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Shelf Cloud From Hell Nails Kiters In The UK

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:08 am
by RickI
This happened last year but I came across it again looking for something else. People seem to think nasty squalls are a Florida phenomena, not so. This one was obvious, probably the most evil shelf cloud that I have seen before. Despite that guys were still out as it went ballistic, what?! I count seven in the photo alone. What were these guys thinking, if anything at all?

STAY OUT OF SQUALLS.

Image
Click for full sized image.

"Monster squall at Camber today!

Postby Cyprino ยป Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:23 pm
I'm sure there's some of you guys on here who were out there today!

These words are by eazyrider from the kitesbuggiesandboards forum:


"Well if ever the phrase "OMG" could be used today was it!

It started offnice, sunny, warm and around 15mph then after a while me and peter32 noticed the mother of all storm fronts coming in from the sea, I had been keeping an eye on it for around half an hour and everyone on the land and water was enjoying the effects of the front moving in.

Then a flash of lightning around 10-20 miles away after the 3rd every landbased kiter had landed and sanded there kites. As we stood there watching this monster grow and the front was moving at a rate that made you move your head to follow it.

After the 6th flash of lightning most of the water lads where running in and I went on kite catching duty and that was it!

ALL HELL BROKE LOSE!

The wind went from 20mph to 60-70mph in a second! Two lads where picked from the water one covered the entire beach Around 500m without touching the ground and only came down as he was tangled with another kiter who was in flight. People where sliding down the beach at around 30-40mph with their kites at the edge! I went to chase after one person but then he had around 10 people running after him so I made the mad dash back to my kite that was still weighted down yet moving up the beach. People left right and centre were trying to fire their safety but the load was to much to fire off from Naish to slingy not people where on their knees going across the beach tugging with both hands at the safety yet nothing!

Pampers is 18st and was setting up his kite he ended sat on his un-inflated venom and it was dragging him up the beach, here's jonny was knocked over by the wind and it was like nature just went "F**K YOU"

On the up side no one was badly hurt and only a couple of kites got damaged but it could have been so much worse!

Do you remember that video from 2 years ago of the kitesurfer who was out in Miami when he got lofted and slamed into the building and went over the camera man?

Well it was like that but with around 15 experienced local lads.

The mad part is (and the worrying part) it was a buitifull sunny day with a 15mph breeze with around 30 kites up in total and I dread to think what would of happened if it was at the weekend as there would have been around 60-70 beginners on the land and water and 30+ experienced people on the land and water. Now think of around 100 kitesurfers all overpowered and tea bagging across the beach with all the bucket and spaders

Anyway a quick warning!

Keep an eye on the weather behind you and know and understand what a storm front looks like and if you see on get your kite down and packed up. It might take 30 minuets to get to you it could take 30 seconds or it might just die out but you will be safe and it only takes a few minuets to set up again.

Be safe guys!""
http://www.kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfin ... =1&t=40473