How do most people gauge their wind that they are flying in?

I just switched from a Rush 300 to a 3m Flow so I thought I was getting adjusted to flying. Most of the time it seemed as if I was overestimating the wind, going out and trying to fly when there wasn't enough. I guess I got use to it.

This weekend I had the opposite. I was trying to find the power window when suddenly I pulled up, (my first Superman,) fell on my shoulder and tore my AC joint. (No, I'm not looking to sell my kite...)

Do most people check conditions before going out, or take a wind reading when they get there? And how do you watch out for that AC joint busting gust...?

I've been using one of these for 6+ years: http://www.hallwindmeter.com/ takes all the guess work out of it.

Rough luck.

I don't use a wind meter even though I have one. I judge by feel. The way the trees, flags are acting and the water. The trees and flag tell me how gusty it is. The water tells me the speed. No whitecaps - Big kite, Whitecaps starting - medium kite + I can jump ( 10 knots ) , Big whitecaps, BIG FUN !!!

I size for the gusts and usaully only move up if I doubt the wind will pick up. Depending on your location you may see a gust coming ( water , dust ... ) but usually you just feel it coming on and react.

You just know when you know.

Hence the reason why you must learn your kites and find the windrange that is most comfortable for you. Charts are just guides based on someone who is 150lbs unless otherwise stated.

For example:
Dino and I might be riding the same kite in the same wind but he might be traveling in a straight line while I drift. Pick your size carefully.

I check the internet, but only for an approximation... I carry all my kites with me, so unless the wind stops, or tops 50, im ok

I still go by my old quote lol:
I gave up on windspeeds, its either crappy, gravy, epic, or stupid... In that order.

Gravy can be substituted with shibby, and know that there is a very thin line between epic and stupid

That is the Drewculous Anemometer!

I carry all mine too. And I always seem to start to small. But I'm "older" than most here so I need to be more causious!!

Been using the elements around me since day one to judge the wind. Found the internet to be off the mark sometimes, so I use it just for a general reference. Best bet is to carry various sizes of kite not to get skunked.

I don't need one. Here, if the wind is blowing, the wind is gusting. It's never consistent. No need to take measurements when it's 10 mph gusting to 30 every day of the week.

Quote:

Originally posted by Seanny I don't need one. Here, if the wind is blowing, the wind is gusting. It's never consistent. No need to take measurements when it's 10 mph gusting to 30 every day of the week.

Diddo....that is of course unless it is 3mph gusting to 30....

Joking aside I use a wind meter still and size for the gusts....which can be very frustrating in the lulls.

short answer -it is always a guess:wee:, which is why everyone has a quiver LOL.
For long range [3 -5 days] planning I use two websites [usairnet -a ultra-light, paraglider site & windfinder -a general aviation site]. Airnet gives "average" wind and direction in 3 hour increments and windfinder gives a "steady" reading and a "gust" reading in 1 hr increments. As with any weather guess they should be taken with a grain of salt -a few days ago they had the wind direction 180 degrees apart at the same time.:singing::shocked2:
I like to watch flags [buildings don't flap and we do not have enough trees :ticking:] but they are susceptible to ground turbulence.
With our swirly -gusty winds I started putting up a windsock at my flying site so I would have an immediate & reliable indicator of my wind.

We got a live webcam at the beach, with a flag, trees and the lake in shot - you can see whitecaps etc. If I'm land kiting on the F.B's, I just take everything I got

I use a website to see if there is any wind out there, a wind meter and trees/flags/etc when I get to the spot, but gusty inland winds are just that.... a challenge.

The best gauge is what happens when you fly. Setup and launch at the edge of the window, if you do not feel overpowered bring your kite to the zenith, wait for a gust and walk backwards. If you now feel overpowered safely land the kite and pack up/downsize . If you are underpowered you might not have as much fun but at least you won't become rocketman.

i have a free anemometer that needs a battery and paid postage...


free to anyone(hint-vtek) that will pass it on free to another new kite flier that is... please keep it on pkf and direct others to do the same...

I carry a windmeter with me when I kite. I try to get a visual of higher up things like flags n such if I can. Down below it may read 8mph, 80feet up it could read 15mph or higher depending on your location. I have about 5 websites in bookmarks that I frequently check and compare forecasts. However, the conditions can change in a hurry so you gotta be prepared. With time you'll adjust to your conditions and won't have to question it as much. That's really all there seems to it. If your not sure take a reading, if your overpowered/underpowered change your kite accordingly. Best thing is to start small and get bigger if you're needing more.

I would take dylanj423 up on that anemometer, or if you have an iphone they have a really good $.99 app. The reason I suggest this is that I went through something similar to what happened to you. My first kite was a little ram air stunt kite - fun to fly but it needed pretty strong winds to get off the ground - switched to a 4m blade after about 4 months but the wind gauge in my head was all wrong for what I was trying to fly. Got yarded pretty quick. A basic standard measurement reference is great. It only took me about 3 outings with a windmeter to get a good feel for what the wind actually was compared to what it "feels' like. I still catch myself getting the wind wrong by guessing, then checking my phone to realize I was actually off about 8 mph. Nothing wrong about pulling the trigger on free stuff.

Please take away from this that a wind meter is just another indicator. Wind up higher is likey to be different . It is a good tool to give you reference but learning to judge the wind is much more valuable.

I say , take the offer and pass it on.

I see a new fad . Pass the Wind Meter ?

you have to spend some time in the environment and get a feel for whats what. a meter is great starting point to help you understand and relate what SEE, FEEL and HEAR!

a good exercise is facing into the wind (determining direction is first!)

turn your head left and right , at the loudest point you nose is pointing at wind origin.

usable wind sounds starts around 5-6-7mph.

leaves flip and branchs wave at 10-12

tree tops (as a whole) start moving 15+

sand/ dust start blasting around 20-25

dead flag <5 ,, limping ,luffing flag 6-10... out and steady 12+ . ...stiff and beating 20+

I'm always the only guy at the beach with a windmeter and find it funny that all the guys who claim to be "experts" at reading the wind always come up to me and ask, "what's it blowin'?".

consistency, if you learn what makes this happen, what ruins it and local seasonal wind tendencies you are gonna have better enjoyment.

just showing up and "where's the wind"? and you will probably drop the sport.


tune in to the local wind action so you know. just another important part of the sport

Torn AC joint? Man that does not sound like fun.
Big difference in the way kites pull. Hard to find that out without getting yarded at least once.

I check lots of websites to get an idea of what is going on, then show up with all my kites for the given location, ie: I dont bring my outlaws to the water with me...

Hope you heal up soon, and get back out there.. Lots of fun to be had...

I used to use a wind meter, still do sometimes, more just to see how close I am

If you are unsure, start with a smaller kite and move up if needed. Typically a bad idea to start big :Ange09:

Thanks for all the advice, I hope to put it to use when I can kite again in 3-4 weeks.

I looked at the conditions that day and they were 10 knot winds with gusts to 30 knots. I'll definitely be keeping a closer eye on my environment next time so I don't fly outside my range.


Say, I was working harder with my Flow than with my Rush. I noticed that with the Rush I could let it go to the top of the window and it would hang out there easily.
With the Flow, it tries to over fly me and crumple. I think I was concentrating too much on trying to keep it in the window and didn't watch as my conditions changed.

Is that what I was experiencing, that a trainer will stay on top of you while a 4 line will want to over fly the window...?

Quote:

Originally posted by v-tek ... Is that what I was experiencing, that a trainer will stay on top of you while a 4 line will want to over fly the window...?

Really depends on the kite. You might not have enough tension on your brake lines? Its also fairly typical of gusty conditions. Not always a good idea to keep your kite sitting at zenith in gusty conditions...

Yes you should notice a difference between the 2 kites. When you get in motion you will find that translates to the Flow being better at upwind.

To avoid overfly either redirect ( wiggle ) the kite or slow it with brakes before it happens.

The other thing was the changing wind speed . The kite rushing farther forward in the window is an indicator that a gust is hitting.

Great questions !

just look at the trees if there moving around i know ive got more than enough wind to play with my rainbow:D