Wave Riding Waddell Creek

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Its lightwinds here in Cali, waiting for Sherman to go. In the meantime here's a pretty sweet video from Waddell Creek. Not spectacular waves but I like the video of the kite movement while the guy is riding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQR1Z_QkKP0

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

Hey Phil, i just got back from san francisco. I got two days out at chrissy field and one day at ocean beach. while i was there it seemed like chrissy field was the most reliable from ~3-5'ish pm. The wind at chrissy field was not super strong, but launch from there, then ride out in the bay under the GG bridge and you'd have solid wind. quite a few of the locals were swimming into shore at the end of the first day i was there. it is probably a drive if you are over on the east bay.

I was staying up in Navato, so driving to sherman island or waddell was quite the trek and I just ended up kiting chrissy and ocean beach. ocean beach, stinson beach, and dillon beach will all work on a north or south wind, but I'm sure all these are a trek also from the east bay. I was lucky and had that huge storm come through when i was there so i got to kite at ocean beach on a southerly. It was sweet, the waves were breaking just overhead in water where i could touch and i was the only kiter out there at times.

looks like chrissy and the berkely marina are firing right now, hope you're getting some. I was surprised to see forecasts still going for that area, but it is still nice down there.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Kind of light all around today, looks like maybe the bay came up in a few spots... My mom lives about 35 minutes from Sherman so we just went there and hung on the beach. Nice to get some sun at least. Cool

Tomorrow looks like same thing... Next time I'll have to bring the fullsuit and hit the bay. Way overdue to do that. Thanks for the run down Adam!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

We hit the bay today. I rented a 4/3 fullsuit and did Crissy. So glad I did, real fun. Definitely the most scenic spot I have ever kited. Golden Gate behind me and SF downtown in front. Amazing!

Some huge ships rolled through and set up overhead swell!

Besides that it was mostly just choptacular. Fun though.

Coast Guard picked up a couple people when I was leaving. I guses since a lot of the time people end up way offshore they use the Coast Guard instead of rescuing there. Most of them carry radios. Shocked

Diggy · Since 25 Nov 2006 342 Posts Gorge to Coast Obsessed

I'm gonna be in SF in a week staying near the Airprot. Bringing my gear. I'll have some time to play Monday afternoon then I'll be paying the bills Tues thru Thursday but plan on heading up the coast on Friday. Any sugestions for places to visit. I'm a solid first season rider. Obviously kiting is the first priority after the bills get paid.

~dig

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

there is a local kitesurf association, google bay area kitesurf association or some such, should hook ya up. pay close attention to the locals' advice about matching your skill-set to the various locales. some are friendlier than others and some do not suffer fools lightly.

ocean beach is a great place to kite but is well known for its marine life.

chrissy is an epic place to sail, but not for a beginner; maybe not for a "solid" first year kiter. i mean no disrespect, but in my experience kiting there, it requires respect. the launch is sketch and the locals rig small because they know what is waiting for them on the outside: huge swell, big wind and on an ebbtide, a 5 knot trip out through the golden gate if you get your kite down and cannot relauch. many carry marine radios preset to the local coast guard station which is right across the bay in sausilito.

having said all that, as pkh says, its epic, not my favorite conditions but probably one of the places you got to hit before they wipe off the drool.