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pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
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 Mon Mar 19, 07 11:49 am April SPI Trips |
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I think I talked to 3 different people last week who had SPI trips planned. We'll be there from the 18th-25th. Look forward to seeing lots of folks from the NW down there. 
Been down there 3 times but never in April which is supposed to be prime time. Hope so because with the Gorge already firing its hard to leave!
77 degrees and SE 23-32mph right now...
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/USTX1281?site=GENXH&par=OAP&code=1003103423
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| SPI Surf right now... |
southpadresurfcam.jpg |
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tonyb
Since 09 Oct 2006
973 Posts
Stevenson in the summer & SPI in the winter
Bolstad Clan
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| Mon Mar 19, 07 12:22 pm |
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We're in! Carol and I are heading down April 13th and will be there through May 20th. We'll be at the Inverness, #904, with rum drinks on the balcony every evening!
We hung out with Teague and Kim yesterday morning and were trying to talk them in to coming down during that time. It'll be fun to have a bunch of the NW kite gang to invade the place with.
For cheap flights check out Southwest Airlines from either PDX or Seatac and fly in to Harlingen. Nice thing about Southwest is they let you bring 3 50lb bags instead of 2. We'll have a mini-van down there if someone needs a pick up from the airport.
We'll have two surfboards to play with if anybody wants to try them out but bring the Glides for the light wind days in the lagoon too! Last year at the end of March we used every kite in the quiver during the week we were there so take advantage of the extra bag limit and bring em all!
Tony
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| SPI looking North |
southpadrebeachcam.jpg |
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stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1738 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Mar 19, 07 12:34 pm |
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which airport do you recommend for flying to?
I figured Brownsville is optimum but I really don't know the area. Is it difficult to make it to SPI from any of these airports?
Trying to determine if I should go.
I would prefer Southwest as I have a credit voucher with them.
If I do, I'll bring my cameras.
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Hein
Since 08 Mar 2005
1314 Posts
Possessed
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| Mon Mar 19, 07 12:38 pm |
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Just finished my second downwinder.
most guys on 11s, 12s and some 14s but
I'm on my 7m. What the fuck is wrong
with me? A little holey but some nice
sets rolling in.
Not a single twinnie in the surf.
Surftechs with Surf-N-Skims are
the call.
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tonyb
Since 09 Oct 2006
973 Posts
Stevenson in the summer & SPI in the winter
Bolstad Clan
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| Mon Mar 19, 07 12:40 pm |
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I'm not sure of the exact mileages but Brownsville is about 20 - 30 minutes away, Harlingen is about 45, McCallen (sp?) is about 60 - 70 minutes away. I think Southwest only flies into Harlingen. Their web specials are usually between $120 to $180 each way if you can be flexible on the dates. There are shuttles available from both Brownsville and Harlingen to SPI. Depending upon arrival time and how good the wind is blowing we can pick you up too.
Tony
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pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
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| Mon Mar 19, 07 12:52 pm |
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We found Harligen/SWA flights were around $100 cheaper than Brownsville/Continental flights, but in the end we still went Continental because the red-eye out of Portland gives you one extra day. We leave Tuesday night and get there Wednesday morning. So we could still kite that day. Whereas SWA you burn a day traveling, because you leave PDX in the morning and get to Harligen at night.
$100 was worth it for an extra day of kiting (if its windy that is.) 
This was from PDX, from Seattle I'd guess you'd have more options.
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Teague
Since 10 Jul 2005
114 Posts
Really Windy Places
Stoked
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| Mon Mar 19, 07 2:48 pm |
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| tonyb wrote: | We're in! Carol and I are heading down April 13th and will be there through May 20th. We'll be at the Inverness, #904, with rum drinks on the balcony every evening!
We hung out with Teague and Kim yesterday morning and were trying to talk them in to coming down during that time. It'll be fun to have a bunch of the NW kite gang to invade the place with.
For cheap flights check out Southwest Airlines from either PDX or Seatac and fly in to Harlingen. Nice thing about Southwest is they let you bring 3 50lb bags instead of 2. We'll have a mini-van down there if someone needs a pick up from the airport.
We'll have two surfboards to play with if anybody wants to try them out but bring the Glides for the light wind days in the lagoon too! Last year at the end of March we used every kite in the quiver during the week we were there so take advantage of the extra bag limit and bring em all!
Tony |
Tony -
We enjoyed having you and Carol as neighbors in Maui. Be sure and hold down the fort over there. One day home and it sucks already!! Rain and 52 degrees! We will look at picking up a few more crew-members for SPI and shoot for the time you guys are there.
No joke folks on the rum drinks from these two! They have all the good flavors!  Must be all that experience from the Tiki Bar. 
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Jackal
Since 17 Dec 2005
147 Posts
WS
Stoked
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| Mon Mar 19, 07 3:07 pm |
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| Don't fly into McAllen if you don't have to. It's only 70 miles, but there is a lot of highway construction. I allowed an hour and a half last time and almost missed my flight. You only fly to McAllen if you are on American, Southwest and continental fly into the closer two airports.
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2625 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Tue Mar 20, 07 5:47 am |
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| Hein wrote: |
most guys on 11s, 12s and some 14s but
I'm on my 7m. What the fuck is wrong
with me? |
Don't sweat it Hein. "Small kite snobbery" has infected the entire nation! Just last month I landed my kite in SE Florida. This ass-shaver literally sprints across the beach to tell me my kite was "way to big for the day". Sweet buddy, nevermind the fact I just rode twice as many waves as you because I could tack back up wind in half the time as you on your "properly" sized kite. Or that I have 20 lbs on you.
Like all the religious evangelical fanatics out there, I wish these people would just keep it to themselves...
whew, went off on a bit of a tangent there....
I need some wind.
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blowhard
Since 26 Dec 2005
2027 Posts
Windward
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| Thu Mar 22, 07 10:19 am another reason |
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The Slither is spot on , 
With another reason to stay to windward 
after some years(5) "riding back"(in a truck) instead of kiting!!
and the ability to ride a good spot and stay there
is enough reason to bag the DOWNWINDER
as we were hanging on the beach last summer we were watching some dudes who didn't know anything about the surf 
do a DOWNWINDER, complete with spins and so on 
the consensus was that THE most lame thing in kiting is not being able to hold your position
and second was spins 
it's all fun tho!!!!
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Hein
Since 08 Mar 2005
1314 Posts
Possessed
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| Thu Mar 22, 07 10:53 am |
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| Well spank me then!
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gabe
Since 16 May 2005
491 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Mar 22, 07 10:54 am |
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you're funny. i don't think downwinders are a religious issues. some places are perfectly suited to long downwinders. others are not. worldwide, i bet most people dont even have the option of doing a downwinder. if they do have the option, the only reason they wouldnt do it is if they had a unique wave they wanted to ride repeatedly.
isn't florence a bit of an exception for the coast, with a jetty which blocks the longshore current and makes riding upwind much easier, and unique pealing waves right at the jetty? can you even do a long downwinder from there?
anyways, the one time i saw you kite bloward, you were at ft stevens jetty, trying to stay upwind right at the jetty (florence style), which has the worst wind on that entire section, and after every 10 minutes of kiting you had to walk back up the beach half a mile. over and over again. i chose to ride about 12 miles downwind that day. i wonder who rode more waves.
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Hein
Since 08 Mar 2005
1314 Posts
Possessed
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| Thu Mar 22, 07 10:59 am |
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Everyone take an inventory counter with
them and click it everytime you smack the
lip. Then we can see who wins. 
P.S.
I'm looking for an '06 9M Fuel that's still
crispy. kite only. Since mine split in
half when I dropped it in the pound this
morning. 2 years on that kite and she's
been washed a bunch. I'm going to miss
that bitch. She was a straight flyer - hover
right over head on the suicide leash.
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gabe
Since 16 May 2005
491 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Mar 22, 07 1:22 pm |
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it's a sign. time for you to get back to work on (my) boards!
| Hein wrote: | I'm looking for an '06 9M Fuel that's still
crispy. kite only. Since mine split in
half when I dropped it in the pound this
morning. |
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blowhard
Since 26 Dec 2005
2027 Posts
Windward
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| Fri Mar 23, 07 9:14 am COME ON DOWN |
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my only trip up north since windsurfing days 
and yes the wave at the Columbia jetty is superior  all 3 turns of it
too bad the wind is such shit 
but I would rather walk than fly too big a kite or bear off 
and be in some shore break
I'm as lazy as the next guy and love bearing off if there was a point to it
and IF and WHEN you ever leave the beginner hole
I'm sure you will get spanked
you're no exception
the "O" is in ocean not
Golfo de Mexico
Still waiting for the Hein&Co. to come down and rip with us  
now that he's full power
yahoo
We don't compete here anyway sometimes someone gets the good waves
and makes the most of it,
,and he RULES
so getting the most shitty waves will never be an issue (for us)
just needed to add that because we don't roll that way
BRAH!!!
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gabe
Since 16 May 2005
491 Posts
Obsessed
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| Fri Mar 23, 07 10:56 am |
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| i'll come down this summer. 6hr drive. i'm sick of not seeing it for myself. can i camp at your place?
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blowhard
Since 26 Dec 2005
2027 Posts
Windward
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| Fri Mar 23, 07 5:14 pm right -on |
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atta boy
right out front
camp on lawn
watch for swell
we are swell impaired most of the summer,
but this time of year and the fall
look the fuck out
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