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YellowKiter

Since 16 Jul 2009
34 Posts
Spokane/Coeur d'alene
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Mon Jul 20, 09 11:01 am Kiteboarding Couer d' Alene and Spokane |
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I've gone through the related topics, and all of them are like a couple years old...
Is there anyone else around here that kiteboards? I know i heard alot about snow kiting, but that doesn't excite me nearly as much as the wet equivilent... |
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Sella

Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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Mon Jul 20, 09 12:33 pm |
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I'm from that area Cody......sketchy launches and inconsistent winds. When it blows you have to drop everything and try to get a session in so it is doable but when the wind drops.....it's dead and you'll be swimming in.
IMO.....one weekend in the Gorge and you'll get more time on the water than a month in CDA/Sandpoint area.
Snowkiting.....DIFFERENT story.....you have unlimited goods everywhere.
Good luck. |
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LOOP

Since 08 Feb 2007
107 Posts
Ore-Ida
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Mon Jul 20, 09 4:19 pm |
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Yep moved outta there for that reason about a year ago. I still thing Pend O reille probably would be good, but youd have to boat launch. I would spend your time driving to the river as mentioned. |
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Donny Baker
Since 13 Jul 2006
80 Posts
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Mon Jul 20, 09 5:20 pm |
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I live in spokane and I kiteboard. When I get wet I go to Hood River or Maui. If you try to kite around here in the water, its the equivalent to masturbating with sand. Seems like it could work but frustrating and painful.
Sella is right and I would know cause I tried to launch his sorry ass at Diamond Lk a couple weeks ago.
Also, snowkiting is more fun than water kiting. Outside of the fact that it is cold.
With that said I have caught a few good sessions.
1. Sandpoint, early 6am-10am out of the north on the city beach. Very steady but when its done, its done.
2. The green monster, Sprague Lk. Nastiest water I've ever seen later in summer.
Too scared to even touch it.
Good luck cause I know you're going to try it anyway. |
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Sella

Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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Mon Jul 20, 09 5:38 pm |
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Donny Baker wrote: | I live in spokane and I kiteboard. When I get wet I go to Hood River or Maui. If you try to kite around here in the water, its the equivalent to masturbating with sand. Seems like it could work but frustrating and painful.
Good luck cause I know you're going to try it anyway. |
The ol' Hand Sand reference.......and that is why the Gorge awaits Donny's post knee surgery return to watch his booted ass loop 15 meter kites with 27m lines.  |
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YellowKiter

Since 16 Jul 2009
34 Posts
Spokane/Coeur d'alene
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Tue Jul 21, 09 2:51 am |
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uhg. that is prolly the worst new i could hear lol... well i know cdakiter still does it, and i've talked to him a little about it...
how far of a drive is it to this "gorge" or "hood" you speak of? i'm a very new kiter, and i hate hate hate the snow, so i'm not going to snowkite. |
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YellowKiter

Since 16 Jul 2009
34 Posts
Spokane/Coeur d'alene
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Tue Jul 21, 09 3:04 am |
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oh my lanta... jus did a google maps search on it... 5 hours from where i live to get to the hood river gorge.. i need someplace closer than that guys... i want this to be a consecutive "do it a few times a week" thing, not a save up 100$ in gas money and make a weekend out of it kinda thing... |
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harriet
Since 10 Jun 2007
64 Posts
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Tue Jul 21, 09 8:18 am |
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I've kited locally for 4 years. Hundreds of sessions. I've never seen another kite on the water with me in cda, except LOOP one day when it was blowing 6-10mph. (a boat, beers, boredom, etc), so perspective here is important.
My 2cents is yea, obviously it's very kiteable, if you live locally, (you do) and maybe not so much if you don't. If I were up this way camping, visiting, etc. I would bring my gear though. Not a destination location, but fun when it happens.
I've had the wind drop dead on me once leaving me swimming,(had I been patient, and not self rescued, it actually came right back up), but the noonish dropout is real, you just slowly lose power and schlog back to shore.
Nowhere is for sure. I've spent several weekends driving to the gorge, only to have the forcast fall completely apart, leaving me camping in the desert between 2 highways and 2 railways. Tons of sand around though... The other weekend I drove to HR, 4cast went to shit, and drove home the same day banking on a morning session at Farragut. It blew. Only 11 hours in a car to find the best wind is at home!
The sweet thing about the gorge is higher windspeeds than here, (usually) and likely all day wind when it happens. Not so much here. The morning thermals are blow dryer steady though, so it's a tradeoff. Launches here are small and sketchy, but if you kite at Stevenson, that place is waaay deadlier than anything locally. The most steady winds are morning thermal assisted winds, so Donny has a point there. But it's not just limited no N winds and Sandpoint. And for whatever reason, this year in cda has more days where the wind starts at noon and blows until 4ish. Go figure. Impossible to predict. You don't need a boat in either lake, but it definately opens up some options. You more just need to know why and when to go where.
hope this helps,
Scott |
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Sella

Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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Tue Jul 21, 09 9:16 am |
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CDA...I have kited your area and started snowkiting in Moscow/Pullman long before I moved to the Gorge for the water....only because of the better wind and because I telecommute. Whenever I visit Sandpoint I do bring my gear but once you get Gorge consistency and easy launches on 8M kites it's tough to go back to 15M slow turning mo-fo's to mow the lawn. However, I respect you're chasing the stoke in your area and getting it when it blows because you need your fix. You're definitely a trend-setter in your area.
Cody, the first thing you should do is buy MS's 3m trainer kite under "classifieds" for $100 if it's still available because that will keep you busy for the next few months.
Also, read this:
http://www.kiteboardingmag.com/article/Beginner%27s/Check-Out-the-All-New-Intro-to-Kiteboarding
Then......once you think you have this whole "kiting" thing down then go to Spraque Lake and work on body dragging upwind, just bring a snorkle. Plus you will want to become buddies with CDA to save you if you're not thinking lessons...because that is the first thing you should be saving $$$$ for.
Regarding your snow issue and kiting......that's just North Idaho ignorant. Sorry to be blunt but you're living in Mecca when it comes to the snow....adapt...and ride the best frozen waves for free in your backyard. Good luck. |
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harriet
Since 10 Jun 2007
64 Posts
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Tue Jul 21, 09 11:07 am |
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Sella is spot on. Not trying to push the local scene by any means. It's goofy. Just giving perspective and options. I've never kited Sauvies, but as I read it sounds the same. Sweet light wind kiting when it happens. You could sit on a no wind lake for an hour before the wind kiks to a whopping 10 - 15mph though.
8m is more fun than 15m. Help is better than solo, and all day is better than "fitting it in". Having said that, 2 stopsigns and 2 stoplights and I ride a 15m kite for a couple of hours before work, often several mornings a week.
Life can be worse.
Scott |
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scottman
Since 08 Jun 2007
150 Posts
hillsboro
Stoked
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Tue Jul 21, 09 11:55 am |
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if you have a boat check out CDA lake north of arrow point. It blows out of the north there in the morning and is done by noon. A 14M Turbo Deisel, glide and rescue crew would be the ticket. The wind at the resort will be completely dead and there can still be wind to the North.
Be very wary of convective weather and frontal passages when kiting mountain lakes. The wind can go from 0 to nuking in seconds. The towering cumulus can generate significant updrafts. |
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YellowKiter

Since 16 Jul 2009
34 Posts
Spokane/Coeur d'alene
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Tue Jul 21, 09 1:50 pm |
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haha i think me and scott will become good friends  |
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Sella

Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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Tue Jul 21, 09 3:22 pm |
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cdakiter wrote: | Having said that, 2 stopsigns and 2 stoplights and I ride a 15m kite for a couple of hours before work, often several mornings a week.
Life can be worse.
Scott |
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pdxmonkeyboy

Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
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Tue Jul 21, 09 3:52 pm |
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and the Rotor... beware the ROTOR!!
If I had to drive 5 hours to kite I would go nuts!! (although I did drive 7 hours every other weekend for 3 years just to DH bike) sooo if your motivated, you'll find a way! |
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cool breeze
Since 05 Oct 2009
26 Posts
mtn
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Mon Oct 05, 09 7:29 pm |
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yeah good flying this year cda kiter is right on. he knows his stuff.
h2o is cold now. |
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LOOP

Since 08 Feb 2007
107 Posts
Ore-Ida
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Tue Oct 06, 09 4:39 pm |
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Yes he does, props to him for his help and 2 cents the last few weeks. its not so bad here by any means. Not ideal launches or ideal wind always, but warm uncrowded waters are nice. The best kiting is soon to come when the snow flies tho.  |
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cool breeze
Since 05 Oct 2009
26 Posts
mtn
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Wed Oct 07, 09 10:52 pm |
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indeed |
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