Kiteboarding Weather Articles

Weather Articles

Which way is the wind blowing today? Jake and Jeff, our resident weathervanes, are in agreement.

 

Kiteboarders are a wind-hungry lot. If you want to know the wind forecast along the shoreline, don't turn on the local news, ask your local kiteboarder. Here are some articles and resources that can help you also to become a wind guru and score more sessions.

 

Weather Links and Webcams

Here are some of the links and webcams we use to get an idea of what's happening at the beach. Read more...

What is the Wind Window?

The wind window is the area of the sky where the kite is able to fly. If you think of half of a dome existing downwind of the flier, this will give you the basic idea. The distance to the dome's wall (back of the window) from the flier is determined by the length of the kite lines. Read more...

What Kind of Wind Do I Need to Kiteboard?

Generally speaking, the average kiteboarder needs about 12mph of wind to get up and ride. Lighter riders can stay upwind and ride in less wind, while heavier riders (over 200lbs) may need 15mph. Modern race boards and race kites can get a skilled rider ripping in under 10mph, but this is the exception, not the rule. Read more...

Judging Wind Speed Using the Beaufort Scale

The Beaufort scale makes it possible to judge wind speed without a wind meter. In fact, you can even estimate the wind using a good webcam with this method. Read more...

Finding Wind for Kiteboarding

Are we lucky or what? Talk to the old windsurf guys and hear the stories of standing on the beach for 8 hours hoping for a white cap. Well, those days are gone. Read more...

How to Score More Kiteboarding Sessions

As I'm sure that you already know - kiteboarders are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Unless you live in a place where the trade winds blow like clockwork, you probably have to try your best to arrange your schedule so that you can get to the water when the wind is on. Read more...

How to Steal a Kiteboard Session

The boys headed to Lake Michigan to go kitesurfing yesterday and I "stole" a kiteboarding session. I arrived at the pier to find Jake and Aaron sitting on the sidelines after a few bolts of lightning had forced them off the water. I looked up at the clouds and storm front and figured they had moved on. Read more...

How to Ride in Light Winds

While kiteboarding already has a huge lightwind advantage over sports like windsurfing, everyone always wants to get the most riding time possible. For most kiteboarders on a standard setup (12m Kite & 140cm board for 175lb rider), rideable wind begins at about 15 mph. Read more...

The Benefit of Kiteboarding in Low Winds

There are many skills that you can practice and refine in underpowered conditions. Lightwind sessions are great incubators for strengthening not only your kite flying ability, but your board skills as well. Many of my favorite sessions are directly linked to skills I learned in a low wind session a day or two before. Read more...

Lightwind Kites to Beat the Summer Kiteboarding Doldrums

In many areas, certain times of the year tend to be windier than others. For us, summer can be a quiet time with days or weeks of little wind. Many of us have a lightwind kite in our quiver. Read more...

What's the Wind Range of My Kite?

So what decides the wind range of a kite, anyway? There are really about 4 factors: 1.Kiteboarder's riding skill. This is actually the number one factor that most people do not consider. Read more...

How to Kitesurf Safely in Gusty Conditions

Gusts are an inherent companion to wind, but can also turn a session dangerous quickly. While many modern kitesurfing kites are designed to absorb gusts effectively, there are still some important considerations to keep in mind to make your kiteboarding session safer. Read more...