Kiting Vancouver Island?

[kjl]

Hey. I have a friend who just moved to Vancouver Island, and I heard there was kiting there, so was thinking of visiting and combining it with a kite trip... Anybody have the lowdown on it? Any know if there are good kite beaches near Victoria (where he lives), what their season is, what winds I can expect, water/air temps, flatwater/wave options, etc., etc.. Or alternatively a link to a Vancouver kite forum like this one?

Thanks!

[WindMuch]

I've heard good things about Nitinat Lake.

Google just found this:
http://www.destinationkiteboarding.com/ ... rding.html

I was up on the West coast of the island last summer - the potential for good wave riding is definitely there!

Kirk out

[couzteau]

I was in Lake Nitnat in July last year. It was some of the sweetest most consistent wind I ever head. And it's beautiful. There is a wind master, he turns on at noon and is switches off by the r at 6.Never saw him, but the consistency was perfect, it had to be artificial ;) Nice, you can have your BBQ w/o wind and it's not so chilly at night. There was also a whale in the lake that occasionally surfaced while kiting. It's a tidal lake, so the whale could leave but I guess it likes it.

Here are some pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/couzteau/NW ... 6385627314

There are other good spots too, but Lake Nitnat was so great that we never went anywhere else. The roads are rough and the distances long.

[kjl]

Thanks - I'll give that spot a look - looks a little far from Victoria if I want to combine it with a friend visit, but maybe I'll take a day or two and check it out.

Gordon's beach and Cook St.Dallas Rd from that first link look nice and closer as well.

If anybody knows particular details on those spots (e.g. what winds work best, where to park/launch, if there are angry dogs or innocent bystanders, how not to offend the locals or be a kook and get the beach shut down, etc.) or knows a local I can ask that would be great.

Thanks!

[couzteau]

The spot only works in the summer when the thermo does its magic. The Victoria are is very windy, there should be many more kiteable spots than the map shows.

I recommend checking Big Wave Dave's forums: http://www.bigwavedave.ca/

Seems to be the common platform for kiters in the area.

[EvanOR]

Ocean Rodeo's International office is in Victoria so if you want local hook ups just let me know. You can kite year round (the Pyro drysuit was born there) and many do, though for most the season runs April through September. Cook St is the only decent launch in Vic that picks up the westerly, and buy decent I mean it's doable. It's a narrow strip of driftwood strewn rocky " beach " with side-onshore wind and a gnarly cliff beside it (reason number one for why our kites are so bomber). There are also some rock reefs you can't see on a high tide. Check with a local before launching on technique....there have been some severe injuries there. All said, once you hit the water it can be really, really nice, as on the right day the wind is incredibly lofty on account of proximity to the cliff. On a good day you'll see para-gliders cruising along the edge and hoards of tourists watching from above.

Other sites that work in the summer months require driving up towards Sooke and beyond. Gordon's beach and Jordon River are often windy when Victoria gets too hot and a " heat bubble " keeps the wind line a couple of miles out. Jordan is an epic right handed side off point break but you'll rarely see surf there in the summer months.

As mentioned Ntinat rocks and is much warmer, but not much else to do out there unless you bring it with you. I'd make sure you go there for at least three days.

The great thing about Vic is sitting in a pub at 8PM and watching the flags stir, hitting Cook for a two hour session (light until 10ish in the summer), then going back to the pub with chicas you met watching you at the top of the cliff post sesh. :)

Just make sure you or your bros don't do them any wrong or they may rob you. Lesson learned the hard way..... :shock:

[kjl]

Thanks everybody; all the information is appreciated - I may PM you later in the year for contact info Evan, thanks.