Winter kiting destinations?

skent · Mon Aug 06, 12 4:42 pm **Winter kiting destinations?**

I know it's still summer but I can't help thinking about how I am going to get my kiting fix this winter (besides snow kiting). What are some good destinations for kiting during the winter season? Late December? February?

waynepjh · Since 27 Jul 2008 212 Posts jackson wy Stoked

This is one of many spots in Jackson.
http://vimeo.com/m/38526422

skent · Mon Aug 06, 12 6:54 pm

wylieflyote · Mon Aug 06, 12 7:08 pm

The shortest air miles in January or February would be La Ventana near La Paz, Baja.
Once you are into March and April you might concider South Padre, TX.
If you want to spend 14 hours on a plane (and 10 hours lay-over) Brazil is hands down the most reliable destination for daily 9m or stronger, with flat water bath tub warm. Season ends around Christmas.

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 486 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 599 Posts Addicted

I went to both La Ventana and Maui this last winter/spring. Both are great and have different things that make them great.

Id say LV is a better longer term destination since you can drive to it, and then there is camping and house rentals, and if you know what you're doing you can keep the expenses low and still get a lot. It is still a really good place to go for a week or two also, but for that you are probably talking about flying in and doing a car rental or shuttle and probably sacrificing a ride day coming and going. The kiting is pretty effin sweet in LV. Good swell if you wanna practice stuff like that and just about any type of condition from swell to choppy/flattish. You'll love it and come back better.

You fly direct into Maui and direct back to portland. Not having to deal with customs, and for that matter also being in the US i think are bonuses if its just a kite trip. You can kite right by the airport. Both coming and going on this last trip I was on the water on my travel days, so no time lost. Maui can cost quite a bit more, there are obviously a lot of ways to do it. This last trip we rented a place in wailuku for 3 weeks. It penciled out to being a little more than the LV trip in terms of daily living expenses, but there was a lot more immediately available to us. I liked Wailuku, seemed more like the part of the island the locals live in, was definitely not the resort spots that wind up on the postcards, was close to most of the beaches and places we wanted to go and the karaoke bar was killer. Kiting in maui is so good. You can find just about anything from flat to good size waves. All in warm water and you feel pretty secure about most things aside from the launch/land situation at kite beach.

Both were really just kite trips, not so much vacations. By that I mean that I wasn't there trying to see the sites or experience the culture. On the maui trip i worked eery day. I think Maui is an easier trip in most cases to go on to kite and have everything fall into place. Both are great though. If i go on a two week trip this year i'll go to maui, if i can go longer i'll go to LV.

<edit added after a bit more thought>If all things were equal between the two in terms of cost and ease of travel, Id probably choose maui everytime</>

wylieflyote · Tue Aug 07, 12 5:59 am

I use Glen's Maui Weather Today for my trip planning. Maybe I should reconcider as I've always thought Dec-Jan-Feb to be skunkers?:
http://www.hawaiiweathertoday.com/trip-planning-weather/

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 486 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

You get less wind dec-feb vs summer or fall, but, when I was in Maui, the no wind days weren't so bad, because I was in Maui.

1surfer · Tue Aug 07, 12 1:20 pm **Maui**

Maui. If its not windy, its still Maui.

Nak · Tue Aug 07, 12 5:50 pm

Isla De Coche baby! Or, for the ultimate kite trip, Los Roques!

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Oregon coast has lots of kitable days during deep winter. Super uncrowded, big surf, and strong winds are the advantages. There can be some disadvantages depending on your on how wimpy you are...

Cool

Dern · Since 11 Jul 2010 545 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

I saw this pic posted last winter. Who is this in the photo?

Sella · Wed Aug 08, 12 10:32 am

skent · Wed Aug 08, 12 9:14 pm

Nak · Wed Aug 08, 12 10:34 pm

Gotta be Gman...

Thio · Since 29 Sep 2008 98 Posts Portland

I wouldn't rule out Barfly.

C'mon step forward.

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 486 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

When that photo was taken, I was in Maui.