High Wind Kiteboarding

I moved down to South Padre Island for the fall months from the central Columbia River Gorge. 30 mph winds ripping down the throat of the Gorge corridor is common amongst kiteboarders and windsurfers during the summer months. Back home, life begins at 30+ for the windsurfers, but for kiteboarding, you go into survival mode with high winds. My good friend, and high wind kiteboarding pioneer, Joe Turkiwiecz, coined the term “battle kiting.” I’ve seen Joe kiting on the Columbia River when it was frothing, and white caps were turning into liquid smoke, wondering to myself, where are the other kiters? Most likely the other kiters were rigging up their poleboards, and venturing back to their windsurfing roots. You might ask how high wind kiters like Joe not only maintain out there, but thrive for the high wind experience? Here are a few tricks of the trade to help you enjoy a safer high wind experience.

First, line length and bar tuning is key! Generally speaking, for every 5m of line you take away, your kite size strength decreases by 1m. The industry standard these days is 25m lines, but for high wind kiting try riding on 18-20m lines (depending on the leader line’s length). This will lessen, or shorten the wind window, for a faster kite response and a more direct feel. Riding with short lines requires better kite flying skills, and can be less forgiving in gusty conditions. A kites a.o.a. or, angle of attact can be adjusted from the bar. You can trim the front lines shorter depower. By tuning the bar’s trim strap to ½ to ¾’s its length, you can adjust the kite’s a.o.a. forward and ride in stronger winds. If shortening the front lines using the trim strap can depower a kite, the same can be done by lengthening the rear lines when rigging. Most rear line pigtails have a series of knots to chose from. In high wind, chose the first, or closest knot towards the rider for decreased power.

Second, board length and riding style. I think of Lou Wainman in the older kiteboarding movies when I think of short boards. In the midst of nuclear Maui winds, Lou would ride Jimmy Lewis’ custom shaped boards w/ no fins that were cafeteria tray sized (under 100cm!). Without the capabilities of depowering a 2-line kite, Lou could hold down immense power with the short board. Short boards seem to complement Lou’s strong riding style, especially when thrashing through the chop or boosting massive air! If this is your style of riding, than shorter boards have their advantages. One advantage is greater edge control, for increasing upwind ability in high winds. If you are boosting big and lofty jumps in high wind, getting back upwind is essential (unless doing a downwinder!). Short boards also increase power control. You can accelerate a kite to the edge of the window faster by stomping harder on the heel side edge. This can be extremely beneficial when flying C-shaped kites, or any kite in gusty conditions. Finally, a short board increases maneuverability, in tight surf and swell.
On the other hand, not everybody is concerned about boosting huge air in strong and unpredictable winds. For those who would rather take advantage of the big surf and swell that usually accompanies high wind, a longer board is worth trying. I’m currently witnessing the evolution of kiteboarding come full circle with directional, surf style boards being re-introduced for the slash and burn style riding. Not all of us need to be boosting 50ft. airs in high wind, in fact, many of us would rather stay on the surface of the water! A larger board gives a smooth, carvy ride, like a snowboard. It’s easier on the knees, and when you're in a wave, you can carve a much deeper trench on bottom turns. A bigger board also allows you to rig a smaller kite, which is the last key point when kiting in high winds.
Kite style and size. With the introduction of hybrid, or “flat” kites this year, people are pushing the limits of high wind kiting. The huge advantage with a flat kite with bridles is near 100% depower when a shock wave of 40-45mph gusts come ripping through. Although most small kites (3m-6m) are designed for smaller, lighter weight individuals, some heavier kiters are taking them out into the high wind extremes. One thing to consider when using a kite 6m or smaller is to swap out the factory bridles for heavier weight spectra line. This will ensure your bridles remain in contact when you hear your lines creeking under heavy load.
When venturing out kiteboarding in 30+ mph winds, please take extreme caution. High wind kiting presents another level of difficulty, and more room for rider error. Most error can be avoided by pre-thinking your gear list. The tuning game pays off huge when you finally find the sweet spot for your riding style. Experiment with different set ups and combinations and maximize the high end of your riding. Remember, pray for the best, and always expect the worse! Happy HIGH wind kiting, y vaya con viento!!