SI on Sunday

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Take a look at this forecast.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Breezy, with a northwest wind 7 to 10 mph increasing to between 21 and 24 mph. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.786679041363726&lon=-122.78457641601562&site=pqr&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

This is about as windy as one will find it at SI. I guess the forecast chimes in with the retarded weather we have had so far this Spring.

All you newbies, these conditions are a little more dangerous than the typically steady winds of SI (when it blows that is).

So have fun out there, but be careful because everyone and Scribble's Mother will be out there on Sunday trying to de-mold from all the gray and rain as well as replenish their deficient Vitamin D supplies

I'll be gettin salty myself. . .Be safe and good winds and times to all. Cool

Onad · Fri Jun 11, 10 12:15 pm

typhoon · Since 02 Sep 2009 26 Posts Portland

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Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

Haha leave my mom out of it!

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

The columbia at SI is damn near bank-full. The current looks like it's moving ~5mph and there's a huge amount of debris in the water. The kite beach is pretty skinny, and if you drift past the main kite beach, there's really no beach at all, just fast current flowing through trees, bushes and other strainers.

Not for beginners for sure. Bank-full rivers are dangerous.

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

There's plenty of room to pump, but you'll have to kind of hot launch. See pic from Friday.

The bush in the center of the pic is where I usually put up the "wind sock". The river has come right up to the bush. Just past the kite beach, there's no beach at all. At the nude beach, the river comes within just a few feet of the road and its flowing through the trees.

The current is really cooking. Lots of debris in the water and on the beaches. It's going to be tough to recover lost boards.

Here's a useful link for the river level at SI.

http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?VANW1

The river gage at vancouver is usually ~4-6' in the summer. It's just a hair under 15' right now. 16' is flood stage.

kiterbiker · Since 12 Jun 2010 65 Posts

I think a big concern not mentioned is the number of non kiting beach goers. I was riding around on sauvies and decided to check the beach-TONS of people out there. If its as nice tomorrow as it was today space for rigging and pumping will be tight. Watch your landings!

PDXF · Since 10 Sep 2008 116 Posts Stoked

I stopped by yesterday as well and there was a shit ton more debris on the shore than Flydunes picture... all of the factors mentioned above might make for this being a spectator sport.

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

Headed to SI in about an hour. If I get skunked I will drink beer and pick up debris.

Hope to see some of you out there.

Andy

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed

Blokt · Sun Jun 13, 10 3:16 pm

Got out, between the peeps, at Dittlers.

A tad gusty but POWERED on me 15M Speed2 (wish I had the Speed3).

Only 1 short lull, but that was all. When I left it was 16mph G21! FUN!!!

Had a few POWERED high jumps (fun) and never had trouble staying upwind.

I'm at the tail end of a severe cold (flu?), so I ran out of energy fast and only stayed for an hour, but plenty of wind left to enjoy.

Only "int-adv launch" due to the peeps at the waters edge, so be careful of the little ones.

David Wink

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

Wow, it actually turned on about 5pm and turned out to be pretty good. Most of the debris in the water is gone. The beach was skinny but workable. No kitemares while I was there. And about 6 of us managed to roll a big ass log out of the middle of the launch area and into the river.

A pretty good day after all.