Windsurfers in Ireland gusts 70 knots big airs,amazing.TONY
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:19 pm
by ronnie
Reported top gust was 74 knots. It looks about 70 knots at 36 seconds in this.
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:24 pm
by ronnie
Most of them had never windsurfed in wind this strong before.
Best jump is a back loop+front loop combination at 1.39 in this.
Another small clip.
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:26 pm
by tony montana
tony montana wrote:Windsurfers in Ireland gusts 70 knots big airs,amazing.TONY
There is a vid on red bull storm chasers its crazy,maybe someone can get it up.
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:40 pm
by eree
now, that separates the grains from the chaff!
no kites in the scene. as it should be.
i suppose at that moment kiteboarder's cool boots were too wet to participate...
and all those dubstep soundtracks were already too much devaluated on a crappy numerous flatwater fart breeze session videos.
i already regret selling my WS gear
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:51 pm
by Tone
without a doubt that is some serious weather and sailing.
I don't think a kite could cold 70 knots down.
VERY impressed.
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:04 pm
by Don Monnot
I agree with Tone. I'm a reformed windsurfer, but watching that vid made me want to dust off some of my gear. Last time I tried windsurfing, it was gusting over 50. The first time I sheeted in my sail blew out a seam. Haven't tried since, but did get the sail repaired just in case.
Don
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:28 pm
by juandesooka
As a relatively new kiter, I'm interested to watch the difference between winter frontal winds vs summer thermals. Once it is 40kts+, there's not many kiters willing to chance it ... that's when the windsurfers have a clear advantage. (and I guess when it's 15-20 and the ws'ers can't get planing, a kiter on a big kite can be having a blast)
Watching this video, once it's 50+, I wonder where the design limit is for the WS gear. At some point I'd expect it's too windy for the gear to be functional. Or maybe so marginal it becomes survival mode instead of ripping it up.
Some big hang time on those jumps!
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:07 pm
by plummet
I would fly in those conditions if I had a small enough kite. I've done similar in 30-50 knots.
70 knots?.... probably need a 2m. certainly my 6m would kill me in 70 knots.
I love storm kiting its great! adrenaline packed madness. +40 is very silly.
Re: Red Bull storm chasers
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:11 pm
by ronnie
At the same place, this was a UK contest peaking at 50 knots and 15' waves for comparison.