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D-Dub
Since 19 Jun 2007
30 Posts
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 Fri Apr 18, 08 11:17 am Seaside kiting this weekend |
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I'm heading to Seaside this weekend for to take my first steps in paragliding. The weather does not look great, but I'd like to kite if it's too rough to paraglide.
NWS reports:
.SAT...W WIND 20 TO 25 KT...BECOMING NW 15 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 4 FT. NW SWELL 12 FT AT 11 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF TSTMS.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 KT WITH GUSTS TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. NW SWELL 11 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
.SUN...NW WIND 5 TO 10 KT. GUSTS UP TO 15 KT IN THE MORNING. WIND WAVES 2 FT. NW SWELL 9 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
I am an experienced kiter and surfer with an OR drysuit, but thunderstorms scare me. Anyway this is kiteable in others experiences? |
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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| Fri Apr 18, 08 11:43 am |
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Are you taking lessons from Brad and Maren Hill? I thought they were going to the Oceanside fly-in this weekend.
_________________
Lets FLY |
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D-Dub
Since 19 Jun 2007
30 Posts
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| Fri Apr 18, 08 12:01 pm |
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A friend is teaching me to fly - I may be mistaken with Seaside, it looks like the Oceanside fly-in would be a likely place for us to go.
Does it look like the event will go off given the weather?
How does the Kiting at Oceanside look this weekend? Worth braving 40F air temp? |
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bambam
Since 15 Mar 2005
760 Posts
Hood River
Photographer
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| Fri Apr 18, 08 2:11 pm |
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D-Dub,
Be CAREFUL... As a relatively new pilot (300 flights) who is just about to get my basic instructor license, my advice is to please please take this sport very seriously and slowly. Active piloting skills are essential for coastal ridge soaring, and your buddy should be taking you to a very very large open area in very very light conditions to start your training... Oceanside is NOT the place.
A great place to start is out in the Dalles... Across the river is a town called Dallesport and there is a flight part with rolling hills. Early morning and evenings the air is super stable for those first flights.
Eventually you will need to get your P2 from a qualified instructor...
Jon Malmberg |
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D-Dub
Since 19 Jun 2007
30 Posts
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| Fri Apr 18, 08 2:37 pm |
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I think I came off a bit cavalier - I have never touched a paraglider, and am doing this as an introduction to the sport. My friend has been paragliding for 25+ years, and is a certified intructor. I will do what I'm told when I'm told, and given the weather I suspect it will be 100% hands-off.
I’m really just curious whether I can plan on kiting in Oceanside if I get bored watching others paraglide. Thoughts? |
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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| Fri Apr 18, 08 2:48 pm |
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| bambam wrote: | D-Dub,
Oceanside is NOT the place.
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D-Dub, I agree with Bam. Oceanside during a fly-in wouldn't be the place to learn, unless you are just sticking to ground handling down on the beach. You'd probably have a pretty good time watching the festivities though.
I've only been to Dalles Mtn Ranch once (I'm assuming that's where Bam is referring to), and it did look like it would be a pretty good place to learn in the early mornings and evenings as Bam said. Just look out for barbed wire fences which might be hard to see when you are coming in to land!
I think the best place in the NW to learn is the big dune at the north side of Cape Kiwanda. Chris Santacroce (a well respected instructor from Point of the Mtn UT) once told me that Cape Kiwanda was the best place he'd ever seen for training. And he teaches all over the world. Actually, I think the area around the Dune du Pyla near Arcachon France is probably *the* best place, but the commute is a bitch.
Friends are great resources for teaching ground handling, and *maybe* sledders in low wind conditions off the dune, but for for anything else find a good instructor. Sounds like either Bam or I could provide some recommendations if you want.
Good luck and maybe we'll bump into each other at a launch some day.
_________________
Lets FLY |
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bambam
Since 15 Mar 2005
760 Posts
Hood River
Photographer
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| Fri Apr 18, 08 3:49 pm |
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D-Dub,
Good to know that your friend is a certified instructor... I just get a little nervous as over my 50plus hours of shadowing paragliding lessons, I have seen the most mild conditions cause some pretty interesting and scary situations. Paragliding is not something to take mildly. A 30ft fall into water while kiting just results in some bruises, that same fall paragliding results in a body bag.
FlyDunes,
Yeah, I am referring to The Ranch... Just one fence you need to watch for. Funny, I worked with Dale Covington and met Chris Santacroce when I was in Utah getting my P2. Chris talked me into going full GIN! Great flying community out there. Cape Kiwanda ROCKS, and Pyla is topping the charts on places I want to fly! I have an Austrian friend who is a test pilot for Swing, and he had some insane footage of Pyla. I will be in California next week doing a SIV with Rob Sporrer, and then up at the Chelan XC Comp in late July. Hope to bump into on launch one of these days.
Jon |
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boredbrain
Since 16 Feb 2006
352 Posts
Hood River
Obsessed
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| Fri Apr 18, 08 8:57 pm |
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A true 12 ft is a little big, and the issue is a upper level low.
From what I hear, you will feel it in your bar before the lightning strikes.
Plan on watching and drinking. |
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