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It stops being fun before it stops being possible.

("tp" + "ledung" = bad joke during Covid-19?)

Agree, for most 30 knots average wind is the upper limit where it is still fun and the typical kitesizes work.

Meaning 7 m2 for hardcore kiteloopers (smaller kites drop way too fast), and 5 m2 kites for waveriders, average weights.

Of course you can kite in 40 knots or more, but for the majority 30 knots is the max where enjoyable and typical gear fits.

You can get smaller kites 3 and 4 m2 (LEI) but not from that many brands.

Now where hydrofoiling is big, there are many small kites 2 and 3 and 4 m2 yes, both foil and LEI kites, but some are made for hydrofoiling and not all suited for massive load.

Peter

FLandOBX wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 18, 2020 12:57 pm

It stops being fun before it stops being possible.

I really like that description - it's quite accurate.

35kn is a once(or twice) a year opportunity where I live. Need lots of adult supervision. I go for it if I have a kite caddy to launch and land.

PullStrings wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:12 pm

OP
kiting since 1996
same exact kite as Toby
foilholio?

Good catch.

I wish I could have 30 knots every week.

I have never experienced wind too strong to kite in except in storms where you can't even walk without having to hold on to buildings etc. - but I agree that pushing it well past 30 and it starts to become dodgy in most situations. Mostly because if something happens I'm not sure how you can control the situation.

Also depends a lot on location. On most ocean locations in big winds the water becomes chaotic and less safe and fun. Victory at sea stuff. In places like the Gorge where the river runs opposite the wind, 35-45 just gets bigger and more fun. Going out powered on a 5m there is spectacular. And a bit dangerous but still very fun.

The real issue isn't wind strength, but the difference between the lulls and gusts. If you had a perfectly steady 70 knots it would be kiteable, but in reality 70 knots of wind is actually 55 in the lulls and 85 in the gusts and you can't realistically deal with at 30 knot swing in the wind speed between the gusts and the lulls.

I'd say the limit is when the wind is so strong that you cannot stand anymore.
You can always go smaller with a kite. You'll have to make them yourself though, I don't think they make kites that small.
But if your body is not capable to edge anymore because the wind is pushing too hard on your body, then it's just game over.

And as slappysan mentions, the stability of the wind also matters a lot.

v high with short lines

i have been maxed on 6m lines (just nothing really) with a 4.5m kite with a surge from a 10-12m (42ft peaks - - out at sea wtf!) swell rolling in (biggest swell in 2 years)... it was breaking 1.5km out to sea - after 1.5km some of the surges were 6ft+ to dry sand :-0) I had 2 people hold me down as i launched.
I don't even want to say what it gusted.

i have done a lot of very very high wind riding but actually stopped because I didn't think statistics were on my side for how much I did it... and i got older and wiser?! lol

I have ridden Maui with 46 knot gusts and I didnt find that too bad at all

Generally though, super high winds are horrible gusty.

F%^$ though...even thinking about it gives me a huge buzz ;-0 powerful sessions

U guys that ride in europe / high population density areas in high super high winds with all sorts of sea walls and things downwind...F$5$ that! I like a healthy bunch of sand dunes downwind of me after getting dragged up /accross the beach.

I have sessioned Waitara in stupid high winds - looking back I am not sure that was a great idea, my highly experienced friend nearly drowned and I had to release because I was doing involuntary tea bag airs towards the boulders when a front came through :-0 literally dangling in the air at full depower. the stories huh!

My max was 42knts steady with gusts up to 52, 1.5 km downwind from the weatherstation that measured the speed so I consider it pretty reliable.

It was fun to be out with 4 kiters in total on a beach that's normally filled with 100s on good days. Short session on a 5m Pivot on short lines, no real jumps, just mowing the pretty rough lawn . That was a couple of years back and I don't think I'd do that again now. Says the guy who was out this February in Ciara (just not when it was full-on, in the morning it was though but rideable with gusts up to 48 or so).