is it too cold

[tailwindsaloft]

I have a 4:3 wetsuit is my season done yet? I'm thinking of just going out and testing the waters tomorrow.

[windthrash]

People will call you crazy... But if you kite-YES it's too late since you have a better chance of being in the water, but windsurfing should still be fine- as long as you aren't a newbe. Then you know you won't have to jump off into the water on each run or crash on tacks and jybes. But good advice... If you also have a shorty, wear that with the other suit too, just for the extra base covering. I like to sail, and I go insane when I can't, so I go until there is ice on the water with my longy and shorty WETSUITS. But DO NOT GO OUT ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Accidents happen, and it doesn't take long to get hypothermia in these conditions.
Nate

[ice_kmauve]

don't go. We don't need deaths on our local kite scene. Your rigging, hands, feet will freeze in the first five minutes. When the air temp is below 35, you won't enjoy it and you'll endanger your life, especially if you go to bellaire due to the very long fetch downwind.

Peace.

[chaddix]

Yea I think you'll be fine, i went out last spring during one of my first times with my new board with an even skinnier one, half mil i think, and i wasnt too bad, there was still ice around me(which i got stuck in)

[Bryce]

I wouldn't go out without a drysuit and booties if I was windsurfing... and a drysuit, booties, hood and gloves if I was kiting.

And go with some friends!

[steveb]

Well I guess Chaddix is one of our candidates for the Darwyn award.
If something goes wrong in a 4/3 wetsuit you'll lose your body heat so fast you'll be done. When you get that cold all your energy goes to keeping your core warm. When your body zaps your energy reserves for heat you usually have about 4 minutes to reach the state where you're incapable of helping yourself.
I've nearly gone this way once, I was fortunate that I was doing an organized race and one of the rescue boats got to me just in time, my mentality was I just wanted to go to sleep and I was quite happy to do so, I had zero instinct for self preservation left.

3 or 4 weeks from now we'll be snow kiting..I'd suggest a little patience or a road trip south.

[wings]

Steve,
That story is downright erie!

[Nathan B]

Steve glad that boat got to ya before nap time! wow that is crazy

but this, this is Erie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgxsfIhp ... re=related

[Nathan B]

is it too cold ?........... ask these guys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Lg6-rI ... re=related
some amazing sets rolling in there! for freshH2o

Im not saying go out and kite or anything , I am just bored and checking out these spots ..

[tailwindsaloft]

I couldn't resist and went windsurfing today. If I had better gloves it would of been a very enjoyable experience. Glad I got out one more time. There were three of us and I didn't venture too far from the shore line. It's all calculated risk right????

[wings]

Those waves were awesome!

I've had some that big on Lake Michigan, but they were never close to being that clean.

[Dave Z]

Hey ice_K, we had a very enjoyable time today

Way to go tailwind..... I used to ride a 5/3 steamer with booties, hood and gloves till the ice hit so it is doable. With windsurfing it's much easier since you're riding your flotation device. With kiting you absolutely have to dress for the float in. Buddy system is also mucho importante this time of year. I would still recommend a drysuit once you have the $$ to buy one. The big difference is that a dry keeps your core very warm so your extremities stay warm as well.

Interestingly, the dudes that surf superior year round don't use drysuits. They're usually suited up in a 6/5/4 one piece steamer suit with an integrated hood. I've seen pictures of those guys sitting in the line up at Stoney Point when the temp was 0. Ah, the price one pays to catch a ride!

[windthrash]

Whether it be insanity, or just stupidity, the adrenaline rush is always worth it!!!! Personally, I believe that if there aren't risks involved, it isn't fun. Just a thought coming from my heart...

[windthrash]

Oh, and that is very erie Nathan!
Nate B

[ice_kmauve]

well, do what you will, I guess. If you're at wildwood with friends you can almost afford to go naked. But at Bellaire alone, that would be really dangerous.

Glad you had fun DaveZ. Y'allz hardcore! see you out probably this winter.

[toyletbowl]

http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com/kiteb ... highlight=

please read this entire thread above before heading out in a 4/3 wet suit.

jeff was a kiteboarder from chicago who was interacting with all of us on the forums and was doing most things right regarding how to approach the sport. however, on this day, he did everything wrong and paid the ultimate price.

lake kosh is a shallow lake near madison and the day was somewhat warm, but the waters cool off fast in the fall. he was alone and had little protection from the elements if he went down.

this is not an if...but you must be well prepared for spending 20-30 minutes in the water if you break down. like the guys say above, hypothermia kicks in really fast and you'll loose all sense of ability and reason if it happens.

be smart...be safe.

[P R Key]

Very sad.

RIP

[Reds]

My vote is for caution. I survived a swim in to Manitou Island while kiting out of BellAire in Oct with a dry suit on. I blew a baldder and pulled my kite in by the lines. I was in the water at least 20 min. If that were to happen today (november), Hypothermia would be a real problem. Even shallow water will freeze your ass in this weather. Be prepared for the worst case scenario. Lets all live to kite another day. The ice is already forming around the edges on The Bear. Start Thinking snow kiting!