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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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Wed Oct 04, 06 12:48 pm Seattle and Vancouver, BC |
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Hey does anyone know what the kiteboarding scene is like in Seattle and/or Vancouver, BC?
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Bettyboarder
Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
XTreme Poster
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Wed Oct 04, 06 1:01 pm |
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There is a link at the top next to Decals, called Seattle. It will link you with Seattle's forum, might find some good info there.
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colby
Since 23 Apr 2005
613 Posts
Celebrity
Photographer
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Wed Oct 04, 06 2:06 pm |
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BamBam posted some info on here somewhere about Squamish - up about 45 minutes North of Vancouver....one of the only consistant places to ride in that area.
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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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Wed Oct 04, 06 3:55 pm |
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Cool thanks guys.
I may end up having to relocate for a job opportunity and would love to go somewhere where I can still Kite.
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pacifichigh
Since 11 May 2005
1004 Posts
ATX
Texan
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Wed Oct 04, 06 4:02 pm |
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Squamish is out for the near future as a result of the oilspill earlier this summer. I've talked to some Vancouver kiters, and it sounds like the area right around Vancouver is pretty heavily regulated and lots of beaches are off limits for kiting during the summer.
I've raced sailboats around Victoria, B.C. and there is a pretty good kite scene there right in town & Nitnat Inlet is suppossed to be pretty cool spot.
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jcarlson
Since 10 Jun 2006
12 Posts
Seattle
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Wed Oct 04, 06 9:07 pm |
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I live in Seattle, the seattle link on this forum is to the forum part of the SKA site. this link is to where some of the seattle spots are described on the same website.
http://www.seattlekitesurfing.org/index.php?title=Kite_launches
The Skypilot website is where you will find info on the greater Vancouver BC kiteboarding, and Seattle, perhaps more than the SKA site. For example, the SKA site used to have Richmond Beach, one of the main fall, windter, and spring south wind locations which is no longer described there, but is on Skypilot.
http://www.skypilotkiteboarding.com/
Squamish is mainly a summer spot. I have only kiteted there one time, two weekends back. I was told they are packing up the mats that they use to cover the rock jetty launch and there will be construction going on at some time to expand the launch for next season.
Jay
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Great White
Since 09 Aug 2006
7 Posts
Canada, eh!
Kook
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Thu Oct 05, 06 9:14 am |
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I've kiting in almost every major kite spot in North America and from what I've seen the Vancouver area is one of the few places in North America where you can kite all year and primarily use your 10m (or smaller).
I hope you like the cold though.
Squamish - It's actually been re-opened after the spill for some time now. Summer spot. It blows steady wind 8m or 10m most-every day (definately more consistent than the gorge). This year the season is still hanging on a bit longer though - global warming I guess. Yes, they will be closing it soon though for a $120,000 site-improvent over the winter.
Fall/Winter/Spring - Restrictions are ended as of Labour Day and you can kite right in the city (Jericho Beach/Spanish banks/Wreck Beach/Acadia Beach). Any day that the weather changes from shitty/rainy to sunny (semi-often in the fall & spring) it will be sunny and windy (nice long beaches for downwinders too). AWESOME at low or ebbing tide - waist deep and sandy.
There is also another spot that is good about 4 days/week all fall/winter/spring - Boundary Bay & the Tswassen Ferry terminal. Anything from 6m kites to 16m, usually somewhere in the middle. It blows most days that it's raining and gnarly in the city (often!) but it tends to create nice steady side-shore winds and a wierd little clearing of sun right out at the beach. It's about a 35 to 45 minute drive out of Vancouver-proper.
The Vancouver Island/Tofino/JordanRiver area gets some killer wave days often with strong winds (both side-on and side-off) and some SERIOUS swells (Check out the latest issue of Transworld Surf magazine). You have to take a ferry though, so it's more of a weekend-trip spot. For some reason, not many Vancouver kiters go over there. That is starting to change though. Tons of surfers do go very often though.
If you have a flexible schedule and a car, you can kite A LOT in the vancouver area. The only thing is that you need to be able to go when and where it happens for the day. Many times you have a pick of at least 2 spots though.
Check out www.skypilotkiteboarding.com for more info, photos and local forum.
Best local shop: www.airtimeboardsports.com
I hope that helps.
Kyle
Last edited by Great White on Thu Oct 05, 06 10:16 am; edited 2 times in total |
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colby
Since 23 Apr 2005
613 Posts
Celebrity
Photographer
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Thu Oct 05, 06 9:33 am |
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Kyle...thanks for the info, it's helping more than a few people out!
I kept running into people saying that Squamish was the only place legal to kite...but I've seen pics of people off Jericho beach and never a sign saying not to do it...so much room to setup and seemed like plenty of wind, so this is good news for the future!
By the way and barely on topic, here's a funny shot of Vancouver's version of 'speed dating' at a restaurant in gastown.
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dangerD
Since 27 Jun 2005
223 Posts
Bingen Heights
Stoked
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Thu Oct 05, 06 10:02 am BC Warning |
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Hey, where'd ya get that pic?
I think thats outside the Midtown Cannibus Club, right?
In July, I woke up in the trunk of one of those SmartCars, no passport and no pants! (it didnt seem so smart at the time) I had to hike a trail to return to the US.(My backpack paid for the trip!)
Any similar experiences with the neighbors to the north?
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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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Thu Oct 05, 06 12:47 pm |
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Kyle man - you just made my day!!! I absolutely love to kite and I love the outdoors. I may end up moving to Vancouver and from what I can tell Vancouver has pretty much everything I need to live and be happy in a city - all except the kiting. That was a big question mark. I wasn't sure what that was like - however, based on your post I'll still be able to get my fix of kiting. and in the winter I'll just board the whole time (I grew up in the desert and still have a hard time with extremely cold conditions - so I'll probably skip the winter kiting for now).
Thanks again!!!!
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Teague
Since 10 Jul 2005
114 Posts
Really Windy Places
Stoked
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Thu Oct 05, 06 10:16 pm |
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pacifichigh wrote: | Squamish is out for the near future as a result of the oilspill earlier this summer. I've talked to some Vancouver kiters, and it sounds like the area right around Vancouver is pretty heavily regulated and lots of beaches are off limits for kiting during the summer.
I've raced sailboats around Victoria, B.C. and there is a pretty good kite scene there right in town & Nitnat Inlet is suppossed to be pretty cool spot. |
Squamish was only closed down for a few weeks after the spill. Its been opened back up for quite some time and been getting stellar winds this season. The inflows up there are nearing an end soon though. Most of the winter kiting for them is in and around Boundry Bay and Jericho. Check out www.skypilotkiteboarding.com for more info.
Seattle winter kiting rocks. Loads of places to kite in many different wind directions. www.seattlekitesurfing.org
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colby
Since 23 Apr 2005
613 Posts
Celebrity
Photographer
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Thu Oct 19, 06 9:34 am Kiting looked crappy so why not a BC roadtrip? |
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This last weekend I did a cannoball run through Central Washington into the Okanagan area and up as far as 100 mile House in BC, then down through Pemberton, Whistler, Squamish and Vancouver back to Portland...it was a ton of driving, but incredible scenery and I wanted to share a bit of it here in case you don't know what you are missing up North in the Fall. I've added some pictures from another road tripper that travelled up in the Canadian Rockies near Banff as well...
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4907 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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Thu Oct 19, 06 1:04 pm |
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Wow - Colby that first shot is a mind blower.
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colby
Since 23 Apr 2005
613 Posts
Celebrity
Photographer
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Thu Oct 19, 06 1:18 pm |
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thanks gman.... love taking credit, but the Nikon and the lake did most of the work...in love with this camera! We're heading east of HR here pretty soon...pm me if you're game.
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stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1731 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
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Thu Oct 19, 06 6:22 pm |
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you mean the first one is not a photoshopped foo fooed image?
Very nice.
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colby
Since 23 Apr 2005
613 Posts
Celebrity
Photographer
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Thu Oct 19, 06 6:41 pm |
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No,.only sharpening in PS...that's the true color of the lake bottom...maybe some kind of volcanic silt? There was a beautiful little camp ground past the marsh in the picture...this is about 45 mins past Pemberton going North.
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Bettyboarder
Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
XTreme Poster
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Thu Oct 19, 06 9:22 pm |
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Colby,
Nice work, those pictures are amazing
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