Kitesurfers in Estonia took to the water ahead of the storm
In the Lohusalu harbor west of Tallinn, kitesurfers went out to sea before the storm reached Estonia’s coast on Saturday. Enthusiasts of the sport said that the pre-storm wind and waves created favorable conditions for riding, ERR News reports.
Jumps above the waves
One of the kitesurfers, Andrus, was already at sea when the filming crew of the “Aktuaalne kaamera” program arrived at the location. He performed jumps several meters above the rough water.
After returning to shore, Andrus said he felt a strong rush of adrenaline and needed to rest. He also noted that the wind had eased slightly, but under different conditions he could have jumped higher.
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Another kitesurfer, Tarmo, was preparing equipment on the shore. According to him, timing is crucial: if the wind strengthens sufficiently before the rain cloud arrives, conditions for riding will be good. Tarmo added that the season had been successful since spring due to good winds, and such conditions occur regularly in autumn.
Risks of strong winds
Andrus drew attention to the danger of kitesurfing in strong winds. According to him, the situation becomes dangerous when an athlete is no longer able to control the kite and it begins lifting the person into the air. He named sand blown from the beach by the wind as a sign of increasing danger.
The storm was accompanied by a level-two warning. It later intensified so much that even experienced kitesurfers would have had to stay on land. After the bad weather, fallen branches and trees were recorded in Estonia, while thousands of people were left without electricity.
