Its official. It can happen. Just when the wind finally gets going, and then, disaster. Beautiful conditions down here at the pond in Safety Bay here today. Although, I am not really in there that much, still getting the hang of it, so I usually ride more out to the south of the spit. Almost overpowered on a 9m evo today, but was just starting to enjoy a few nice runs, mowing the lawn and turning really, when Thud! like a pocket of deadwind when you pass another kite except that when I looked up, ****! A fully mature big bloody pelican that must have been getting blown across from long point, was just removing itself from my kite!! it sort of smacked into it as I turned, bounced back a bit, then sort of floundered for a second before righting itself and heading towards the boat ramp. leaving me with a 40cm gash in the middle of my kite! As I turned It back towards the spit to head in it just tore in half and dropped out of the sky! I packed it up and swam in. Unbeliveable! did not think it was possible? never even really considered it before. It seemed even odder standing back on the shore telling people about it with not even one bird in the sky! Funny sport this one.

No luck mate! I thought anyone and anything would notice those North colours too! At least you got back in without a big noah coming to see what all the fuss was about

In case you don't know; Neil at Hold the Line Kites in Wembley will have you back up and running in no time. He's the most excellent kite doctor!

At least you were on WATER! Spare a thought for this guy, a world champion paraglider pilot.

windwatching said...

Its official. It can happen. Just when the wind finally gets going, and then, disaster. Beautiful conditions down here at the pond in Safety Bay here today. Although, I am not really in there that much, still getting the hang of it, so I usually ride more out to the south of the spit. Almost overpowered on a 9m evo today, but was just starting to enjoy a few nice runs, mowing the lawn and turning really, when Thud! like a pocket of deadwind when you pass another kite except that when I looked up, ****! A fully mature big bloody pelican that must have been getting blown across from long point, was just removing itself from my kite!! it sort of smacked into it as I turned, bounced back a bit, then sort of floundered for a second before righting itself and heading towards the boat ramp. leaving me with a 40cm gash in the middle of my kite! As I turned It back towards the spit to head in it just tore in half and dropped out of the sky! I packed it up and swam in. Unbeliveable! did not think it was possible? never even really considered it before. It seemed even odder standing back on the shore telling people about it with not even one bird in the sky! Funny sport this one.

so does it happen often that once a tear appears in canopy it blows out larger if you keep flying or was it questionable north material? im guessing most tears happen on the beach and kites are grounded straight away in a a normal scenario..

what year evo was it?

p.s i saw you get caught out by the lull last night at the pond!! (i juuuust made it in) i told one of your mates that i hope bad things dont come in three's for you!

Seagull flew into one of my steering lines once, steered the kite straight into the water.

I had a kite meet it's maker after running in to a few seagulls. The seagulls were in a tree at the time but that's another story...

(and no it wasn't)

It does happen alright!, once that birds bill went through me kite it was only a matter of seconds, one turn into the power and it just ripped in a perfect straight line, right to the edge! it had to be his bill because it was a big jolt in the lines and he was looking straight back at me facing into the wind when I looked up. It makes me think he flew straight into it as I turned, got his head spun around, and pulled it out in reverse! He looked as stunned as me! bloody strong wind on saturday, and pelicans arent really known for their fast aerial manouveres! (neither am I for that matter)
The kite is a 2011 evo, beautiful kite!, well it was!
Yes, that sudden lull really caught me out, I couldnt get me kite going at all, even with using a mooring for a bit of leverage! live and learn as they say.