Kiting at the Hatchery?

cgoudie1 · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject:

OK, I guess I totally misunderstood your point, it was all the PFD and whistle and Kite boards are the same as SUPs talk.

mirkef · Joined: 05 Jul 2002 Posts: 20

I am a good kiter and windsurfer. I tolerate both ways. Myself I have decided that I will not go to the Hatch when I am kiting for two reasons, I don't like the trouble of launching there and I can find plenty of space down or upwind if I want to shred the swells. I'd rather do a Viento downwinder than launch at the hatch.
When I windsurf in the ocean like Waddell I am only annoyed with kiters downwind of me who can point more upwind and don't see me. That is annoying especially when you are schlogging to catch a wave and want to start doing a bottom turn down the wave - always some kite dude comes in from downwind of you on the same wave carving upwind looking at you smiling, but not realizing I am about to head straight on top of him. I found that annoying at Waddell where it can get crowded, there are a lot of intermediates with surfboards that don't really ride the waves coming in. They just come in riding upwind till hit the beach and turn. Kiters are more mobile in wave riding and can change and adjust their position easier.
I wish they are more aware of the different windsurfing behavior on the waves.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

"At what point does swell become surf?"

I find hard to believe that this question is being asked. You know, you ought to take a long drive to the coast when the surf is up, and then watch the surf for a while. If you want to windsurf in the waves, you have to make it out through the lineup before you can turnaround and ride the waves in. Going out is totally different experience than riding in. That's a whole lot different than sailing the swell in the Gorge. In the Gorge, there isn't a real impact zone to contend with. Next time you're at the supermarket, check out a surf magazine, and look for some waves breaking top to bottom, and ask yourself whether you can find that in the Gorge.

puppydog · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 86

I think the "swell vs wave" debate is better than the "wsurfer vs the kiter" debate!

robguidera · Joined: 22 May 2000 Posts: 10

I was at the Hatch today and it was crowded with windsurfers and sailors. Sharing the water is fine but a few kiters bogart the best swell - we sail Maui often too and the kiters take turns on the waves so no hassle - maybe we can share the waves and water - that would be cool- Sharon

loosescrew · Joined: 28 May 2001 Posts: 95

It's been pretty workable with the kiters but Sharon is correct that they tend to bogart the swell below the cove instead of kicking out and sharing. If there is no one around I like to bogart too and hit some sequence turns but most times it's about letting others get some too. I find the Wsurfers and kiters are both really selfish people.

cgoudie1 · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:05 am Post subject:

All of the Windsurfers and Kiters I know personally, are pretty selfless,
maybe you're just hanging out with a bad crowd ;*). Also, I've been
mixing it up with the Kiters in the swell below the cove lately. I got
a few crusty looks until they realized I was competent, then all good.

-Craig

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

"Crusty looks" from newcomers to the scene? Surely you jest! That's like mountain bikers giving dirt bikers "crusty looks" on Moab's Slickrock Trail, snowboarders giving skiers "crusty looks", or WSers giving surfers crusty looks on Maui. They need to get over themselves.

trudyl · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 237

"At what point does swell become surf?"

At this point, as shown by Tom Burlingame

tweeky · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 256