Like the title asks, what's your wind, area, like for buggy, board, flying?
On the west coast of Washington we park and ride most of the time. With the predominant wind coming from the SW. When it comes from the North it's
bringing cold air from Canada to freeze us out. When it swings a bit to full on West it's park and ride, the wind will vary about 2mph. The wind will
come and go but for the most part it's clean and no gusts.
Upon the anticipation of a front moving in or one just passing we get a stronger wind with a bit of bite and the gusts might be 10 to 15mph higher
than the sustained winds. On the rare occasion of a storm, a cold front blowing in from the ocean we will get 60mph plus gusting to hurricane, that's
when we gather firewood so we can travel the roads to get back to the beach.
Onshore winds are doable one way or the other. Offshore, never. Our skinny beaches and our 100 to 200 foot evergreen trees along with the hills and
mountains won't allow it. Majority of us fly fix bridle with a handful of us flying depower kites. Non of the side shore, side on stuff here. Up the
beach(south), directly on shore(west), or down the beach(north),are great buggy wind days. Anything that thinks of blowing out to sea is for those
that have to work on that new sea anchor.
We talk about the wind in the direction from where it coming from. That way we know if we want to hit the beach or not. We have only a handful of
beaches that are not onshore windable, and for the most part we don't use them.
Inland is another story. Much like the rest of the country its gusty and not well received because of the mountains and tall trees. Any area, park,
field, that would be big enough to use is usually in a hole of some sort. On the other hand we can play baseball, or some other sport in a wind storm
and be protected by the trees.
So what's your area like?skimtwashington - 17-12-2016 at 09:15 AM
I'll bite.
I ride 99% north of Boston at Nahant beach. It is on a narrow spit of land sticking out in bay. it is 2km long to ride. You have both West and
East(on shore) winds to give you equal speed rides along the water line in both directions. Wish it was 5-10km's long.
To ride on barrow tires, Coyote blade wheels , or MTB... you need to wait for about halfway to low tide to expose HARDPACK. A 6-hour window of riding.
Bigfoots you may be able to ride regardless of tide way back from water(high tide line) on the loose sand depending on wind direction(kite
launch/land room).
On shores are usually a dreamy steady wind, but not always.
Having a beach on a narrow spit or peninsula-that's void of buildings or trees- doubles the riding possibilities- including off-direction winds.
Restaurant at one end with a Dunkin Donuts next door....
Winds hit the whole spectrum from low to high (and all directions), but average in low teens(10-12mph) likely...?
It is almost a mini Mecca...Randy - 17-12-2016 at 03:12 PM
The Atlanta/No. GA area is not exactly a kite/buggy/ATB/surfing destination but may be no worse than many places. Atlanta is located in a hilly
forest. Consequently there are few good spots for kite sports, but enough to make a go of it. Jekyll is only about 6 hours away. Local fields,
parking lots, etc are usually surrounded by trees and have uneven slopes, etc.
I've spend 20 years windsurfing in this area and the last 3 using an ATB and now a buggy. I think what I know about wind transfers to some extent.
Spencer may chime in to clarify or correct what I'm saying.
Useful winds don't blow much in the hot weather months - July-Sept are the worst. The best months are the cold weather months - Novermber-April.
(Usually the colder the more wind.) The two most common wind patterns are cold fronts that bring westerlies (typically NW) and "wedge" conditions
that bring easterlies from the Atlantic. Both are typically bring colder air in. In the warmer months (and sometimes even in the winter) we get S-SW
wind that bring in warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico. The best wind quality is normally from the east, while the strongest winds are from the NW.
Winds from the south tend to be poorest quality. Gusty winds prevail, as is typical of inland spots. The best winds are from high pressure areas to
the north brining in east winds. These tend to die by mid day, so it pays to get out as early as possible. Cold fronts can come in at any time they
feel like.
There is a small but slow growing kitesurfing community in the area despite the fact that there is really only one launch (for westerlies) suitable
for less than expert kitesurfers. Some really good guys have launched from a few of the spots frequented by windsurfers, but most of the guys are not
inclined to try these more difficult launches. The launch they use is difficult enough. For buggies and ATB's the "community" seems to be Spencer
and me. There are only a few "proven" locations for buggies within an hour drive but I think I have found at least one or two more. For my ATB
choices are are also limited. Despite all that - in the past two months, I've had 10 days out with the buggy and 2 days with the ATB. But conditions
can change and the place that worked last week might not work for a month so I'm grateful my time on the dirt.
bigkid - 17-12-2016 at 06:19 PM
For some of us that are able to get out and see a bit of the USA it's nice to know what's available for the kite enthusiast. I've been to WBB, Jibe,
SOBB, WSIKF, Alvord, Ivanpah, and a few other less known places. There are a few places I want to visit when the time comes and I'm sure I'm not the
only one who would like to make the trip one way or the other.
If it's a place that's been used a time or too it's a place to visit. I would be happy to show off the local hot spots to anyone who wants to visit
Washington the state. I would enjoy visiting your local hot spots and I know others would also.
This seems to be a great place to put in a plug for your area. Who knows what it might lead too.rtz - 17-12-2016 at 09:07 PM
Our normal riding spot is that little grass area in the upper right corner. The lakebed is seasonal and not a sure thing every year.
This is just the south end of the lake. I ride it on a NW, N, or NE. It's my favorite spot.
This is the area at the North end. Very different riding experience then the south end. Terrain is different, scenery is different. It's quite
disconcerting to be going full speed ahead straight at the dam; then turn around and run full speed at the water when riding e/w in the large area at
the top.
This is the south west corner. I have walked it on foot; but yet to buggy on it due to parking/convenience issues. I plan to ride it at least once
before the water goes back up.
The dam! It's kinda cool riding on what is normally 20 or 30 feet underwater.
Windstruck - 18-12-2016 at 07:03 AM
As discussed in the thread "Saltaire" started by slapbasswoody there are large swaths of hard pack sand on the southern border of the Great Salt Lake
just north of interstate 80 west of the SLC airport. To date I've only seen them but have yet to actually buggy. If these pan out they will be
EXEPTIONAL. Fingers and toes crossed!skimtwashington - 18-12-2016 at 07:22 AM
We've only talked about wheeled option terrain..... left out winter ice/ snow locations.
Could go there... or not, on this thread.. bigkid - 18-12-2016 at 09:00 AM
We've only talked about wheeled option terrain..... left out winter ice/ snow locations.
Could go there... or not, on this thread..
I stuck to the wheeled areas. The water and snow areas are a lot more encompassing and besides, Im not that fond of the cold and wet anymore....
I know the water spots here are posted on another forum.
Snow is a shot in the dark for western Washington, eastern Washington is another story. It's much like the mid west, wheat fields and stubble or
dessert and tumble weeds.Feyd - 19-12-2016 at 12:38 PM
I fly inland lakes, valleys and mountains in New England. Average wind gusts are usually double the base wind speed and shift regularly 180 deg.
Smooth wind is a foreign concept to me but good kite choices make things survivable bordering on fun. :P
Riding here successfully requires a high level of technical skill and attention. If I started somewhere else with better winds I would probably say
the same thing some of our clients say when they first try riding here. That it can't be done. But when you don't know what you don't know and you
make do, survive and eventually thrive it gets to be a pretty good time. Our conditions weed out the weak and lazy.
We have good riding for speed and distance and for those who like a challenge. As they say about pretty much everything in New England. If you can do
it here, you can do it anywhere.
Some pretty amazing scenery too. Bladerunner - 19-12-2016 at 05:00 PM
We are just about 3 hours up the coast from BigKid. Problem is we are blocked by Vancouver Island so no surf to create hard pack. We have to drive
down to Southern Washington or Northern Oregon to get quality beaches. About 6+ hours.
The one and only park that works for us is a point on a river delta. Wind works from all directions but west wind is lumpy. Typical winds are very
low. about 5mph.
I have a tiny park close to home that gets a light West thermal most hot days. Too small for my SA but my 18m Phantom usually does the job. Often not
enough wind to jump. If the wind is there I only have the ability to jump in one direction and often must turn that into a transition jump.
For snow, the closest place is Green Lake at Whistler. IF it freezes. It should this year. It is a 2+ hour drive. When it doesn't freeze we must drive
4+ hours into the interior.
Vancouver is a good place to keep your skills up but the we must travel for any quality locations.
