So winds were suppose to be 10-11 this afternoon so I thought I would just static fly with the 5.3m and harness. Me and the family had been to a triple A baseball game and I had a few beers (probably a mistake hindsight). We stopped by the park on the way home and I set up and started to fly. Right away the winds felt stronger than what intellicast had predicted and the kite sat at zenith with considerable pull on the harness. I thought to myself I was just being a wuss and so I started to throw the kite around a bit. I wasn't flying 5 minutes before I got lofted. Not that high but pretty far forward with a hard landing. I had done some jumps in the past that were similar but the difference was that they were on purpose. Anyway, the lessons I learned were: No beer before flying, I need a windmeter, and I need to trust my instincts. No injuries but it was quite a shock, as many here know, to be out of control.

prost

Save the high wind for the 2.6m!

Yeah I guess I did need that one out. At my weight I figured even the gusts would not be enough to lift me but the base wind was definety higher than what was forecast.

Consider that your warning shot. I've paid the price before (including recently) whenever I don't listen to my instincts. I find it's easy to become complacent when you are on your "home" turf. Be very careful kiting in a familiar place and listen to yourself!

That sounds like excellent wind for the venom... You could have gotten some huge floaty jumps if the 5m was picking you up. Am I a bad influence? :evil:

The venom would have probably been safer to jump with. I probably would have brought it but I checked 2 weather apps and both had the current wind between 10-11. That's what was so deceiving. It wasn't very gusty either, it was a fairly smooth high wind. I could put the viper anywhere in the sky and it would stay put with a little brake tension and considerable pull. Almost like being at a beach.

Yup. Can't just "let go" with a strop. Close call.
P.S. beer is good

I did finally get a definitive test on my no knot infinitely adjustable strop connection works. It doesn't come apart and it doesn't slip. :D

This presents an interesting query... Does the "beer goggle" effect also have an impact on wind speed perception....

In other words, if beer is capable of making you think people are more attractive, does it make you think the wind was blowing harder than it actually is?

Is it possible that the current conditions forecasts were correct and it felt like more because of your beer goggles?

Just kiddin around but it's fun to think about.

lol, your probably right. I think what happened was the wind was in the teens all day and was suppose to taper off in the evening (which it eventually did). I think I caught the wind about a half hour before it actually tapered off. What I'm certain the beer did is give me liquid courage. When I felt the wind seemed higher, I thought to myself I'm going for it, in the harness, no matter what. So I was going to try and jump but the I just got caught off guard when I was swinging it around from 10 oclock to 2

liquid courage and dangerous activities are never a good thing.

I don't ever try and jump hooked in to a strop and handles ! :o

That is sort of asking for trouble? NO WAY you can push out mid jump.

My plan was never to jump. I was just planning on doing some aggressive scudding and butt scudding, but i was swinging it around just above the power zone and getting a feel for the wind when I inadvertently jumped. BR, just come to Indiana and fly for awhile. You'll jump with handles and strop even if you don't want to in my wind. :P.

I only try and jump under the best conditions I get which is pretty rare. IMO jumping in my inland wind is never safe with any kite.

edit: I just realized I contradicted my earlier post about if I was planning on jumping or not. Honestly I don't think I had plan before the offending action of the kite.

I hear you. Been there when snow kiting.

As much as I love to jump I only do it when everything lines up. I can't remember when I tried to jump with FB last? I tend to only fly my 2.5 FB these days and that is in too strong of winds for me to feel comfortable under anything bigger.

Hehehe... Liquid courage

Famous last words: "hey y'all,... Watch this!"