I don't know what happened before he hit the beach, but with crazy winds like that my first reaction would be to ditch the kite 50 meters from shore and let it drag me in. It looks to me like he was standing on the beach when he got lofted, but already things would have been crazy. Look at the other kite and where the dude, (or dudette) has their kite parked.
And yes, when **** hits the fan, it all happens so quickly...i do feel for the guy though, lucky the car didn't take him out....

Weather is different at every location and what my local area has for squall is going to be different to other area's. When we have squally conditions on a SE blow we usally have rain but no lightning and the wind ramps up to max strength then pisses down and after wind drops off. You can see the clouds build up 30km away so you know whats going to happen. But what I always do when a squall come is to head out away from land for at least a k or two to get spanked and when the wind starts to drop head back to beach. But I think you need to understand the areas weather to know how to handle big wind, if you don't then you is stupid.
In saying all this back in the early days with no depower in our kites our beach was slamed by a wind gust that had no rain or cloud build up and very little signs on the water. About everyone on the water ended up in trees and these were experience sailboards who could read the water so it goes to shows the sh!t happens.

When squalls hit the worst thing you can do is come into the beach. It's much better to get way out to sea far away from hard stuff that will hurt you.

Being well out to sea gives you the room to ride out a squall. If you are still not happy then you have a heap of space to drop the kite onto the leash and/or release if you have to.

As a simple rule of thumb for Melbourne, if you can't see the parked ships or Fawkner Beacon then get to the beach quickly or get way out to sea.

Gorgo said...

When squalls hit the worst thing you can do is come into the beach. It's much better to get way out to sea far away from hard stuff that will hurt you.

Being well out to sea gives you the room to ride out a squall. If you are still not happy then you have a heap of space to drop the kite onto the leash and/or release if you have to.

X2 best place to ride out a squall is out to sea... If you can't get in before it hits, ride it out on the water away from the hard stuff...

This context is bull****..this is a hurricane, not a squall. Being our in normal storm condition is one thing, and being out there in southerlies is common for us in winter wanting to get out and ride some waves. This video is different, and that is the point I am making, it was hurricane conditions and people were there watching, the news was there etc etc. Yes, Robbie went out during a cyclone. It all could have gone wrong for him and bad luck to his family...that would have been a bad result from a situation of boredom, heroics, or whatever. No matter how good his skills are, and I would say he is a very good kiter, it could have been easy for things to go wrong for him. His family would have suffered from his call. Lucky for him he came back to shore.
Knowing the weather is your best friend, but time in the ocean is only gathered by experience. These comments of "oh bull**** I kite in 50 knots etc etc" are fine if you are single and have no body in your life except yourself that you are responsible for, and don't care too much about the people who might have to go out looking for you.
There is nothing wrong in pushing your level, and being out in very strong winds, however, if you understand weather, and if you kite you should study very hard to understand weather, then common sense should prevail for everyone including yourself....
end of rant

dafish said...

This context is bull****..this is a hurricane, not a squall. Being our in normal storm condition is one thing, and being out there in southerlies is common for us in winter wanting to get out and ride some waves. This video is different, and that is the point I am making, it was hurricane conditions and people were there watching, the news was there etc etc. Yes, Robbie went out during a cyclone. It all could have gone wrong for him and bad luck to his family...that would have been a bad result from a situation of boredom, heroics, or whatever. No matter how good his skills are, and I would say he is a very good kiter, it could have been easy for things to go wrong for him. His family would have suffered from his call. Lucky for him he came back to shore.
Knowing the weather is your best friend, but time in the ocean is only gathered by experience. These comments of "oh bull**** I kite in 50 knots etc etc" are fine if you are single and have no body in your life except yourself that you are responsible for, and don't care too much about the people who might have to go out looking for you.
There is nothing wrong in pushing your level, and being out in very strong winds, however, if you understand weather, and if you kite you should study very hard to understand weather, then common sense should prevail for everyone including yourself....
end of rant

Agree. But the point of this topic is not about going out in storm conditions/hurricanes. Everyone heads out in these conditions and whilst they have their risks, you can plan according with your choice of kite size. It was about coming in when you see a squall headed your way instead of taking unnecessary risks by staying out when you know there is a good chance you are going to be forced to come in anyway. You can see a squall line coming in, you know its going to result in a massive increase in wind. Why wait until it hits if you have sufficient time to come in?

dafish said...

This context is bull****..this is a hurricane, not a squall. Being our in normal storm condition is one thing, and being out there in southerlies is common for us in winter wanting to get out and ride some waves. This video is different, and that is the point I am making, it was hurricane conditions and people were there watching, the news was there etc etc. Yes, Robbie went out during a cyclone. It all could have gone wrong for him and bad luck to his family...that would have been a bad result from a situation of boredom, heroics, or whatever. No matter how good his skills are, and I would say he is a very good kiter, it could have been easy for things to go wrong for him. His family would have suffered from his call. Lucky for him he came back to shore.
Knowing the weather is your best friend, but time in the ocean is only gathered by experience. These comments of "oh bull**** I kite in 50 knots etc etc" are fine if you are single and have no body in your life except yourself that you are responsible for, and don't care too much about the people who might have to go out looking for you.
There is nothing wrong in pushing your level, and being out in very strong winds, however, if you understand weather, and if you kite you should study very hard to understand weather, then common sense should prevail for everyone including yourself....
end of rant

+1, really well said. Why do these people need to be heroes, what are they trying to prove?

T one said...

it has been my experience that you are far more likely to get messed up by decent surf, than decent wind...

Quite suited that you're from the NT and will more than likely be nomited for the Darwin Awards

T one said...
^^^ nuthin to you!. ...
and btw btw... it has been my experience that you are far more likely to get messed up by decent surf, than decent wind...

... I got more scared when I got rolled by a 6 foota in Bali than I did in that video, thought I was gunna drown... turned out nothing in the end but still,,, flying in strong winds is a calculated risk that many are prepared to do, get the right gear, get ya head in the game and don't do stoopid things infront of rocks,, all good!

We don't get hard arse weather like our southern states, no where near the same peaks, watched a front come in from SW in Freo once, nasty indeed, easy to nasty in minutes. Or when I was in Tassie, beautiful SW 15 knots turned into a howling 60 knots in no time, crazy gusty wind. We don't get that here at all.

Calculated risk is all it is, and being prepared to ditch or punch out if the need arises. Being a super-heavy weight helps too I supose!!

... its all a storm in a tea cup!!

cheers,

Robbie

Yes, the forecast for Saturday was for very strong wind and gusts. The radar showed storms and the wind plots showed big gusts. Could have gone out on my 7 and been underpowered most of the time then well (or over) powered with 45+ came through.

If you get the right window its fine. If you get the wrong one you could end up inspecting the tiles on someone's roof on the other side of Beach Road or hanging from power lines.

I have gone out in conditions like Saturday before, but it did seem to be dicey. We opted for "Discretion is the better part of valour" on this occasion, I am glad we did.

Tips kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/weather/kitesurfing-storms