• Light wind (10-17) = bigger kites / boards (i.e., 100-150 lb rider => 9 - 12m kite, 150-200 lb rider => 12 - 16m kite)
• High wind (18-25) = smaller kites / boards (i.e., 100-150 lb rider => 5 - 9m kite, 150-200 lb rider => 9m - 12m kite)
• Really high winds (25+) = ask a certified instructor for advice or watch the more experienced kiters while drinking a warm vanilla chai. You can learn many techniques by just watching other riders, and you can even learn from their mishaps. Like what, you may ask?

Well, in the past few months, I have assisted other kiters by rescuing a kite from a tree (try climbing a mangrove while wearing a harness and booties), retrieving a kiteboard for a drifting kiter in deep water (riding while carrying a board and flying one-handed is not as easy as it may sound), and sprinting down a beach to secure an out-of-control looping kite, with a desperate drowing kiter helplessly being dragged toward her death (ok, maybe not DEATH, but serious injury was a possibility).

In high winds, even the smallest error could have big consequences. Please know your limits and respect the wind. Live to kite another day!

AND Kiss The Sky Kiteboarding recommends that you NEVER ride alone. Even experienced riders can get into trouble (i.e., (equipment malfunction, changing wind conditions, etc.) so have a "buddy" and keep an eye out for each other!