San Diego in March

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 537 Posts Oregon Addicted

Im headed down to SD end of March and wondering if anybody has experience kiting there? Where to go, best or windiest beaches. Also, is it worth bring the big kites down or is there simply not enough wind this time of year.

thanks,

Ryan

tonski · Since 11 Jun 2005 332 Posts NW Portland Obsessed

Hi Ryan, check out the earlier posts re: San Diego:
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-850.html&highlight=san+diego

marina c · Thu Mar 15, 07 5:04 pm

tourmaline is the best for waves when there is wind but it is only for intermediates! Then Encinitas for North County people and Silver Strand. Silver stand is normally the windiest when there's wind, but waves are not as good as Tourmaline in Pacific Beach.

At Tourmo, respect the surfers. also windsurfers as their is rarely enough wind for them to have fun.

16m is normally the smallest kite for San Diego though! I am a girl, weigh 135 lbs, and got away with a 15 on most days but I also have a custom, lightwind board built for me by EH as he was sick of me whining so bad. I was down there for about 5 months visiting my folks.

Let me know if you have more q's, or you can email me at the mag....

Marina

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Its so frustrating at Silver Strand... beautiful white sand beach, warm air, warm water, dolphins visible from shore... always blowing exactly 10mph. Confused

At least that's been my experience... I'd take a glide and 16 and you could luck out. Then again you're on a beautiful beach so you already are lucky by most accounts. Very Happy

Hey Marina do the locals use Glide's (or similar) much? When I was there last people were still on big rockered boards and surfboards...

NateDogg · Thu Mar 15, 07 6:42 pm

Seriously...forget the hassle of the kite gear and take a surfboard if you have one, or take the time to learn while you're there. I took my kite gear a few years back and it was a waste of space. I surfed everyday.

Think of it like this: People usually don't go out of their way to Hatteras to surf, just like people don't go to San Diego to kite. San Diego has world class surfing for a reason...brah Thumb's Up

tonski · Since 11 Jun 2005 332 Posts NW Portland Obsessed

Ahh yes, NateDogg is wiser than his dog-years - Like PKH noted, 10mph is a good day, but don't forget to subtract 1-2 mph for the onshore tidal surge. 10-2=8, which equals 20m kite and longboard - might as well head up to Del Mar or Encinitas and surf a shortboard. Very Happy

marina c · Fri Mar 16, 07 8:36 am

Most riders are on surf specific kite boards like Jimmy Lewis, Surf Tech, Caution, LF, North, etc. On the lighter days, they whip out their regular surfboards or longboards. For twintips, many are on the big underground board (forget which size but the biggest twintip). There are a few glides. This is probably more because there is not a strong SS dealer down there... many go through the local retailers for their gear versus online....

there is a live cam tht you can find on surfline http://www.surfline.com/reports/report.cfm?id=4250

You might want to contact Cali Kites in Coronado to see if you can rent gear from them... Brian, Danny or Shane....