Kiter's tend to grossly overestimate wind strength- a true 40 knots is completely farked- need to pay attention to those clouds.
Having kited early in the day, i only saw clouds appear around 1ish but even from a distance you could see how wind blown they were. Generally in Melbourne, winds can change a huge amount between each site and the beach. it can be blowing 55knts at South channel but infact it would have hit differently because in theory, a true northly wind comes off the hills (and will lift if not strong enough), so the person could have experienced anywhere between 30-50knt in the space of less than a minute.
another note i might add is that westerly fronts in Rosebud are quite hard to pick except for a sudden wind drop, and a change in humidity
did manage a kite at 830 after the rain cleared.
Got to tell you all that kitesurfing Rosebud on a northerly has got to be handled with alittle caution.Have lived here all my life and seen this type of weather happen plenty of times.We all new the front was coming in,its the fact that you dont want to have your kite up when it does.Unfortunately on this day the northerly didnt die of before the south westerly came in.Just bad luck.Hope the lad is on the mend..cheers all
Geez just read the title "kitesurfer blown on beach" and thought that lucky bugger! 
bring it on 40+
I had my local spot to myself last tuesday week i think all euro invaders sitting in car park to light to hold there kite down
me 100kgs on a fully depowered 8 evo had a fat time yewwww!!!! gust can be funn
Here is an update on the kitesurfer injured at Rosebud
Rosebud hurt flyer defiant - Mornington Peninsula Leader : http://mornington-peninsula-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/rosebud-hurt-flyer-defiant/
I landed on the beach yesterday. well to be fair i jumped on purpose to avoid a bad rag dolling. I was kiting on my 15m flysurfer in 20-22 knots so well powered, i was on a borrowed board that didn't hold much power. well I found out the board couldn't hold much power as i was trying to choke speed heading back to the beach, but alas what i could do on my board i couldn't on this board so i just speed at full pace towards the beach. Realising a high speed rag dolling along the beach i sent the kite for a jump. jumped a decent hieght and glided for 30-40 meters and crash landed on the beach. All be it at a greatly reduced speed and no injury.
Since I regularily jump on land when i'm landboarding, jumping over a hard surface is normal to me. So I simply apply the techniques i have learned over the years to land slowly and softly.
It got me wondering about kitesurfers who don't land kite. Which i guess is 99% of you.
Purhaps this guy who broke his ankles freaked out and didn't control the kite for a soft landing? Usually when its blowing 40 knots you have ample power in the kite for a soft landing.
Maybe its an idea to practice jumping on the beach in controled conditions so when/if it happens in a lofting instance you are prepaired and less likeley to freaze up of do the wrong thing with the kite?
Perhaps a crash landing technique should be practiced? i have adopted a parrachuting crumple style of crash technique for hard landings on the land.
why in the first signs of some serious danger do you not pull your safety?
i appreciate that it happens all very quick, but u got to be aware right?
I have kited in 40+ knots with my 7 with no major dramas . However if I was on my 10 or 12 and this came through I would either have to lose the kite or end up somewhere I didn't want to be.
