Why is Manzanita windier?

kt · Since 16 Mar 2005 763 Posts Portland, Or Opinionated

Was anyone out at Manzanita yesterday? I was down in Lincoln City using my 9M and it was good from about 4-6 but, I was really working it from 3:30 to 4. I see in another thread that someone was on a 15M up at Ft Stevens for the afternoon.

Looking at the ikitesurf.com chart, Manzanita looks solid 20+ and over 30 for most of the afternoon. When I see the chart like this after a day on the water, I have been using my 6 and am sometimes overpowered. Why is Manzanita so much windier than both north and south?

Also, the waves were pathetic. The forecast was from 2-4ft and it was barely that. Was anything bigger up north?

kt

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

rowdy 6m and foil conditions - wind swell was starting to build later in the day but looks like you will have to wait to next weekend for something beefier

Manzo does deliver the goods!
wind wraps hard around Neahkahnie Mountain and a valley sucking affect!

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

The waves were good at Nelscott reef yesterday from noon to 2:30. The waves weren't big but there were some well formed peeling breakers.
I was by myself so I went out on a 14m rpm but could have easily made a 9 or 10 work. I upwinded to D river. I went out sunday at Inn at Spanish head on a 14m and could barely work upwind.

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

manzo also burns off the clouds earlier than most spots on north coast. a banana belt of sorts.

on light days, can be windier up by the mountain.

on days with lots of N in it, sometimes it is better a bit to the south, further away from the mountain

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

There are several places in Oregon and N. Cal that have a local wind effect. I have tried to explain them over the years but kind of given up. You appreciate them for what they are, learn the patterns and enjoy the ride. I will give one example. South Beach will be 14m, but at Agate Beach it will be 9 or 7 m. Agate is very gusty. As a windsurfer it was the place to go if you wanted wind.

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

A_Ron · Since 19 Mar 2009 29 Posts PDX

I think its the "valley sucking effect" Gman pointed out. The Nehalem river valley behind Manzanita gets warm (if it is sunny), and the rising air pulls in and accelerates the north winds coming down the coast. I always check the satellite image before making the drive from PDX out to Manzanita. If the valley is beginning to clear by 11AM, and the forecast calls for at least 10 to 15 on the North Coast, I'll head out. If it looks socked in, I stay home and mow the lawn, 'cause the wind at Manzanita will be about the same as elsewhere on the North Coast. If the valley is clear, the winds bump up roughly 10mph over what was coming down the coast. Prime time is typically 2 to 6 PM. The accelerating wind can clear a zone about a half mile offshore (due to a drop in pressure?). Its not uncommon for Manzanita to be the only sunny beach on the North Coast with a wall of cloud just offshore.

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Matt V · Wed Jun 01, 16 6:07 am

Don't sucker people into thinking Manzo has it all. Yes it can blow 7m on a 7mph forecast if the sun comes out. But get the hell out of there if you can. Go anywhere else if there is a chance of it blowing good at another location. Why? The waves are junk pretty much all the time at Manzo. The break just does not form up anything long and rideable.

Wanna show off your wave riding skills to your friends on the beach at Manzo? Tape their eyelids open cause if they blink, they will miss it. Oh, yes, bring your beginner kiter friends. It is super funny to watch them not even be able to make it out past the beach break. It keeps them right on the beach and super safe. I have seen it many times - slam, wash, slam, wash, tomahawk, ripped kite, session concluded while never having to face the danger of the ocean on the outside. Lincoln city is my only other experience with this kind of brutal break but that is only at certain tide levels. Every other coast spot I have kited will let a beginner get out with just a bit of bravery. Manzo has a large fence to get over.

There is no wind at Neakanhie jetty as that natural jetty is 1700+ft tall. Thus you get to ride way down wind of any swell that would wrap the jetty and form clean peeling waves. It's there, but we never get to use it because the wind is blocked.

If it is forecast to blow 15mph at Ft. Stevens and "will" blow 25mph at Manzo, anyone serious about waves will take Ft. Stevens over Manzo. Not to say there are not a few dedicated locals at Manzanita who make it work, but they have a Manzo specific skill set to deal with (and enjoy) the wave riding there. Myself, and just about every other mobile kiter will get orders of magnitude more enjoyment out of any other spot.

I kited Manzo as my introduction to kiting in the waves. I was pretty depressed after 2 days of watching the locals rippin it up, while I could barely catch a wave. When I told one kiter about this, he said, "don't worry, just go up to Ft. Stevens and get some experience. Then come back down here and it will make more sense to you." It worked and I could make something out of the manzo waves, but it is still manzo.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Ho-Toe · Wed Jun 01, 16 11:18 am **Upwelling, again**

Here we go with more misinformed "explanations" about how upwelling works. Neahkahnie Mountain most patently does not cause upwelling. Upwelling is wind-driven. And the cold water does not come from Alaska.

kt · Since 16 Mar 2005 763 Posts Portland, Or Opinionated

Freeride Kiter · Wed Jun 01, 16 4:58 pm

... but we do have cold water Smile

Matt V · Thu Jun 02, 16 6:34 am

- "The problem I have is that I can sit at Ft. Stevens sometimes and it is blowing 12 all afternoon while M is blowing 20+"

I have done that too. Not a waste! It is always a good rest day no matter whether you are coming from the Gorge or Manzo. Either way, you were sick of the junk at Manzo or bored with the Gorge so you bailed on that to risk an epic session of clean (and real) waves at Ft. Stevens.

If you want to just get a workout, stay at Manzo. If you want to have fun, get better, and rip it up, you have to risk a down day. I WILL take that risk many times this year.

kt · Since 16 Mar 2005 763 Posts Portland, Or Opinionated