Estonian kitesurfers catch final gusts before storm makes landfall

Ahead of a storm forecast to hit Estonia on Saturday, a group of kitesurfing enthusiasts made their way to Lohusalu harbor, west of Tallinn, to take advantage of favorable wind and wave conditions before the weather turned.

When a crew from "Aktuaalne kaamera" arrived at the scene, one kitesurfer, Andrus, was already out on the water, performing jumps several meters high amid choppy waves. Another enthusiast, Tarmo, was still setting up his gear, hoping for a strong session but noting that success would depend heavily on timing relative to the approaching rain cloud.

Tarmo explained that as the rain cloud nears, winds tend to become gustier, and if they strengthen sufficiently before the rain arrives, conditions can turn out excellent — windy weather, he said, is good weather for the sport. He added that the whole season had been strong, with good winds since spring, and that autumn typically brings similarly favorable windy conditions.

After returning to shore, Andrus said his heart rate had climbed higher than necessary and that he needed to rest, though the adrenaline rush had been exhilarating. He noted he could have jumped even higher despite the wind beginning to ease slightly, and said he would recommend kitesurfing to anyone, calling it "a fever you can't shake."

On safety, Andrus warned of a dangerous situation known as a "kitemare," which occurs when a rider can no longer control the kite and it begins lifting them into the air unintentionally. He said a telltale early warning sign is sand starting to blow across the beach.

The storm that arrived Saturday came with a Level 2 warning and later intensified to a point that would have kept even the most daring kitesurfers off the water. It brought down branches and trees and left thousands of households without electricity.