Windsurfed for fifteen years and kiting for four years but have never experienced this..

Yesterday wind was blowing 22-24kts N/E, patchy cloud/sunny (60/40) and a warm 28 degree afternoon. No lighting/thunder or storm cell approaching. I was using a 10 metre Slingshot Raptor, sentinal bar and stock lines.

Towards the end of my session around 4:30pm I began to feel electric shocks each time I landed from a boost through my board (Cabrinha Tronic). So much shock I could hear the cracking of the electricity through my feet.

I ended the session and ran up to my three kite buddys and told them about it. As I got out of the water and walked along the beach to them electricity still continued to crack through my feet on each step I made. The sensation was stronger when the bar was pulled in at 12 on the beach.

Has anyone experienced this before or have knowledge on how this would occur?

Yeah I used to get shocked all the time in Sydney. Static builds up on the kite and then when you land and earth it , it zaps you. Seems to happen way more with very big kites in muggy conditions (conditions where you are also likely to see lightning).

... very common here in Darwin during our wet season, especially worse as storms approach. If ya getting belted it's a good time to go in.

Once I was way out to sea and storm came in much faster than I had anticipated. The shocks where not to bad to begin with, only occurring through my hands when board left the water but when you get tingles almost constantly you know you're in a bit of a pickle. Storm just about on me, I ended up riding back the last few kilometre's with the kite as low as I could get it, almost touching the water the whole way back. Luckily it was 25 knots plus so keeping kite basically touching the water was easy enough.

Yeah, not too smart that day, hopefully I don't do that again.

Cheers,

Robbie

Thanks for the info. From both your replies it seems maybe humidity may have something to do with it as here at Coffs Harbour it has been very muggy.