What tips do you have for handling monster gusts?
I was out a couple of weeks ago in good wind that was gusting low- holes that dropped 10-15knts, but not gusting too strong. Been out half an hour when a massive gust hit me. I had time to depower adn raise kite overhead - like in 1/2 a second - but gust kept hauling on the kite (9m), lowered kite - about another 1/4 second - then was reefed off my board adn ragdoll/cartwheeled about 20m downwind before digging into the water which anchored me enough so i could pull the kite release. Was a good show for those on-shore.
Was so fast i didn't have any reaction time. That was the only gust that strong that arvo.
Only thing next time would be grabbing the release so i could bail the second i got ripped off my board. No chance to turn downwind, and may have ben too strong for that anyway
Having read the Pt Impossible trashing, i'm wondering if anyone has other tips apart from immediate chicken **** bail?
also, when i dragged myself onto the beach, still not sure how bad my shoulder was damaged (its ok), a young couple rock up with the girl keen to start kiting. She didn't seem to get that my ragdoll thumping was not some awesome new trick
Dude
you already new... and had time to pull the quick release !!!! But you didnt, so serves you right for gettin slapped back to reality 
1st indicator was no control at 12'
2nd at 1/4 down
How many times does it take before common sense prevails ???
Been there been slapped too 
lesson learnt now me thinks 
We had a situation at Kurnell a few years back when a massive southerly came in out of a clear sky. The wind went from 15 knots nor-east to a brief flicker nor-west, then 30 knots south in a few minutes. It was predicted but it came early. Some people ditched their gear and swam in. Others, more experience, sat in the water with their kites at 12 o'clock and waited for the front to settle. Once the initial gusts had subsided they gingerly sailed in to shore. One brave girl, body dragged about 8 km across Botany Bay to the far shore of Brighton after loosing her board.
Hope these few options answer your question.
This winter I was hit with 35 knot gusts on a 14 m and was yanked out the water. I simply put the kite at 3 o'clock (on top of the water) and had no dramas waiting till the squall past. While it scared the shot it out of me it made me realize how much "modern" kites can handle. Also if you have a 5th line it is a good idea to hold onto that to keep it even further depowered.
Typically I avoid huge gusty days for tha reason, but have been out this winter in a few times in desperation.
Obviously the quick release is the go, although if you are being ripped off the water at 12, you shouldn't be out. Prevention is the best solution. Like last Sunday, went out, put kite down after 10 minutes - been kiting for 12 years, could have handled it, but I was getting slightly ripped off the water, hence safety first.
But let's say you got out and get caught out (it happens), of course the main release is the answer, but you are right, sometimes the split second decidion makes it difficult, especially like last sat when a 4m swell was rolling in.
To avoid being ripped off (doesn't work all the time), really control your speed in heavy conditions, especially as you rise over a wave. Lean back and hang off your harness (like abseiling with a carabina), yet keep the rail dug in. Your ass is also a great anchor. If you are using your arms in a poo stance (as the modern depowering kites foster), you are toast before you start. Learn to edge properly, use your whole body weight to anchor.
Okay let's sat this doesn't work and you get thrown, the key is too accept your fate, relax and take whatever is coming to you - in a calm fashion. When crew panick here they over steer, like driving on a gravel track, and the nightmare exaberbates. The kite will eventually hit the ground, the water, dig into the water and the momentum will be lost - then bloody well release. Let the show unfold and accept you are a complete dumb ass for being out there in the first place.
1. Don't go out in the first place.
2. Control speed, hang off the kite, don't use your arms.
3. Use your body and ass to anchor.
4. If taken, relax and concentrate on keeping your orientation.
5. Have a laugh and a beer or two afterwards
Crew will probably offer more technical advice than me...
If your in a situ with horrendous gusts worst thing you can do is park the kite at 12 youll get hammered,edge out as hard as you can and bring the kite as low as poss so the tip is on or just above the water at the edge of the window,and sit it out with your board out in front so you can plough into it,if it gets worse then you can punch out,usually it only lasts for a short time,been there many times and this works best for me.
great advice! more of these threads needed. was hit by a 30-35 knot gust on a 9m a few months ago. was getting lofted at 12. panicked didnt know what to do (first time ever kited in gusts) fully released, saw my kite heading towards the road at leighton and sprinted after it up the hill to find it looping in front of peak hour traffic. awesome times
Other suggestion is keeping an eye on the horizon, you can generally see squalls coming in, maybe 90% of the time. Otherwise, as above, kite touching the water max depowered or pull QR, generally the latter is better if you're a newbie.
good tips.... got the "dont fookn do 12 oclock" message. actually the only other time i tried it in a monster gust, i found myself 30 feet up lofting towards the treeline, so yup, got this message. will work on droppi9ng kite to waterline and using ass-anchor
Agree with radman4 . Push as much water as possible with your edge dug in hard and go as slow as possible. Keep your kite low and if you have to turn back move the kite very slowly across the window. Dont loose your board or you will get ragdolled. Once I had to do this for 20 mins,using an 11m averaging 20-25 knts a 37 knot gust hit.That 20 mins before it eased seemed like an eternity.At 37 knts I felt safer to do this rather than pull the safety.
it was pretty shyte attempt at boosting. I remember seeing at least one kite loop, and heard it all looked pretty spectacular..... dont think it's a move i want to keep working on
Agreed, the answer is keep kiting but dig deep to the balance point of moving forward or sinking. While you are moving slowly you are not only maintaining your kites shape and minimising its chance to jellyfish, but you are releasing energy applied on you and the kite. Too much speed and you will loose traction. To slow and you have no edge to apply your body weight to.
You have probaly seen this website before, but I think that it should be pointed out to anybody that wants to learn this great sport, or even has been doing it for awhile. It might just prevent a incident, or worse, by making you think about the conditions. If you don't feel comfortable, there will always be another day!
www.kitemare.com/kitemare-lessons-learned/
Yeh good points radman, get ya ass in the water, board in front and kite just above water. Also the point of not coming in, did this years ago on foils in 2001 and both of us got lifted into the dunes at pinnas, luckily the 'safety' - if you call it that, snapped, my mates kite got ripped to shreds, mine landed next to my car in the carpark, ready to pack up - he was dark.
learnt something here - tend to avoid gusty days, but have kited all through winter and this would have come in handy, cheers. Could have done with that last sunday...ouch!
^^^Wot they sayd.. Kite low - edge..bumdrag if you have to.. etc etc
Also - maybe buy a smaller kite?
Seriously - in winter I prefer using my bigger board and going down a size in kite for the average winds.
Double bonus is bigger board rides out the lulls, smaller kite - much safer ALL round.
Not always a pefect solution but I like having the extra depower if possible.
Most importantly.. did ya get her number or what gordless?
getfunky, that's just rubbing sand in the wound... was thinking more about how messed up my shoulder was. Her guy was a doofus, waht a wasted opportunity
+more on the not parking the kite @12!
Surely it's the worst place to put your kite if the gusts start hitting you, as it will erm......create lift!
I've been fortunate enuff not have been in the situation (in my brief kiting history), but I think I'd dump the kite on the water and try wait it out- one hand ready on the QR like an ol' fashioned Mid-Western draw 
My gust control starts on the pc before the session.
I check the forecast on a couple of different web sites.
check the live wind readings. compare it to the forecast and make an educated guess at the conditions.
check the rain radar. If any big squalls are coming through on the rain radar i time my session in between them.
At the beach I select the kite that hopefully going to handle the biggest gust for the day and ride that. My little storm kite will keep me upwind 20ish knots and i'll be able to hold 40knot+ sqaulls on it in a pinch.
If any squalls come through with black and angry clouds I land while sqaull is still a couple of km away.
If i get hit by a big gust while riding i'll edge hard as F@#K to slow down then trim the kite. I can't remember the last time i had to park the kite while on the water.
On a sillier note. If i do find my self hit by a massive gust while hooning fast and overpowered I usually send it for a jump. I know this is not good advice, but none the less its what I do. I'll send it, but not load and pop hard so I don't go too high (even then its still pretty high!!!) I'll let the bar out, hold the kite past the zenith for longer and re-direct late so i come in for a soft slow touch down. Its a super fun way to control over speed and enjoy gusts. Obviously you don't want to be doing those antics close to shore or other riders or if your not confident jumping.
My 2C:
I reckon distance is your friend when it's gusty and onshore, it pays to kite a bit further out than normal, that way if it turns really nasty you have plenty of space (and time to react) between you and the beach or next hard object.
Next thing is to have good quick release and be quick on the draw to use it. You can always buy another kite.
Stay on the water do not attempt to come in until the worst of it is over........ keep kite low
If its really nuken.... lower your kite ( wingtip on the water then reach up and grab your middle lines ( about half a metre up ) and hold onto those for extra depower.
^^^ lol? Pics or it never happened!
Got some 40knots +action here in gero mid morning on the 7m last sunday. All recorded by the GPA website reading is taken couple ks away out the channel. When big gusts are coming I stay well away from shore and rail in ,slow down to bog cog I find best kite position bout 9 or 3 oclock.
