Kiting Close Encounters

Trekman · Since 17 Sep 2011 3 Posts Kook

This was going to be my first time kiteboarding in the coastal waves. It was a sunny August day at Fort Stephens the most northern point in Oregon, but the surprisingly cool air blowing over the ocean offered a prelude to just how cold the water would be. Rigging up my twelve meter kite I was glad to be wearing a 5/3 wetsuit. With the kite flying I stepped into the water at which point my slipper clad feet confirmed just how frigid it was.

Waves were moderately small making it fairly easy for a neophyte like me to hop over three sets to the swell on the outside. Lacking a hood I was determined not to fall in, of course drastically reducing my kiting ability. Jibbing on the swell was fun so I headed back towards the breaking waves near shore looking forward to getting some rides on the breakers. Riding the first set the realization that tentative kiting could cause me to drop my kite in the waves and destroy it, had me heading back out.

After a few more runs on the outside I missed a toe side turn and came off leaving me just a few feet short of grabbing the board. Wanting to get out of the cold water and back on the board ASAP I immediately body dragged about 60 feet out and back to get upwind. To my surprise my board was nowhere in sight, even when using the kite to lift me up.

No choice but to do another chilly body drag with my head turned back to keep the splashing waves out of my face. Suddenly I rode into something and turned my head to see what looked like a large piece of flotsam. My first thought was it might be a child's pool or dock float turned black from being submerged for a long time. Adrenalin flowed while hoping I could avoid getting snagged in some barnacle encrusted kitemare. As more of it appeared out of the ocean depth I could see it was about six feet in diameter mixed black and white and felt as though I could easily push it way from me. The strong odor of fish permeated the air as we dragged together through the water with me continuing to lay across it and my face mere inches above the growing mystery object.

Then it was gone and I realized it must have been a whale. As I stopped and bobbed in the water looking for my board there were large swirling areas in the water ahead, behind and upwind of me. Wondering if these were also whales or something less friendly like a Killer Whale or Great White sent a chill of a different kind down my spine.

Still not seeing my board I hailed the only other kiter around, Dana from Pro Motion Wetsuits. He kindly found my board far from where I was looking. Later Dana pointed out there was a strong rip current running and I would never have found it.

As I rode back in united once more with my board, I was staggered by what had just happened. Upon landing the person who caught my kite was really excited because he and his friend had been watching all the whale fins following our boards along with seals breaching. He asked if I had seen them. I replied I had missed that show but had an up close and personal encounter with one of the leviathans of the deep. So now they call me Whale Rider.
~Chris Horgan~

[/img]http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/images/FortStephens-s.jpg[img]

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 402 Posts Portland Obsessed

That is some whale of a story

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2058 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Yes indeed, a whale of a story. So you witnessed a dead whale of some type and Killer Whales were feasting upon the carcass? Or was it a dead Killer Whale and the rest of its pod where still hanging around? If so on the latter, very similar behavior to what elephants do when one of their's herd parishes.

I use a hooded 5/4 always and sometimes need to put the hood on.

A simple fact about the Oregon Pacfic waters...the first day it blows N/NW the waters usually are warmer where a 4/3 probably could be used and no booties. But when and if the N/NW winds blow for days on end, the cooler Alaskian waters come down and drops the temps significantly, making it much cooler. Conversely, the S/SW winds create the opposite effect. Temperatures and warm and cold is a relative thing...

I love wearing no booties, but over the years I've found I'm much more comfortable with them on typically w/the N/NW winds-especially being out on the water for 2 plus hours at a time. Dress for the swim, not the water temps.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2573 Posts The 503 METAL

The Whale Rider, remember him when you look at the night sky.

Are you sure it wasn't a Sunfish? Very common along our shore line, especially near the surface and closer in. Smile

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2058 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

wonder if it was a grey whale...

we saw a big Mola Mola when we took the jetski Tuna fishing last month - he was pretty shy and didnt let us get too close unlike the Dall Porpoises they were super slutty

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 308 Posts Obsessed

I wear my hooded 6/5/4 even in summer on the coast. That's some damn cold water, even when it's 85 degrees out.

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed

sure it wasn't one of these guys?

Link

Ho-Toe · Tue Oct 27, 15 4:02 pm **Cold waters**

Sasquatch wrote: "A simple fact about the Oregon Pacfic waters...the first day it blows N/NW the waters usually are warmer where a 4/3 probably could be used and no booties. But when and if the N/NW winds blow for days on end, the cooler Alaskian waters come down and drops the temps significantly, making it much cooler. Conversely, the S/SW winds create the opposite effect. Temperatures and warm and cold is a relative thing… "

Not to nitpick, but that c-c-c-cold water gets upwelled from deeper off the OR continental shelf, not blown down from AK. Downwelling (also called a "relaxation" event by nerds) is esentially the same process, reversed. Upwelling is also the reason we have such rich coastal fisheries, as that cold water is very nutrient-rich.

Here's a neat little primer to get you going (unfortunately the graphic is from the coast of Peru, in the southern hemisphere, so the wind directions and resulting currents are bass-ackwards):

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/currents/03coastal4.html

sagebrush · Since 31 Oct 2009 209 Posts north,van,bc Stoked

Sounds like a large japanese sunfish to me.they are or can be quite large and round and always lay on the surface unless spooked.also killer whales dont attack humans,thats a myth!!!

macgruber · Since 06 Dec 2011 490 Posts SE PDX volcano Obsessed

I've seen groups of grey whales numerous times just outside the break. It's hard to see them unless the wind and waves are calm. Last year at Manzanita when it was glassy and 1' swell, we saw a cow and calf traveling north just 100' off the beach. I've also seen a sunfish while fishing, weirdest fish ever!

consumer · Since 28 Nov 2010 406 Posts banned Obsessed

does this work

[youtube]eFumUdCSgOQ?t=24s[/youtube]

https://youtu.be/eFumUdCSgOQ?t=24s

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2573 Posts The 503 METAL

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1210 Posts Seaside BRACKISH

I've kited and surfed with whales and porpoises in the water numerous times and kited around a sunfish once. My experience is that if you gag on the smell it's whales! Bout barfed in my hood once when I was surprised by a surfacing whale right in front of me.