NPWfever - 19-10-2007 at 04:45 PM
I was at the park today flying my 3 meter (some wicked wind) and i noticed a thermal rising off the basketball court and i decide to see what would
happen. I brought the kite above me and walked over. as soon as the kite was over the basketball court i felt a huge upward tug without the wind
increasing. I have read enough about PG to learn how to catch a thermal so i found the core and turned the kite. HOLY #@%$#! I got locked into the
thermal and the kite kept spinning as it lifted me up (i was about 10 feet up) and i panicked and pulled the other way and i lost the thermal. However
i am now 10-15 up above asphault and i am no longer in a thermal. Now keep in mind this is a 3 meter kite and mother nature decided to lay off the
wind for the few seconds i was up and i fell and hit the court with a nice smack to the noggin (im all good but from now on I'm wearing a helmet) But
it was pretty sick.
Pablo - 19-10-2007 at 05:02 PM
Deathwish IMO
NPWfever - 19-10-2007 at 06:13 PM
I didnt mean to! But it was cool!
KYTE SLINGER - 20-10-2007 at 07:04 AM
never question mother nature if your not able to handle the answer...
no disrespect! but we all been there to test the limits ,but just remember you, me ,we asked for it :o
also panic is not a option in power kiting...
any
powerkiter would have added a trick like a heal click in to say I ment
to do that
NPWfever - 20-10-2007 at 07:17 AM
LOL! I meant to do that escpecially the landing on my head part
flyhigh142 - 20-10-2007 at 07:42 AM
What you encountered was a dust devil. It's still lift, but much stronger than thermal lift at low altitudes. Smart move to bail when you did! You
could have been taken much higher had you stuck with it. When some friends were setting up their hang gliders at a mountain site, they heard what
sounded like a truck full of sheet metal climbing the mountain road. It turned out to be a monster dust devil. It blew through launch and when two of
the wings which had been laying flat began to rise into the air, all jumped on the gliders. Four people were all on one glider and were lifted easily.
They wisely bailed at about the same altitude as you. Both gliders continued to rise, embraced, and then crashed down on a brand new toyota truck. Two
harnesses were lifted as well. Have you seen this video? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4767038126722012100...
NPWfever - 20-10-2007 at 08:06 AM
Yeah dude ERIC ECK! It prob was a dust devil then but it was prob a coincidence it was right were a thermal was (i saw the heat distortion) so one was
there but prob didnt play a role. A DD makes sense as the area is surrounded by tall trees about 30 feet out. the wind would enter and circulate for
sure.