Quick note - the winds are seriously picking up like they did last weekend down at Ocean Beach - looks like they may even pick up into the mid to upper 30's - I may not make it if they keep up like that - winds over 25 get me a little sketched - the power in the kite reacts too quickly sometimes and you run the risk of getting seriously thrown around.

I have made a new rule of thumb for myself - if I can't run the kite through the window low to the ground than I just won't fly.

If the winds are kicking while you're there - just take it slow and maybe have someone there to help launch the kite from the side of the window. Better safe than sorry. If I don't go I hope you guys have a good time, and Dlish, I guarantee there will be wind, lots of wind, be careful.

AS far as getting to Ocean Beach (I know this goes back a bit in the posts) Try and get there early (10:00 - 11:00) to make getting through the toll plaza easier and to beat the traffic. From Auburn (127 miles to the beach) it usually takes me an hour and 45 min - I usually leave around 9:00. Coming into Berkley around noon will suck the rest of the way. Once across the bay bridge take the 101 North exit (about 1 1/2 to 2 miles after you cross the bridge). This will dump you onto the surface streets. Just go straight until the road dead ends forcing you to go left (this is turning you onto Fell st.). Fell will meander a little, just keep to the left during the wobbles. When it straitens out you will have a straight shot for about 5 miles and it will dump you out onto the great highway in plain view of the parking lot at Ocean Beach. You will turn right onto the great highway for about 50 yards where you will see the entrance to the parking lot. Try and park close to the end of the parking lot that you saw from Fell st., straight out to the beach from this area is a good place to launch and rest (not as many people around). Hope that helps.

Wont be there this weekend guys, saturday looks good so you all should have a fine time.
http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/OceanBeach.1to3.shtml
watch the tides, OB is only really fun near low tide, high tide is frustrating w/o bigfoot tires

Thanks for the heads up guys and the directions. Very helpful. I hope to make it.

Eli,

Would u please keep me informed on wind conditions in Sunset and Seaside this week !! The Flysurfer Crew will be down on Saturday the 3rd.(Pray For Wind)


Thanks AAron

Dlish how was your time at O.B this weekend? Not that I dont know but I would like you to tell the story.

Do tell...what happened? New land speed record? Bad crash? Swept off to sea by a big gust? Victoria Secret was doing a photo shoot on the beach and you were totally distracted?

My usuall bad luck story to tell. wind : 0-5 mph , minutes in the buggy: 0 , people on the beach : 1 million. To add to this after I leave OB to go back to Berkely it took 35 minutes to go about 5 miles. I love SF traffic. I guess OB was all blown out from the weekend before. All I did was watch people let their dogs run free on the beach and crap all over the place.

rule56, Sounds like your story could have been better. Sorry you had to be there alone bro but I am glad I did not make the trip for nothing that would have really sucked. Weel the wind should be blowing around 20 now that you left so maybe this weekend. Kite traction freak. cool. flexiblade! Where did you end up this weekend?

I made it out on Sunday to Ocean Beach (last minute thing) but ran into the same situation as dlish - seems the thing to look for is temps under 65 - once it goes beyond that the people flock out in droves and the wind dies - also I was told by the ranger to pack it up as soon as the winds started to pick up - he was cool though - he just didn't want anything bad to happen to mess up the nice arrangement that we have there. If there are a lot of people down there even with good winds you might as well pack it up.

lets see real estate is cheap right now...we should all chip in and buy a huge plot of flat dirt...2 miles X 2 miles in a big circle right here in the valley....

FOR SALE ?

I little while back there was a stretch of beach with a recently remodeled campground on it for sale. Growing up I knew it as Wages Creek. It's not called Westport Beach and RV. The place is a little far from Sacramento (Fort Bragg area), but if its still for sale, maybe Art could start a pool, buy it, and make it a buggy/board park?

http://westportbeachrv.com/index.html

Wouldn't it be cool to have a buggy only beach? Leave your picnic baskets at home because they are not welcome here!

KITE PARK

This place is CLOSED now, but...

http://www.thelincolnshirekitepark.com/

Won't that be nice to have something similar around here.

e

I bet that place was sold for a lot of money and has since been turned into a housing complex or shopping mall. It's sad... Nice video though.

It sounds like we need to do something quick Because now O.b will be gone soon too.:flaming:

What do you mean by gone soon? - it'll be on and off until about September. You just gotta watch the inland temps compared to the beach temps. Trust me you guy's will be hooked when you get the chance to run it on a good day.

Its just that some of the good places are slowly going away. Sod farm shrinking, Pismo not buggy friendly...that's all... Seems like so much flat land is being developed. Like we need another mall.

Ocean beach is a great place and my home for last 3 years. I try to stay cool with authority there. I meet all life guards and some rangers. Rules are applying to everyone who is kiting there however We all bend them little here and there and they know about it. Point is that as long as nobody is calling them about some nuts kiters that are crashing into people or dogs everything seems to have some balance. Lifeguards are supporting park rangers and most likely they will be first to hear complains from people about us and it is up to them if they will take it to rangers. I have a very good relation with them and they all know that if I see something odd I'll get on it and make sure ( most likely new kiter) will hear from me to keep it cool, not to fly near people. There R days when beach is loaded with people but that is most likely on hot no win day and You should avoid those as You will not have much flying anyway and it is easy for getting complain. Please make sure to look for a snowy plower as they are now protected and We should stay north from gate 23. If You will be seen by ranger flying south from that we will get in trouble,so make sure You also see ,,them'' before they see You and if it to late just ride back to the north and stay there. So You might be thinking how do I fly there so often? Well I drive there almost every day and Week days are epic as beach is almost empty and winds R gooooooood. So please respect all rules and You will be respected as well. Remember landkiting on OB is not a right but a privilege.

Who is going to Ocean Beach this weekend?

Are you guys taking about Ocean Beach in San Fran?

I am ready to pitch in for the 2mile circle of dirt for the valley Dan. And yes ocean beach S.F.