Finally....smooth as silk air

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Fri Mar 07, 2003 9:27 am

After spending the first two weeks of February in Maui, I kind of got used to that predictable, smooth ocean air. Since I've been home, I've either gone to lakes too small, tried to make the wrong end of the lake work, or have been thrashed by super gusty winds and the gnarliest lake surface I've ever seen.

Well, I'm just in from one of the most perfect sessions I've had in my kiting history. The air is perfect B5, steady 15-20. Take it as fast as you want in the power window...going too fast? Just raise the kite up, slow down and enjoy the scenery (without getting yanked off the snow like so many of the other 5-30MPH days we've been riding lately). The surface has a new dusting of snow that gives a 'feel' of powder, but underneath, the settled hard crust gives the speed we dream off.

Again, maybe I've been going to the wrong places, but if you can, get out today while the wind's smooth and the surface is damn near perfect.

(ps. in the summer we can read approaching wind lines from the water. anybody got any thoughts on reading gusts in the winter? I've become increasingly more respectful of that 20mph wind burst that seems to come out of nowhere)

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Fri Mar 07, 2003 10:39 am

Randy hi!. yeah it's hard to read the gusts on snow. I've started to develop a small reaction scale based on, waist harness is hugging me like my honey= consistant wind, joy in the world. Waist harness is hugging me like a professional wrestler, torso has elongated by 1 to 2 inches= good strong gust, adrenaline is peeking. Wish I wasn't wearing a waist harness, eyes bugging with fear, unexplainable need to check on my insurances= big gust. Equipment all over the snow, in the air when I don't want to be , all of a sudden parking the kite over head in the nuetral position means a pleasant aerial tour of the neighbourhood= time to see if Nancy will let me have the smaller kite?.
May seem foolish but it works for me.

Eric S · Post by **Eric S** » Fri Mar 07, 2003 6:15 pm

When it looks like this:

http://www.downhaul.com/kites/020322/images/014.jpg

it's around 35-45mph :-)

Randy:

"(ps. in the summer we can read approaching wind lines from the water. anybody got any thoughts on reading gusts in the winter? I've become increasingly more respectful of that 20mph wind burst that seems to come out of nowhere)"

I'm so glad you got some 'smooth wind'. It's one of the best things that I've experienced with snow and kite. You can just tap into it by dipping your kite. It's very rare that I feel that type of wind. Sometimes it feels like you can turn the power on and off like a bathroom faucet. UnReal!

I've found that there are clues like on the water for looking for wind speed on the snow. When I see snow moving around under my boots it's over 10mph. When I see snow smoothing out the terrain (in patches) It's gusting to 20mph. When I see a "snowdevil" it's getting to around 30mph in the gusts.

http://www.downhaul.com/kites/020322/images/001.jpg

What I do on the snow is look WAY up wind. It's really hard to tell what is going to happen near your sail but if you look far, far up wind you can get a general idea of what is going to happen in a few mins.

It's kind of like looking at wind on the water except you can't tell what is going to happen near you, just some trends from a long way off.

Hope that helps some and always have smooth winds!

-eric