BayAreaKiteboarding.com

I was kiteboarding Saturday and Sunday at Crissy with my 14m Waroo. I've been kiteboarding since June of this year, and the gust was the strongest I have ever seen. The kite was changing its shape like a jelly fish. On Sunday there were many people under the bridge close to the south tower. When I got there, I realized why - the wind was very smooth, and the waves much smaller, sometimes even flat.

I ended up in the zone too south where the wind suddenly stops, and the kite fell down. It didn't crash, just slowly went down (I actually had to wait until it finally touched the water). I steered it north to the wind zone, and relaunched it. I believe this transition zone (between no wind, and strong wind) is super gusty, the kite moved very fast, somehow ended up again in the no-wind zone, and slowly fell down again.

When I relaunched it second time, I was more careful and when the kite was at neutral suddenly a big baloon started coming out from the middle of the leading edge, and blew up. I was close to the south tower, and the ebb was almost at its peek of ~5 knots. Not a good feeling, let me tell ya... ;-)

I decided to let go the kite, and started swimming. Luckily a guy named Chris saw me and came to me. I was super lucky he was a perfect kiteboarder, and 4-5 attempts of board dragging while holding to his harness got me out of the current zone. Then a guy on a kayak dragged me to the shore. I had no idea there are so many nice people under the Golden Gate bridge!

After all this long story I wonder about one thing. Is it true that the kite should be somewhat underinflated when kiteboarding at gusty places like Crissy ? I don't believe I overinflated it, I also didn't crash it. It blew up in the air, in the neutral. Maybe that transition zone under the birdge hit it like a knife - any idea ?

Also, if anyone saw what happened to the blue 14m Waroo yesterday - let me know. I contacted Coast Guard, but so far they didn't find it.

Thanks!

I was the guy that dragged you in.

That was not a real gusty day. Just a lot of different wind ranges.
The thing about Crissy is the wind speed and water are different through out the bay.
Yesterday the wind was 15mph at the beach when most people launched and about 12 when everyone came in.
It was 22-28 in the channel and below the North Tower and 20-22 at the South tower and out the Gate.

Crissy is a place you need to rig for the ride not the beach. Which means most days you will be on a 12.
Under inflating your kite will not help.
I think the reason your kite blow up was it went from zero wind in the shadow to a strong 22+ mph wind in a second.

This is the time of year when Crissy has good wind while the rest of the Bay Area spots have none.
Here is a check list for having a good day at Crissy
ïLook at the tide chart. Strong flood = up close view of Alcatraz and a cab ride back to Crissy. Strong ebb = donít kite alone.
ïCheck the wind at TI it is more representative of what the wind is like out past the Crissy sensor
ïIf no one is kiting donít launch unless you want to be the entertainment for the peanut gallery. There is a reason if no one is going out.
ïBring your favorite beverage to enjoy after the session. Crissy has a lot of good scenery :)

FYI- there where lots of kites at Crissy yesterday and none of the issues that have been previously post about in this forum. The reason is it was a typical kiting day a Crissy. The only people on the beach where walking their dogs, windsurfing or kiting.

If you find the Waroo, take it back to Wall-Mart for a refund!

i blew the leading edge on both my 12 and 16 waroo. Call best and they'll send you a new one.

Chris, thanks again! Your were absolutely the best.

14m Waroo was perfect for all wind ranges you mentioned. It has a lot of depower, and was fine for 22+ in channel and 12 at the beach. I had to adjust the strap a few times, and use full range of depower. The thing I don't understand how so many people on C-kites managed to kiteboard, but that's not the point.

The point is that the shape of Waroo was changing a lot, and this makes me wonder if the pressure couldn't handle it (especially coming out from the shadow area from 0 to 22+ mph in 1 second), and maybe because normally I inflate it firm was a mistake at Crissy.

About the gust I agree - it wasn't as strong on Sunday as it was on Saturday. Maybe the gust on Saturday already caused some damage, I don't know. But anyway, just wanted to see if anyont thinks that for strong gusts it's better to slightly under-inflate or not (especially at Crissy, and especially with Waroo).

Pumping any kite rock hard isnt good for it's longevity. Prehaps your kite had some weak point (flaw) so it finally went POW. This stuff happens..
Bottom line is SLE and Bow kites like pressure, too much causes undo stress but not enough and you'll have stability issues.
Sounds like it was just its time to go,
L.M.G.

Great thread! Overpressure will certainly subdue the kites longevity. under pressure will fold, taco, or jellyfish it. Good thing good people were around. I have a xbow that I have overinflated many a time. the stitches are stretching very far. I pretty much have to underinflate it now. That sucks cuz I know the kite might not last another season.

-jk

Had the exact same blowout on the water, with a big basketball size bulge protuding from main bladder. Luckily mine didn't bust and made it back to shore. Did have it pumped up on the firm side, so now I'm erring on the low psi side.

Just be aware that from what I heard no one buys the pink Waroos, so they give them for warranty replacement... If you go for replacement ask what you get :)

The Waroo needs a lot of pressure, more than the other bows, and it's a time bomb for the LE. I think like LMG, it was probably its time to go.

Just to note why you C a lot of C kite at Crissy.
1. We don't do kite R&D for free and we are definatley not going to pay to do it .
2. We don't work in marketing for kite company. We don't believe the hype.
:yawinkle: