If you had to choose between one kite event in the year to go to which one would it be???? I am the most proficient on landboard or snowboard, so to make the most of the event I would want to attend something that would give me the best possible conditions to experience either of those. So far it seems like snowkite soldier would be one I would enjoy the most. Can't think of one where I would get the best kite landboarding experience to weigh the two options. Of course if there were one where I could get the best opportunity to meet pkfers then I would want to attend that just as much.

Snowkite Rodeo
ID is pretty sick as well....

Anywhere the Jet Stream is sitting +7000 ft of elevation spells fun

For me, the beach is best. So Wildwood or JIBE. Both are awesome and full of PKF'ers.

WBB experience is awesome .... Most of us stay in same hotel so after beach time there is plenty people to drink beer with and have kite conversations .... lol ... Cant compare WBB to any others since Kitestorm that I attended last year is sadly no more ....... Tug Hill was fun too ..... not much riding due whether conditions ....

I think JIBE cos I could get out on the water ... but if I'm going to all the hassle of getting tickets and going to America and dealing with Americans :D then I'd want to meet as many PKFers as I could! :Ange09:

NABX is the pick up them all

Kite nutters from all over the globe

Cannot be beaten

SOBB

Which event offers the most activity in the area for the rest of the family to do while you are out doing your thing?? Chances are the wife would only allow me to go to one if her and the kids came along so there has to be something for them to do while I'm having fun.

SOBB. For the West Coast anyway. Skyline is pretty "out there". Not much to do around. Seaside Oregon is very nice. My wife would be happy there for days upon days.

JIBE for me!

I got into kiting just recently and wasn't able to get time off for JIBE 2012, but I showed up to Jekyll the week afterward and had a blast with Angus.

I've been going to the GA coast since before I even knew about kiting. Jekyll Island has all kinds of stuff for the family to do: Sea turtle center, mini golf, camping, nature center, water park (i think), other Islands very close,... and the beach!!!

I've already scheduled time off of work for JIBE 2013 :singing::singing::singing:

Todd has the JIBE video finished and it is posted on the buggy forum. Its pretty awesome, check it out.

For landboarding and snowkiting you can't beat the drive from Alberta to NABX. Hit Skyline (or any of the other Montana or Utah snowkite spots) they all had lots of snow at the end of March. At NABX the dry lakebed is a unique landboarding experience.

The drive to SOBB is shorter and there is a lot more to do for your family in Seaside, but the landboarding experience really depends on wind direction - you might end up buying a buggy

My two cents for landboarding, reasonable cost, family activities, and some of the best chances for useable wind on most of the days would have to be JIBE or NABX( only from what i have heard have not been yet). this was the second yr with the whole family and while this year the weather was not the best, Andrew and I were able to kite 5 out of 7 days, family enjoyed horse rides on the beach, and we rode over 30 miles on our bikes exploring the island. We like it so much that Andrew and i are heading down again in July- 3rd time this yr and its a 9 hr drive one way.
Scott

edit- For people and visiting wildwood is great, but for flying and predictable winds Jibe wins

I always enjoy the kiting and friends at WBB. But I want to check JIBE out next spring. Lets see what life brings on next!!

I know Macboy and Canuck really enjoyed the snowkiting and NABX combo trip. It is kind of crazy fun going from frozen lake to dry lake within a week ! I have had that pleaseure a couple of years.:wee:

NABX is ATB friendly and the event is amazing but it isn't " ideal " ATB conditions. For the ultimate in ATB choose an event on hard pack beaches.

I am almost sure I will go to Wildwood next spring instead of NABX ? Getting away from here to someplace warm at that time of year is where my money is at !

though i 'm biased... my impressions on these 2 events.

for the cool exotic spot with somewhat unpredictable winds from nothing to ultra high. all of which can be sketch. nabx. the spectrum of goers is deluxe the buggy event to hit in N.A. ...for a landboarder, its a cool experience, the out and back WITH SOLID BREEZE is fun. and for buggy-like speeds FLEXBOARDZ certainly opens it up with a ton more range and stability. for my first buggy experience (thanks Bob! for the ride) i see the attractive practically UNLIMITED DIRECTION for the buggy experience for FULL BORE rides.

BUT if you like to RIDE ALOT! JIBE is the spot! SMOOTH, steady like a fan. ALL YOU CAN STAND. for the 3 days i went, i scored 15hours of riding. not just on the beach for 15hours, RIDING ATB AND WATER. no sketch breeze to deal with.

JIBE. Had the entire family with me this year. They made a cameo on the beach one day and the rest of their time was filled with water park, sea turtle center, horseback riding, boat tours, etc etc etc.

Very ATB friendly, great spot to try water, LOTS of PKFers there too! Super smooth wind and miles to ride. Doesn't get much better to bring a family!

Having only attended Tug Hill and WBB, I lean towards WBB. I'd love to do JIBE sometime, but timing does not normally work out too well for me. Seaside Oregon is a beautiful spot to visit (been out there, but didnt fly kites at the time).

Snow is my favorite sport though, hard to say no to that (though conditions do not always work out). When the tides are low Wildwood has HUGE amount of riding space. In the spring the boardwalk is open, and some of the rides were running. Wind may not be as steady as people are saying Jibe is, but you can ride on almost any direction.

Guess I'll have to make Jibe some time.

My wish is to make it to all of them at some time or other. Got my sights on DBBB this year. But of course my favorite one for many bias reasons is SOBB. I've felt this before and it is pretty evident by the post here that most everybody's favorite event is the ones that they have gone to (makes sense). But it also points out that to find a good one, just go to one... they are all good for one reason or another and have something to offer. Great bunch of people no matter which one, and yes... a lot of PKF'ers.

Three cheers for a GREAT thread!

Wow!
Kiteboyza and Macboy have been to every major gathering around the world and still like SOBB best.
These guys know.

How impressive.

I love SOBB too.

Quote:

Originally posted by sunset-Jim ...to find a good one, just go to one... they are all good for one reason or another and have something to offer...

What he said. I have been to events at JIBE, Wildwood, Long Beach, El Mirage, and Crescent Beach. They're all great venues with great people.

In the FL-GA area I've also buggied Treasure Island, Gainesville, St. Augustine Beach, Neptune Beach, Little Talbot Island, and Cumberland Island and a few others that we'll not discuss here. There's not a one I wouldn't do again.

Embrace the events close to you. If you have the time and the money all the events are fun. Some sites provide more freedom of movement while others provide more technical challenges. Both are good though you might prefer one over the other.

Philip

.........I wish! Kiteboyza though - he'd know. He's been to events on both sides of the Atlantic and does seem to be fond of SOBB.

To compare SOBB and NABX isn't fair. NABX is AOXOMOXOA through and through. The people, the place, the winds, the wide open-ness. It's just a little intimidating...that there lakebed surface. And not much of anything to do with the family.

Skyline, though beautiful.....out in the middle of nowhere. And cold. Not so much fun for the family.

SOBB......well, I'm biased because I love ALL of Oregon's coastline. And so does the wife. But still. Cafes, shops, outlet mall, boardwalk, beautiful beach, great parks......you really can't go wrong.

You should see 'em all I agree - and I'll be back to the above three many times over but SOBB is special for me because of Seaside, and because it's the most convenient. I'm willing to bet my first trip to SPI will have me falling in love with Texas but it'll still be nowhere near as convenient as Seaside.

AND, this is west coast perspective. I'll see the east coast one day too - it's just harder to be a frequent offender to events out there.

I have to agree to go to any gathering you can. Above that, you can't go wrong with NABX or JIBE. Each has a different flavor, but both top drawer in every way.

Thanks for all the replies!!! I was only expecting a few responses but this was amazing. The wife and I are convinced that we could have a great time making a two or better week trip out to Jibe. Hopefully next year if this look good through the first part of the year. If we can't make it then we will make a trip to SOBB as it's a closer drive and can be implemented with our trip to BC. Would really like to go them all though. So much to see out there. Thanks again!!!