Power Kite Forum - best places to live for kiting??

best places to live for kiting??

bigsteve - 26-6-2011 at 09:25 AM

What do you guys the best places in the states are to live for year round kiting? Of course, it would be a bonus if it was on the west coast, and there were decent jobs near there...

Seattle is definitely pretty good for getting to kite year round.. but does someone else have it better?

Oh, to spice it up.. lets weigh in non wind activities too. Maybe mtn biking, road biking, hiking, snowboarding (snowkiting!), etc.

bigkahuna - 26-6-2011 at 10:21 AM

If I could afford the high cost, I'd be someplace on the coast near San Jose. Great kiting, great surfing, skiing is a couple hour drive in the winter, awesome camping, sailing, etc. The California economy is at its worst in decades and even with the drop in real estate, prices are still sky high. But the area is big enough to find good paying jobs, especially in high tech. Plus Mexico is just a few hours away (although I would probably not go south of the border until things settle down there).

If you're rich or don't mind living poor, Hawaii is great for water sports. It's crowded, jobs dont' pay well, and cost of living is like in California, so unless you bring your money with you, expect to live somewhere around poverty level.

The Outer Banks is a great place, but jobs are extremely scarce and pay is worse than most places in the country. Cost of living is relatively cheap, but even still, most people can't make ends meet as most jobs only pay minimum wage.

Florida's another option. I've never lived there, but while there a couple winters ago it didn't seem bad at all. Not sure I'd want to be there during the summer or hurricane season though.

You couldn't pay me to live in Texas or almost anywhere in the Gulf Of Mexico. No thanks.

Oregon might be OK, I was there during the summer and it was still cold up there, but the beaches were pretty and not crowded. Seattle? No thanks, but to each their own.

bigsteve - 26-6-2011 at 10:31 AM

Seattle comes with its own set of problems. but we can kite 10-14m every month of the year. If you don't mind kiting in the rain, you can get it. I'm looking at Oregon as an option. I recently fell in love with Bend (not much kiting there though, that is a very large problem). However, kite camping trips to the coast would be amazing! and hood river is 100miles a way I think.

San jose huh, interesting. I hadn't thought of that one. I've visited a couple places in california and always get skunked with light winds, but maybe there is hope in the right areas.

bigkahuna - 26-6-2011 at 11:15 AM

California's a big state. South of LA the wind is typically less than 15 mph, which makes it awesome for surfing. North of LA and South of the Golden Gate the wind is on almost every day, plus the surf can be great. I'm told flat water kiting in South Bay SF is good, but I'm not into flat water. I spent a couple weeks kiting Waddell and was super impressed. I also lived in N. County San Diego and got some of the best surfing in my 40 years of surfing. I didn't spend a lot of time in Oregon, but saw a couple really pretty beaches. I just have a hard time getting stoked when the water temp is that cold all year round. At least here on the OBX it's only that cold maybe 3 or 4 months out of the year. Summer up in E. coast of Canada is an awesome spot. If I didn't hate snow so much I'd be living there right now.

greasehopper - 26-6-2011 at 11:40 AM

8 months of the year, conditions and winds are great in SW AZ but, summers are hell on earth. Static flying, sport kites, jumping, mountain bike, river watersports, hiking, hunting, fishing, gold panning, etc. But, the terrain is brutal for kite buggy and nearly impossible for landboard / ATB unless you can figure out how to mount wire mesh moon buggy wheels on a board. (Oh, and wear all your Kevlar crash gear 'cause everything has thrones, even the flowers).

bigkahuna - 26-6-2011 at 11:48 AM

@greasehopper - Yeah, and the other 4 months out of the year, all the 'Zonies are in San Diego!

shaggs2riches - 26-6-2011 at 11:50 AM

Maybe checking out this book will help find the best place to live in the U.S. for kiting pleasure......

tridude - 26-6-2011 at 12:34 PM

pretty good here in Chaz......................

greasehopper - 26-6-2011 at 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkahuna
@greasehopper - Yeah, and the other 4 months out of the year, all the 'Zonies are in San Diego!

Yup, we may be a Bunch o' Red Nekz but we're not 'tupid. :smilegrin:

Sorry we crowd the place up for ya so bad. Besides, it ain't all bad, we do spend our money there. :yes:

bigkahuna - 26-6-2011 at 03:52 PM

@greasehopper - I'm about 3k miles from there now so you're more local to S. Calif. than I am. While I was in San D. we loved Zonies. They were easy to spot, too, they were the only ones who would claim how cool the weather was in July!

Bladerunner - 26-6-2011 at 05:01 PM

I have always figured Phreerider must live in one of the best places for kiting ? Very fiew seem to get as many days on land and sea?

PHREERIDER - 26-6-2011 at 05:24 PM

everyday. bike, kayak , sup , surf is pretty weak. tri sports , no snow

its has been a better summer than usual

pricey cost of housing in private areas, Boeing in chas would be hook up ,

gulf stream in SAV.

tides, breeze and current. thats the staple flow of things.

Looking_Up - 26-6-2011 at 05:58 PM

whats wrong with Texas
Corpus and south padre are the most windy cities in the united states
Good jobs low cost of living and all the fishing and Kiting u can handle
Plus we are known to be the friendliest place on earth :yes:

Oh I forgot to mention 60000 acres of flat water only about waist deep

tridude - 26-6-2011 at 06:08 PM

OBX, MB, Chaz, Edisto, Hilton Head, and Jekyll are nice spots Steve. With your EE/ME backgorund and Boeing Charleston is now starting up fully operational make the move............................

Kober - 26-6-2011 at 09:42 PM

NOT New Jersey

I am getting kick out from every place that I try with my foils ....

police, state , rangers , security ...... they all hate guys with parachute like canopies ....

nocando - 27-6-2011 at 12:28 AM

In a camper travelling Australia

so many beaches that are not used at this time of year

Has been windy as all over the place but cold

AD72 - 27-6-2011 at 12:42 AM

We are looking for Engineers in NorCal. U2U sent.

ripsessionkites - 27-6-2011 at 01:50 AM

Europe

csa_deadon - 27-6-2011 at 02:43 AM

The NorthWest sucks for kiting! Don't come here you will be disappointed. No wind, EVER! Stay away. "hehehe think they'll buy it?" :crazy:

Feyd - 27-6-2011 at 03:49 AM

White Mountains in New Hampshire. Snowkiting almost 6 months of the year (if you're into riding snow) Skiing, Some of the best road and mountain biking on the planet. Some of the best climbing in the U.S. Tons of hiking. 1hr from the ocean, 3hrs from Boston.

Job market is not great and pay scale is dog doo. Nothing to do for kids if they aren't into being outside.

Tons of wildlife. Feels a bit like Whistler B.C. but not quite as well developed or zoned. Whistler seems to have a lot together.

We usually have a bear or two in the yard every few days.

ripsessionkites - 27-6-2011 at 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by csa_deadon
The NorthWest sucks for kiting! Don't come here you will be disappointed. No wind, EVER! Stay away. "hehehe think they'll buy it?" :crazy:

Probably not, OR has beach for buggying and the Gorge for kitesurf.

bigkahuna - 27-6-2011 at 08:36 AM

@nocando - That's been one of my dreams since as far back as I can remember. I've seen so many videos of the surf down under I get all wet just thinking about it.

Looking_Up - 27-6-2011 at 10:13 AM

I still haven't seen what's wrong with Texas

acampbell - 27-6-2011 at 10:54 AM

Jekyll Island is great for year round kiting with Kite friendly local government. Winter here is about 6 weeks. July and August pretty hot & steamy but a good sea-breeze can take the edge off. Housing prices in the golden Isles region are affordable on the mainland, 15-20 min. from Jekyll.
No mountains around but the great salt marshes are great for kayaks.
The link to 2011 JIBE is still up and it has some good pics of the beach.
General info on-line for the Golden Isles Region , comprising Jekyll Island, St Simons Is., Sea Is., Brunswick

ragden - 27-6-2011 at 11:09 AM

California is an amazing place to live and ride. I lived there for a number of years, and was out on the coast every other weekend while in high school. From what I have seen, the kiting scene is pretty intense, and I'd love to get back there with my kites for some fun...

Lot of great places listed here with lots of options.

Drewculous - 27-6-2011 at 06:17 PM

:puzzled:

Primm?

(bobby back me up here :lol:

)

dylanj423 - 27-6-2011 at 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Looking_Up

whats wrong with Texas

... nothing.... absolutely nothing... but dont go advertising it, then we keep the ungratefuls away... thats how we stay so friendly

Benrocks782 - 27-6-2011 at 08:36 PM

I live in Spokane, Washington and we get good winds from the South due to select mountains in the area. It's pretty nice weather in summer, about 70 degrees. You should check it out!

22bene - 28-6-2011 at 09:32 AM

Oregon Sucks... The wind doesn't blow here! The beaches suck! Mt Hood doesn't have snow year around! Biking sucks (post falls in Hood River doesn't have a killer mtn bike park and the trails suck! hiking sucks here going on hikes to see waterfalls who does that?!?! sup'ing never mind! kayaking nope no slick boat parks up by Bull Run...skating Portland isn't known for that, and HR skate park sucks too and I don't want to talk about the rest of the states skateparks!!! We don't have rivers here so no white water rafting!!! And the views... Never bothered to look!!! Fun for kids no way!!! Snow kiting... Never!!! Frisbee golf... I Don't believe in plastic, damn hippies!!! Good music and beer, might as well live in Utah the beer sucks in oregon, same with the wines!!! And fresh fruits and veggies from local growers... We use pesticides always here and irradiate everything !!! Artist's don't come here 'cause no one can be inspired by our lack luster boring scenery. Jobs? Well... yeah, we have those... And no one, I repeat no one here has a "Wind Clause" or "Powder Day Clause" so even with all of our faults we still manage to get along in our boring grey lives!!! See you soon!!!!:Ange09: <- wish that was a pig flying...

acampbell - 28-6-2011 at 09:52 AM

Yikes I guess we won't see you on the Oregon motivational speaking tour any time soon and I hope you dont work for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. But I see you with an ID location?

Quote:

Originally posted by 22bene
Oregon Sucks... The wind doesn't blow here! The beaches suck! Mt Hood doesn't have snow year around! Biking sucks (post falls in Hood River doesn't have a killer mtn bike park and the trails suck! hiking sucks here going on hikes to see waterfalls who does that?!?! sup'ing never mind! kayaking nope no slick boat parks up by Bull Run...skating Portland isn't known for that, and HR skate park sucks too and I don't want to talk about the rest of the states skateparks!!! We don't have rivers here so no white water rafting!!! And the views... Never bothered to look!!! Fun for kids no way!!! Snow kiting... Never!!! Frisbee golf... I Don't believe in plastic, damn hippies!!! Good music and beer, might as well live in Utah the beer sucks in oregon, same with the wines!!! And fresh fruits and veggies from local growers... We use pesticides always here and irradiate everything !!! Artist's don't come here 'cause no one can be inspired by our lack luster boring scenery. Jobs? Well... yeah, we have those... And no one, I repeat no one here has a "Wind Clause" or "Powder Day Clause" so even with all of our faults we still manage to get along in our boring grey lives!!! See you soon!!!!:Ange09: <- wish that was a pig flying...

sunset-Jim - 28-6-2011 at 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell
Yikes I guess we won't see you on the Oregon motivational speaking tour any time soon and I hope you dont work for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. But I see you with an ID location?

Quote:

It struck me more on the heels of Gov Tom McCall who once stated,
"Come visit us again and again. This is a state of excitement. But for heaven's sake, don't come here to live."

22bene - 28-6-2011 at 03:55 PM

I spend my summers here for all of the good summer fun to be had... And in ID in the winter for the killer prairie snow. I guess I should have indicated my sarcasm.... Oregon ROCKS!!! I am a little biased because my soul belongs here and the eternal beauty of the gorge and beyond is too spectacular to pass up. I couldn't survive without my dose of OR during the summer months.

bigsteve - 28-6-2011 at 10:03 PM

22bene. I fold. Oregon sounds sick! I am headed down to bend this weekend for some mountain biking, actually. How's this bike park in mt. hood you speak of? should I be making a stop on my way back to seattle??

thanks for all the great responses everyone! It sounds like the east coast has some pretty good draws. I just don't know if I can leave my NW roots too far. (up and down the coast and in the eastern part of a state touching the pacific is as far as I can convince myself right now!)

bigsteve - 29-6-2011 at 07:24 AM

I don't understand the over eager moving of posts from one section to another.. I thought this was a general chit chat thing... not a "locations and conditions"

tridude - 29-6-2011 at 01:04 PM

all good Big Steve...............take a position with Boeing move to Charleston......................teach me to ski and Ill teach you to surf

22bene - 29-6-2011 at 02:15 PM

Post falls bike park is pretty sweet I would suggest a stop on your way back through. Lots of features are being built up there and it's about three min. outside of downtown.