C-Street+Airlines

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Hi All,

Going down to so cal and was thinking about bringing kites. 3 questions:

1) Where to kite

Seems like c-street is the heat right now but I'm a little sketched by the ocean. Got out in kauai on a light off shore and freaked me out.

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-7190.html&highlight=cstreet

I'd consider myself a pretty decent kiter (good enough for the blow out) but have very little experience in the ocean. Any other places to go? Anyone have any cool contacts down there or will I just meet a ton of dudes on the beach who are cool. Not sure if kite culture everywhere is cool as it is up here. Just don't want to get out there and be blown back to hawaii.

Which brings me to...

2) What size to bring

I have got a 9m and a 12m and was thinking about just bringing the 12m and a twin tip in an NSI bag... Seems like I might be able to pull it off easier that way. Throw in a golf club for good measure.

3) Airlines

I know that there has been a ton of posting on this in the past but wondering whether anyone knows about airline rules or if anyone has flown Alaska recently. Here is what their site says:

http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/faqs/CheckedBaggage.asp
# Sporting Equipment
Some sporting equipment (snow skis, golf clubs), may be checked in lieu of one piece of luggage, if packaged in a suitable container. Sporting equipment checked in addition to the free baggage allowance is charged an excess fee. There is a fee charged in all situations for some equipment (surfboards, scuba gear). View details about allowances and fees for specific sporting equipment.

Any help would be great. Searched the forum but wasn't sure about this time of year what all would be going on or whether rules had changed/size ect...

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Show some respect and don't f*ck up the line-up @ C-Street & you will be fine. There are surfers in the mix too.

marina c · Tue Aug 19, 08 7:05 am

you can kite at C-street in front of Holiday Inn or Main Street which is the next exit and has better parking. Just pay attention to wave etiquette ie no jumping in middle of line up.. go downwind or make sure nobody is around if you boost one; rider on wave has right of way eg tack or go upwind/downwind to give space for turns; don't spray surfers. Know what to do if you kite falls in the waves and is about to get munched.

There are no flat water spots in S Cal except possibility of Belmont Shores in LA which I believe may be somewhat protected by a jetty or sand bar. Look at the rules for southern california kitesurfing association. Weekends are bad in Southern Cal and riding is either banned or limited to after hours....

Bring a wetsuit!

alankitesurf2 · Since 21 Jun 2006 81 Posts

Have flown Alaska lately... you can bring a short surfboard bag(under7ft) for only the 2nd bag charge as long as its under 50 lbs. If you are bringing 2 bags might as well go big .

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Hey J - Where are you staying in So Cal?

C - street is in Ventura could be quite a drive if you are staying in LA. Go upwind here, and you'll be out of the surfing/ ksurfing line-up. Twisted Evil

Leo Carrillo is in Malibu, and is alot closer to LA. PM me about this spot. Twisted Evil

.

Santa Barbara has kiteboarding as well - closest thing to flatwater I've seen yet - but that's prob. d/t swell direction & location (Ledbetter beach).

Other spots can be good too (so I hear), and even closer to LA.

Wind has been 5/7 or 6/7 last two weeks @ mostly 12m - but has been 8m a couple of days or if you are on a surf board. Wind builds thu the day, so usually PM sessions. Swell has been kind of low lately.

I live right next to Ventura, and would be happy to give you the low down when you get here if you'd like. Shoot me a PM if you want some people to ride with- A couple of guys from Portland are down here and ride regularly @ Leo & C.

ryan800 · Since 09 Dec 2007 64 Posts Seattle

I flew Alaska with a friend a few weeks ago and he took a twin tip in an NSI bag or something similar. I don't think he paid any fees but it might depend on who checks your bag. He was def over 50 lb and I think also the length+width+height limit but the bag was spilling over the scale so it didn't pick up the full weight and nobody said anything about the size. I flew to cali after that and didn't take a board because I was worried about fees (and the rental car was going to be crowded) and I regretted it the whole trip. Just take it and hope for the best, even if you pay a fee it beats begging for a board.

mystrygrl · Since 07 Sep 2006 95 Posts PDX/HR - What day is it?

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster