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Florence Downwinder

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast
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D Dawg

Since 24 Aug 2009
56 Posts
Hood River
 



PostFri May 10, 13 10:43 am    Florence Downwinder Reply with quote

Recently we did a downwinder starting at the Florence South Jetty heading south. The conditions were perfect for a 10m kite. As soon as every one was launched up and riding, we gave hand signals to start the downwinder. This was to be about a 4-mile trip. Our exit point was a large sign on the beach saying “No vehicles past this point”.

About one mile down the beach the wind began to increase. With wind increasing we normally head back to the beach and switch to smaller kites. On a downwinder you are committed to the kite you started with. At Florence the wind can increase quickly. On this day the wind went from averaging 18 to averaging 36 in about 20 minutes. With 36 mile per hour winds, we should have been on 6m kites as the wind was going ballistic.

To ease the pull on my kite I rode straight down the beach looking to get to the takeout point as soon as possible. Getting to the takeout and with my kite fully loaded, I was the first out of the water. Normally I can find a place in the sand dunes where a wind shadow will be. This is where I can safely park my kite. The dunes on this end of the beach were vertical and did not offer any wind shadow options. With my kite fully lit and flying straight overhead, I walked up the top of the dunes to find a place to land. I got the top of the dunes only to realize I was on a ridge with another vertical drop on the backside. It was all I could do to pull my kite back towards the ocean and scramble back down the dunes.

On this day I was lucky to have one of my kiting buddies grab my kite and in turn I grabbed his. Always kite with a friend and at Florence be ready for quickly increasing winds.

Thanks Laird for the kite grab.


   Florence Downwinder Map sized.jpg 

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genek

Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB



PostFri May 10, 13 12:31 pm     Reply with quote

You don't have a safety leash mechanism to flag the kite in such situations? Can always hook the leash to a big log first if you're worried and then hope for the best. I've self-landed this way at Rooster when it was gusting mid 40s. Use at your own risk obviously, but best to have an exit strategy that doesn't rely on other people just in case.
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Wind Slither

Since 04 Mar 2005
2622 Posts
The 503
METAL



PostFri May 10, 13 1:04 pm     Reply with quote

Nice recap! Yeah when Flo goes richter it can get dramatic!

Sailing at the coast a lot means accepting lots of solo sessions, or at least solo landings. I frequently use the safety leash to flag it out and hand-over-hand my way to the kite. In high winds and on hard sand there can still be lots of resistance and it's a bitch with cold slippery hands. Sometimes I will land it in shallow water area of the shoreline to help the kite stick. Such a good feeling when you finally get your hand on it!
Very Happy

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Aeolus

Since 20 Apr 2010
354 Posts
Gold Beach, OR
OR-SoCo-Aficionado



PostFri May 10, 13 2:12 pm     Reply with quote

Wind Slither wrote:
Such a good feeling when you finally get your hand on it!Very Happy

Amen

I carry a 5mm loop of spectra/small carabiner tucked in the zipper of my wetsuit. I only go to my leash if I can't set a fixed anchor point.

Whatever method...practice makes perfect. keep yourself and other beach users safe from the overpowered raging bull on the end of your lines.

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registered

Since 12 Jul 2005
1319 Posts
tsunami
Sandbagger



PostFri May 10, 13 5:12 pm     Reply with quote

Did you guys see the sharks down there.

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PDXF

Since 10 Sep 2008
116 Posts

Stoked



PostFri May 10, 13 7:30 pm     Reply with quote

There was a discussion about what some saw... be it Flipper or the Landlord

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TWIN-FIN

Since 24 May 2006
805 Posts
Portland, OR
Hot Monkey



PostFri May 10, 13 8:59 pm     Reply with quote

I saw him on Saturday.
He was about 50 to 75 yrds out from the end of the Jetty. All I saw was a Big Dark Fin.
One of my homies from Montana was out trolling on the outside for awhile. When he came in I told him that their is nothing out there but Tsunami debris and the Land Lord.
Needless to say, he did not go out there again.

That was one of my best sessions ever! I was lit and stomping everything. My boy Ian would have been proud.

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SpaceRacer

Since 04 Nov 2007
434 Posts

Obsessed



PostFri May 10, 13 10:22 pm     Reply with quote

Thanks for sharing as I hope to hit Florence for my first time this summer. I know there is no perfect kite but all I kept thinking as I was reading is that this is one situation where I love my North Rebels. Kite just floats above the beach upside down. In stronger wind I can actually reel it in without it ever touching the ground. I hope North never stops making 5 lines.

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registered

Since 12 Jul 2005
1319 Posts
tsunami
Sandbagger



PostSat May 11, 13 10:23 am     Reply with quote

when you see the mermaids thats when you know your in trouble.

or when the orcas come through and they are between you and the beach.

rule of thumb also is when the sea lions are in the real shallows thats a good time to not be hot doggin and swimming because something has got the sea creatures scared to the shallows.

The place that is really great for ocean kiting tho is ft stevens.

hands down the best place to kite and so close to the gorge and portland.

I have never flown my kites upside down over the beach, that sounds interesting and perfect for ft stevens.

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