ramsey wrote:I think a lot of people here have kited in high gale force winds say mid-30s to low 40's. Once you get a little bit over that its just not possible. Say what you will, but once you get to sustained mid 40's you're talking gusts in the mid 50's that probably the limit to kiting here or even in the gorge. Same for a weak tropical storm
Strong Trop storm force is 50+ meaning likely gusts to 60 or 70. There's really no kite small enough. Hurricane force is basically not worth talking about at >74mph sustained.
I have kited half a dozen times in mid 40s-50 mph winds and i would agree with Ramsey that over 50 its not really possible. It gets so insanely gusty that it can go from 15-55 in a split second in weather like that. Kites that small are ridiculously twitchy and i found myself doing double kiteloops and smashing the kite a lot by overreacting.
With that said i love days like that.. Pull the handle down just a hair and suddenly you are 40ft in the air... Such a rush!!!