Becoming A Kite Meteorologist

Every avid kiteboarder becomes a virtual meteorologist! (Ever wonder how ALL those kiteboarders show up at the same beach on the same day?!)

The best place to see wind forecasts is iKitesurf.com. Find the launch sites near you and check wind speed, direction and air temperature. This website also has user pages for classifieds and forums.

For mobile, use the WindAlert app, which has a widget you can put right on your homepage for real-time wind updates.

I also use the The Weather Channel app on my phone, (also has a helpful widget for your homepage) for precipitation. For example, if iKitesurf shows a spike of wind for two hours, then it drops, it could be a thunderstorm rolling through. I can check The Weather Channel app for thunderstorm predictions and view cloud radar, to see that big red storm-blob heading my way!

Remember, the speed of the wind tells you IF you are going to ride; the direction it is blowing tells you WHERE. (Only ride in onshore or side-shore winds.)

  

Leaving Kite Gear In The Car

You never want to miss a session on the water when the wind is blowing. The easiest thing to do is make sure you've got a kite, a harness, and a board in the back of your car, and then rush out of work on a windy day for a "happy hour" ride. But what about that summer heat?!

The heat inside your car on a hot day can rise 20 - 30 degrees over the outside temperature.Kite bladders are made of polyurethane, and while the melting point for this material is high, the glue holding the valves to the bladder does NOT fair as well in high temperatures. Once the glue starts to soften, a leak is inevitable. And if your kite is wet when you pack it up, this softening process is accelerated even more by the hot water. (Imagine soaking your kites in boiling water.)

What to do? If you plan to leave your kite in the car during daytime hours, here are two ways to minimize damage to your kite: 1. park in the garage or shade, 2. make sure your kite is in the trunk, separate from the glassed car interior. Better yet, take your kite inside with you (just tell your co-workers it's your lunch). 

If you must keep your kite in the car during daytime hours during summer heat, then go out to your nearest dive shop and invest in several tubes of Aquaseal, so that you'll be ready for a few hours of bladder / valve repair, followed by 12 hours to let it set completely. ... or not.

Downwinders - Adventure Kiting!

What is a downwinder? It refers to a planned kiteboarding session where the kiter launches from one location, travels "downwind" for a set distance, and then exits the water in a different location. It is a great way to experience different conditions and sightsee as you ride.  

Downwinders are typically done in two ways. The most common kind of downwinder is from beach to beach. A beach to beach downwinder is when two or more kiters setup and launch their kites, kiteboard downwind, and then exit at a pre-determined location. It is important to plan that this final destination has a second vehicle or public transportation to get you back to where you started. This method is great for Florida barrier islands, where you can start on one end and kite down to the other end.  

Another popular way to do a downwinder is with a boat support. While the kiters ride downwind, an extra person (friend, spouse, etc.) follows along on a wave runner or boat. When the kiters reach their destination, the boater can help them with their  gear or give them a ride back. This method is ideal when kiters are riding across bays, lakes, or between islands where a boat can provide additional security or assistance in times of need.

Downwinders can be extremely fun, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding. Start with a small distance of a few miles. The best part about downwinders is that you can take your time and enjoy the view, practice new skills without the hassle of having to work your way back upwind, or make it into a race. If you're up to it, you can sign up for an official downwinder race, which is usually 20-30 miles. Here is a list of some Florida events, including races:

http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=115

Kiters are adventurers, so let the adventure begin!