Kitesurfing in the rain isn’t really all that different from kitesurfing at any other time. While it might seem like you couldn’t do it, you’re in the water and rain is made out of water.
When sports have to be postponed due to the rain, it’s because the participants or maybe their equipment can’t get wet. Kiteboarding involves the water, so you’re already wet no matter what the weather is like!
You’re not going to want to put up your kite sail during electrical storms, but a light rain shouldn’t hurt. It really shouldn’t impact your kit at all either.
That’s great news for anyone who might have been out on the waves when all of a sudden it starts to rain. You don’t have to let a little change in weather ruin your plans.
Will the Rain Hurt my Equipment?
Boardsports companies are supposed to make their gear waterproof, considering that kitesurfing equipment is meant to be used in the water. This means that the rain shouldn’t be any tougher on your kit than any other weather pattern.
UV rays from the sun can break down certain types of plastics, so a slightly overcast day might be better from that standpoint. I’ve heard of some kiteboarders who find that the crossbars for their kites actually break apart after long periods of sun exposure.
You’re probably going to want to watch out for strong wind gusts, however. When it starts to rain, wind is often never very far behind so there’s a risk that your equipment could get caught up in one of these gusts and damaged.
As always, you’ll never want to go kiteboarding when conditions outstrip your own abilities. Accidents are actually much less common than you’d think, but of those that happen most can be traced to riding like that.
Is it More Fun to Kitesurf in the Rain?
Some people certainly think so! Judging by what I’ve seen on the beaches and even read online, there’s nothing like the feeling of a cool breeze hitting your face while you experience the gentle spray of the water coming from both underneath and above you.
Personally, I think the most fun time to jump on a kiteboard is whenever you have time to. It’s a great way to just forget about everything else you have going on.
However, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that many boarders would take a slight amount of rain over nearly any other weather pattern. The droplets have a tendency to split up the surface area of the waves and make them even wilder to ride.
Depending on the kind of water you’re in, a slight amount of rain might be enough to change the level and that can make for a really unforgettable time out there.
Skills or Equipment You Need for Kitesurfing in the Rain
If it’s just raining and the rain is light, then you don’t really need any extra skills than you normally would if you were kitesurfing while it was sunny out. You might find it more comfortable if you were to wear a rash guard, but you might want to wear one of those whenever you’re on your board regardless of conditions.
That’s a lesson I certainly learned the hard way, and I’d love to help others to prevent the same mistake! Otherwise, you might want to use slightly heavier duty gear, but your kit is more than likely up to the task already.
After all, your equipment is supposed to be designed to be waterproof. If it isn’t going to hold back the rain, then chances are good that it really isn’t going to do much when it comes time to deal with salt water.
Speaking of that, I’ve never heard anyone claim that there’s much difference between the rain that falls on ocean beaches from that near lakes. However, ocean shoreline weather tends to be much worse in terms of choppiness.
In some cases, the weather can even make things dangerous. This is especially true when the waves start to get larger.
Anyone who wants to be ready for anything will want to start to slowly increase the height of waves that they’re comfortable with little by little until they’re ready to tackle some monsters.
Types of Weather and Conditions that Make Kitesurfing Dangerous
- Lightning: While I’ve never found hard numbers on it, most people seem to agree that lightning is the most dangerous weather pattern for kitesurfers since you have a line pointed straight up at the clouds.
- High Winds: Most kitesurfing instructors I’ve come across feel that 28 knots is the fastest that novice kitesurfers should attempt to ride in. That’s a wind speed of slightly more than 32 mph.
- Low Winds: I was surprised to find this out, but many kitesurfers run into falling hazards if the wind falls below around 7 knots. That’s just slightly over 8 mph. You might also be unable to sail back to shore with winds that low.
- Thunderclouds: Big cumulonimbus clouds are a real hazard, because they can bring big gusts of cold wind. Look out for their mushroom-shaped appearance.
- Sheep Clouds: When you see a sheep-shaped cirrocumulus cloud, you’ll want to head back to shore. These indicate that the winds are dying off.
- Thick Cirrus Clouds: You’ll sometimes hear these referred to more correctly as altocumulus clouds, and while they don’t cause rain they will proceed thunderstorms that come with lightning.
- Tropical Cyclones: When serious hurricanes and typhoons hit, beach bosses will usually put out flags to tell everyone to get away and not approach the shoreline.
- Tall Waves: Anything taller than maybe 3-5 feet is going to be a challenge for new kiteboarders. Once waves start to approach 10 feet, you’re going to really need to hone your skills. Over that might not be easy for anyone but real pros.
