coast southerlies

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 262 Posts Obsessed

Seems windy and wavy tommorow. Is it only because it isn't sunny that people don't seem to talk about south winds too much?

What about kiting the north side of the jetties during south winds?

Just seems like an overall lack of enthusiasm for southerlies.

I've never done it and am thinking about it. Anything to watch out for compared to the nw wind?

Chooch · Tue May 18, 10 8:01 pm

Southerlies are super fun...I think the only reason you don't hear people clammering about them is because they can be hit or miss....oh and its usually pissing rain (but I'm ok with that Twisted Evil

)

Never tried to kite the north jetties but I can tell you that downwinders are really fun from Del Rey to Ft Stevens. Cool

Just be sure to keep an eye out for incoming squalls and there can be a lot of large logs and debris floating around from the winter storms (not sure if that stuff is still around this time of year)

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Southerlies in the surf are definitely a different style of kiteboarding. Downsides are the cold, rain, gustiness, and rapidly changing conditions. Upside is that it happens alot on the coast all year long and anytime of the day with storm systems constantly moving thru the area. Sometimes it can be perfectly steady, sunny, warm and dry which coincidentally happened just today.

Downwinders are the way to go in my opinion as the best riding is right off the dry sand out until you start to get into the woolly, big, chunky stuff. Then turn around and head back into the beach where the shallow and smooth water is found. Lots of broad reaching and quick transistions to avoid getting whacked by storm waves.

Just did a session this afternoon at Agate on a 9m and had a blast. we rode twintips since we had to transistion about a million times and a directional would have sucked for that many jibes. Check out this video for a glimpse of some south wind action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgDteKGeHCQ

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

Nice Video. Man, sure was raining, you can see/hear the drops. I'm wondering how well does the kite perform in the rain? can u stay out there in the rain for a while?? I thought kites are no as water proof as sails!!

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2622 Posts The 503 METAL

DOPEFLY · Since 13 Oct 2007 97 Posts Maui

11m at Beverly yesterday. Two hour session. Only waited out one pissing, I mean passing of rain. The rest of the day was sweet. You take the good with the bad this time of year AND LIKE IT!

scottnorby · Wed May 19, 10 3:26 pm

Just got in.
Sunset to the wreck.
Carnage.
Way too gusty for a 9meter.
Waves are blown apart.

Victory at sea kiting.

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 262 Posts Obsessed

Thanks for the update Scott. I was wondering if I would have been better off going to the coast today. Didn't want to have to go to work tonight if I was heading to the coast. Opted in for gorge easterlies. Guess it was kind of crappy everywhere.

Martin_6453 · Since 29 Apr 2010 26 Posts

I was at Manzanita this afternoon.
After 14:30 the waves where a complete mess and if I'm reading the sensors right the gusts must have been around 45 knots.
(was fun Smile

)

Skamaniac · Since 10 Oct 2008 76 Posts Gorge

I was alone at Agate tues on my 14m from 11:30- 2:30 and almost could not land as the wind really built up but was fun overall.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Stormsjees

So love this...

http://www.kitecinema.com/len10/Len10-StormSjees-480p.mov