Safety Tip of the Day: landing during a Spike

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

...Looks like I'm the buzz kill of the day.
As the corridor was featuring another spike this afternoon, I learned something surprising when I came in on a 12 C kite with gusts suddenly spiking to 40 mph. I'll just be vague here...suffice it to say we need to be more aware of kiters coming-in and needing an immediate catch during a spike. When the richterriffic gusts hit, I picked an area with plenty of people to land thinking that I'd get a catch. After about 30 seconds on land, and concern for an azz whuppen' about to happen, I almost pulled the release today amidst at least 15 people within 50 feet of me. It wouldn't have been pretty.

I think we need to be more aware of people needing assistance during spikes.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I have been caught in some squalls myself, and though I wasn't on a 12m at the time I always followed the advice to stay away from land while the squall is hitting.

I go out into the middle of the channel, depower the kite and stick it straight above me at neutral and then just sit in the water and wait for it to pass. Sometimes I get tea bagged a bit, but I am ready for it so its no biggie.

I think its a much safer option then trying to emergency land. You're more likely to get hurt by a lofting on land or taken out by someone else with all the other folks around the beach.

forrest · Thu Jun 28, 07 4:57 pm

It was definitely hard to get anywhere on the land with a kite attached to me. I was lucky enough to be really close to someone and just put it low and sat on the ground.

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

I think Phil's advise is right-on-the-mark.

I don't wanna sound like George Constanza here, but I actually was coming-in while the wind was increasing, but not yet mega-blasting. (Mr. Constanza said something on Seinfeld about "if YOU believe it, it's not a lie.") In any event, I believe it hadn't quite reached the sandblast stage as I approached the land.

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

Great tip PKH, I think most people including myself would head to nearest landing zone (beach, semi wind protected inlet) to seek safety. Staying off shore make much more sense.

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

Ditto PKH! Good Practice! I would probably have tried for land.
Staying away from land is way safer but --not the 1st thing that came to mind. When in Doubt--Stay Out!

pura vida one · Since 22 May 2007 80 Posts

that's exactly the kind of post and advice(thanks pkh) i can appreciate. and no smartass responses yet - they are stale...
gauranteed that will save some people some pain. thanks

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Two for two in seven days for picking the worst possible time to head out. I think thats some good advice pkh - was riding it out on the 2006 7m waroo and it was making some unholy shapes - watched Pacifichigh beeline it in and was going to stick it out for one more tack - when the dude in front of me, his North kite instantaneously folds like an origami swan in three places - the Waroo nearly inverts but hangs in there. Headed in - glad someone was there to catch the kite - did switch my leash to the o shit loop just in case things went bad.

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Jun 29, 07 12:34 am

jonah · Since 20 Jul 2006 169 Posts Hood River Stoked

There's some debate about whether or not the Waroo OSR is a good place to leash. Even though it theoretically depowers you more than hooking in suicide, the problem is that in really high winds, the kite just spirals around the OSR line, and continues to drag you with no way to stop it. Unfortunately, with the Waroo (which is all i own) there seems to be no sure way to safely flag it in high winds. I envy some of the 5th line SLEs that are coming out now.

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

's

1...What did it look like when these Gorge 'squalls' happened ? Was there a dramatic change in cloud formation overhead, etc.?

2...How long did these squalls last?

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

The squall front is usually acompanied by dark impending DOOM!
The only problem is that the winds are not necessarily on the same horizontal plan as the cloud line (i.e. dark impending DOOM!)
As kiteboarders on the water we usually have our backs the flow of weather. Every once in awhile you need to look over your shoulder and look the the occasoinal BARGE coming right at you. How many time have you said....."Holy Shit, where did that come from" Shocked

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 205 Posts Stoked

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

wylieflyote · Fri Jun 29, 07 7:57 pm

hedquista · Since 13 Apr 2007 72 Posts Salt lake city

in my experience attaching the leash to the osr is a bad thing but it is true the kite will spiral(ie the warro death spiral) but it will eventually hit the water. the reps that i have spoken with say that the spiral is supposed to be less than a quarter powered when it falls from the sky.
i hook the true suicide but it comes with the price of knowing the kite is still powered. preferance i guess. the new 07 bars have the suicide ring on the center lines which if the bar is lost the kite will more than fully de-power bt it is sometimes a hasle to get everthing back into order after you have recoverd.
I have seen pretty nasty crashes where a line has wrapped it around the bar and the kite has gone in to the perpetual spiral and has messed some people up. as far as i am concerned, i always know where my realease is and am not afraid to let the kite go. First instinct should be to the chicken loop release if conditions are going to be bad. I kite by the rule that "it is always safer to get off the water than tempt the wind gods, because you can always kite another day if you are alive and unbroken."

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped