With the no. of new-to-kiting people we see in the shop planning to kite through winter in Perth please be warned.
It used to be that for your first, and for most even your second, winter was a strictly NO GO exercise which pretty much everyone observed.
Yes, with the latest kites, it is way safer and more fun than it ever was BUT it can still be extremely dangerous. Even the most pleasant of our gusty westerlies can turn super nasty with little warning.
If you are venturing out please realise that those who are already out there are probably experienced kiters who know and accomodate for risk.
DONT kite in areas where there is danger close to shore - THIS IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT FOR MELVILLE. MELVILLE SHOULD BE TOTALLY BANNED ALL WINTER. I hope those who teach there stress this to students during lessons in summer.
WATCH the horizon regularly. You can usually spot the squalls (over 50kph sometimes but regularly over 40 on any squally westerly day)
If its coming in quicker than you can get to shore and land safely head out to sea, drop your kite and sit it out.
They usually dont last all that long but even if they do its way safer to drift into shore with a downed kite than to get caught out attempting to come in and land ur kite when it hits.
And one last caution (I learnt the hard way 
) is dont assume that cos the first, or even several, squalls coming through were kitable that the next one will be. Squalls are not always regular in intensity. The only thing that almost certainly save my life the day I learnt this lesson was that I was, by coincidence - not choice, a long way off shore when I was hit by what looked just like the last squall I quite enjoyed but this time felt like a hurricane.
Home to sanitise the wetty that day 
i remember a couple of years back having to defend instructors on a s/b thread, now you actually sound like one, nice work puppet
and if you do want to kite you should buy my 7m. A smaller kite is important.
offer away
Winter Kiting
1. It's cold, so dress warm...you will die of hypothermia if you are in the water too long.
2. It's on and off.......and most of the time you go to the beach its off...either no wind or squall coming.
3. If you are lucky to get some....stay out to sea, esp. when on shore.......duh!
4. Plan ahead...visualize the what if's and have a plan both for getting out and coming in and alone.
5. If you get squalled..... keep your kite low to the water and ride it out or land and release your kite in the water if you must come in.
6. I personally have not had many good winter kites in the many years of kiting in Perth...I think surfing is more appropriate in winter. I did have a nice little sess a few days ago
PS I only use a 7m and SB.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
If you are not sure then do not even consider pumping up.
Intense storm cells rolling in the from the Indian ocean are unpredictable beasts and should be left to those with enough experience to prempt the dangerous situations that are likely to occur.
If you are comfortable and willing to give it a shot then ENSURE you have a buddy. Someone to pin your kite to the floor if necessary. Someone to keep an eye on you if the unfortunate occurs.
I have recently deployed the buddy system to land each others kite in an emergency. It would have been practical impossible to self land in 40knot+ gust - right.
Having the buddy is piece of mind and you can get on with enjoying yourself. If you can not bring a buddy then make one if there is someone else on the water. Just stop and ask them to keep an eye out.
Went to Melville on saturday morning, directly onshore and gusty. In one hour I saw two kites in trees (Naishes not cabs) and no one even flinched as if it were common practice.
I think relying on the buddy system could actaully help you get in trouble,
you cannot rely on anyone else in kiteboarding but you have to be able to rely on your self, as those few seconds could make all the difference.
if trouble occurs you should know how to use your safety system in a flash,
if done correctly this will totally depower the kite.
Crew do not seem to use the safety enough but always rely on other people to land their kites,
it should be something your practice every 5th landing or so, but no one seems to do so. - this way you can be absolutely ready if ther proverbial hits the fan.
hey bros,
I'm not in perth but in the naki nz. We have some insane days here 25-40 knots plus and 4+ meter swells (we have seen some 8m swells this winter!!!)
To add to your advice i'd like to say. do not head out to sea when a sqaull approaches. Squalls can kill the wind or switch it to direct offshore. unlikeley but possible. if you go out to sea and the wind dies or switches off shore your in the ****. get to shore before the sqaull hits and land your kite.
If theres no buddies around i use the teathered landing style. i have done this in 30-40 knots on an 8m to good effect. Seems to me a lot safer than trying to self land by other methods.
Lastly fly a kite that can handle the biggest gust/sqaull of the day. fly underpowered and then grin like hell when the sqaull hits!!!......
Lastly if it looks like a thunder cloud. drop your kite asap! you have a big earthing point in the sky for lightning to hit.
Hey Guys,
I don't kite nomally in Winter, yet, but I think the only prequisite for high winds / squaully conditions is a 5th Line kite.
Landing is a breeze, zero pull and no chance of the it's going wacky on you, I love my 7m.
Oh yeah, Puppet check your s/b messages, I need your details.
Cheers
Rich
Don't know if I would be comfortable flagging to the 5th line in 40 knots, the kite would still trash around a fair bit.
I have both a 5 line and a modern 4 line bow kite and would be more comfortable driving the 4 line to the edge of the window and get a buddy to catch it.
Self landing over 30 knots is a major no in my book with any kite
I am pumped to kite on wednesday if it is not to grey. I have had some solid solo sessions so far at pineroo and on the river. I think people just have to remember it is just a kite and if all does go to real ****, **** the kite off. Simple and very effective. So far some awesome squalls this winter but have simply lowered the kite and waited for it to pass. The biggest problem I have found is the drop of wind inbetween squalls that causes the most problems. (or hassles I should say) Also self launching and self landing is done by wrapping chicken loop and saftey leash to the fence and this does the trick quiet safe. anyway see you diehards out there!
Sweet, there is nothing I like more than watching Harry face planting across the dunes or yourself self landing with an unwanted inverted relaunch in the power zone.
I will bring the camera down this week end
My kiting winter tips.
1) Go kiting when its windy. Never rely on a winter forecast.
2)Kite useable wind. If its more than a 10 knot wind range. Its not only crap, its dangerous. Kite when squalls are slow moving
3)Prepare to get a fun 45min-1 hour workout, by that time the wind has usually changed.
4) Kite between squalls, never in them. Before a squall hits the wind usually picks up. After it usually dies off for at least 1/2 an hour.
5) get on a surfboard in winter, its more fun, you can use a smaller kite (safety) and if **** goes wrong you can paddle in. Twin tip tricks in variable winds, with rusty kiters in cold water leads to aches and pains.
6) Never ride suicide, make sure your "slave"leash kills the kite when released. I prefer not to use a donkey dick in winter as well. Double your normal safety distances to account for gusts especially down-wind.
7)Know your kite inside and out, you must know how to self rescue, self land, read the weather, and as sci said, use the buddy system as much as possible.
8) Know your limitations, go out as far as you can comfortably swim in, In surf, if you cant swim out AND paddle out the back you have no right being there. If you cant ride easily upwind, wait till summer. My best kites are in winter, big swell, 5 or 8m kite, surfboard but its always on and off.
My winter kiting tips:
1.) The wind is normally variable, it sucks having to walk upwind - rig a big kite
2.) Not as many riders on the water perfect time to get some secret practice in to impress your friends at summer, only ride alone.
3.) You a fan of hang time try to coordinate it so your on the water at the start of a front, generally when there's big black clouds you can jump higher.
4.) Don't wear a leash, no one goes to the beach in winter anyway besides surfers and what are they going to do, lol.
5.) Use the different wind directions to scout out some new locations on the swan river, there's a particularly good spot I found last winter near the Kwinana.
6.) Because no one is out no one can film you right? wrong! Hook up a go pro baby, attach it to a spot which moves a lot and is really close to you (i.e your board) or really far away from you (i.e your kite) and use the extra good boosting wind to capture some footage of you jumping over things, post it on youtube.
7.) Still wear boardshorts, no one wants to see your coc k
And watch out for these...
If you're lucky (and heavy) like me, it'll rip your kite off (leash and all),
...and if not ... then wear a superman costume and make sure somebody gets some footage and posts it on SB so we can all watch it...
But if you mega looped it at that exact moment, you would be remembered for the eternity
Seriously amazing squal tho!!!!
Might have been one like that that taught me my lesson
Nah not really but it was one bitch of a squall - felt like it would rate like that.
I agree - good words from both Puppet and Sci!
The buddy system & some experience in winter is the way to go - because when those winds change without warning, at least you know there is someone there to pin your kite down 
Another two in today to buy a harness.
Bought an 04 Airrush ???? (didnt know the model & didnt know they had names as well as brands) for $180 out of quokka and already have a wakeboard so didnt need a board???
Heading out today without lessons to get into kiting so they will be kicking arse by the time summer hits. yeah right!!!!
Only compensating factor was it happened to be a 7M kite so they're not an absolute certainty to die.
If you see them anywhere pls give them some assistance. Great guys but intent on their plan to become kiters "their way". If they are gonna do it then its better if we are all prepared lend a hand and try to keep them out of trouble.
And please - if your a newby or wanna-be reading this pls ask around before buying a kite. There are hundreds old C kites out there that should have been binned years ago but keep turning up in the classifieds.
My tip for winter kiting is to add one of those fleecy rashies under your normal rashie.
stay out in the squall if your experienced, kite low edge like a bastard send it go masssssssiiiiive
