A squall was approaching the launch in southern Florida a few weeks ago. The wind had been a light 10 to 14 mph and had just dropped below 5 mph. Two kiters rigged big on large boards had come in as the wind had just died, ("the lull before the storm**"). A third rider had launched walked 50 ft. off the beach and was standing in the shallows with his 16 m flat kite near the vertical. A squall was visible moving towards the launch. I understand he was warned about going out.

The guys on the beach saw a white cap line rushing in and yelled "don't go." The kiter with five years experience kept the kite at the vertical, didn't depower or drop his kite to the side of the wind window ready to Emergency Depower in this short interval. He stood there unaware bare seconds of action might make all the difference. Suddenly, the wind gusted up to around 30 mph (ONLY) with the squall and the rider was lofted airborne. The temperature dropped by ten degrees, perhaps more. By all accounts once the wind hit he had no time to react, no one would have. The time to react was before the wind arrived.



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