Where to kiteboard with in a 60 min. drive from Eugene?

frenchy · Tue Mar 03, 09 9:10 pm

Thanks DROCK999. I did check out fern ditch and the water is still low. Don't care much for mud. Floras seems to have potential. I need to take a trip to North Bend any ways. I have my own gear. And I don't think lessons will be necessary. An extra hand to lunch would be nice but not necessary. Or just someone to laugh at me when I crash would be cool. Anyways Thanks for the input.

MasViento · Since 03 Mar 2009 235 Posts 97031 Stoked

Poor frenchy needs a wind fix bad...
Best option is book a flight to Bahia de Salinas, Costa Rica, (airport code LIR) and go see my friend Bob (El Gallo) I just got back from there last month and its great. Good wind, ,nice folks, safe spot for kooks like us. Good lessons & gear if u dont wanna bring it.

http://www.kitewindsurf.com/store/who_and_why.aspx

Also Ventana is good now also. www.bajajoes.com

-Closer to home this wknd. Floras looks like 12-16 N on Sat. Sun 12-13 NW , but both days cloudy w/ 40 deg. air temps & clouds , can u say blustery...U may be there alone.

-I would say get hold of a land board and some pads and ride Manzanita this wknd. lots of sand and space, windy (19-24) all wknd. Same air temp but at least your dry.

My 2 ¢
Cheers Enrique

frenchy · Tue Mar 03, 09 11:07 pm

My kite is a little to big for dry. I might use the dry suit. Never used it for kiteboarding. Always a first for everything. It's Oregon. 12to 15 is just fine for my kite. I'm surprised that everybody waits for the summer. That's to long for my taste.
Isn't there some body else that's crazy like me. Or does everybody hibernate for the winter?

shred_da_gorge · Tue Mar 03, 09 11:36 pm

shred_da_gorge · Wed Mar 04, 09 12:01 am

Oh, and another place I checked out when I first moved to the area was Foster Lake, east of Sweet Home. It was a longer drive than I thought it would be, I couldn't figure out where I could rig and launch from, and it seemed to be a boaters' reservoir. But hey, if you're adventurous...

Chooch · Wed Mar 04, 09 6:46 am

The article was in Kiteboarding mag about a 10 issues ago. The riders were the Richman brothers, I talked with Shawn and Jesse this summer about the spot. They said there is a good spot with some flatwater in the river mouth and some decent swell on the ocean side. Their family had a house down there but recently sold it. I would like to make it down that way this spring to see for myself.

frenchy · Wed Mar 04, 09 11:03 am

I got another area that I have been thinking about for years. Right when you are coming into North Bend. Before the big bridge. HEading South. There is a big area on the right, looks shallow. Right before the road that takes off to the right. On 101 South just before Jordan Cove Rd. That area always has good wind. It's shallow it looks like it has a lot of potential. Check it out on google earth.

jdubs · Since 21 May 2008 36 Posts Â

From this article http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-5724.html

Full article here http://www.zinio.com/express3?issue=219429485&o=int&prev=si&pg=seo&p=34

Seams like Waldport isn't that good. Confused

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1154 Posts Oregon Phishy

Frenchy,

The closest coastal kite launch to Eugene is Florence. The best flatwater location for you to to master your skills is Floras. Fernridge does work on occasion, but it is not reliable.

The locals in Florence are nice guys, bring them some Ninkasi fresh from Eugene as a peace offering.

frenchy · Wed Mar 04, 09 2:40 pm

hey, Masviento,

Where did you get wind forcast for Floras?

I like that info.

MasViento · Since 03 Mar 2009 235 Posts 97031 Stoked

ikitesurf.com

You will have to be a paying member to see the
7 day Computer Forecast Table - Meteogram

Otherwise all you get is the 24 hrs & dynamic which are not that helpful.

I customize mine w/ the ten places in Oregon I can drive to in a few hours.

See if u can see this link :

http://www.ikitesurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=122&siteID=304&Isection=Forecast+Graphs

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Um, Eugene right?

Closest spot is the Ditch!! (Fern Ridge)

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 902 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

I lived in Waldport for 10 years and can tell you firsthand that it is definitely not the kiting mecca that Kiteboarding Mag described it as in the feature article with the Richman brothers. Once in a great while it gets good North wind early in the summer day and then it fades in the afternoon when the other coastal spots are beginning to fire up. The place sits on the north side of Cape Perpetua and that is not to place to be for summer thermal winds. If you get Waldport under good conditions consider yourself lucky as it is a rarity. Southwest winds during winter in the bay are better, but they can be gusty, cold and rainy.

The formula for quality kiting spots is not that difficult. You are looking for solid and steady wind for riding with safe launching and landing for kites. Plenty of downwind room in case of mishaps along with the ability to walk back upwind if the wind dies. Many of the Gorge windsurfing launches do not offer da kine formula and that is why everyone congregates at Stevenson, the Sandbar and Rufus. The Oregon coast beaches are made to order for kite boarding since the wind and kite launching is so good along with the huge bonus of surfable waves.

Chooch · Wed Mar 04, 09 7:48 pm

Thanks for the low down on Waldport....sounds like a pass on that spot