Kite Surfer Caught Dancing With Cyclone Debbie

Whenever we hear about storms, our ears perk up. Why? Well, storms produce wind, wind produces swell, and swell means going nuclear on the locale for a whole weekend straight. In a way, surfing is the act of getting mildly upset that you didn’t get a set wave caused by a storm a thousand miles away that probably did substantial environmental damage and killed eight people (give or take).

But, when storms make landfall near our homes, the attitude switches. Rations are stocked, sandbags are stacked, and hatches are battened. And of all things to stay ironically dry, surfboards hover near the top of the list. 

Right now, Cyclone Debbie is bearing down on Queensland. The Bureau of Meteorology predicted Deb to hit land between Ayr and Cape Hillsborough, north of Mackay, and is now being recorded at category four — one tick higher than the devastating Cyclone Yasi in 2011. 

The perpetrator.

But while most residents were evacuating, an anonymous kite surfer was captured on camera flying through the dangerous winds yesterday. In the highly risky act, the Queenslander battled rough surf and powerful gusts while, hopefully, having the time of his life.

Queenslanders were warned not to underestimate the cyclone. Clearly, though, the kite surfer shook off this warning. He has yet to be identified, and probably wants to keep it that way.

An alternative view of the culprit.

If you’re in the affected region, we kindly suggest you get out of there. Deb is only expected to intensify, with a predicted destructive core spanning 100km, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

We know the waves are big, and the water is warm, but paddling out won’t seem like a good idea in hindsight after you’re blown out to the middle of The Pacific.