Category: 2014

Wind Warning for the West Tues-Wed

Powerful frontal systems headed our way over the next few days. Gusty squalls guaranteed and unlikely to resemble the consistency of what you see on the forecast. Not the best conditions for kiting  and definitely not a day for beginners to be flying any sort of kite on the water or even on the beach.

Oh, did I mention that the swell is also forecast to build to 5 metres@18 seconds by afternoon?

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/graphs/wa3.asp

Weather Prognosis

Laurie at Seabreeze.com.au has put up a post worth reading:

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Winter-warning-for-new-kitesurfers/

 

BOM forecast is here:

http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/geraldton.shtml
Gerostorm

Quad-copter footage at Long Reef

Hi All,

It’s been a while since we’ve posted anything up. Not much has been happening in the way of wind recently with only a few days kitable over the past few weeks. The dry spell has ended with a just about kitable SW’er blowing since Friday. I was lucky enough to get out and have a great session on Friday in the pissing rain, managed to jag a heap of good waves and a few big rain drops in the eye balls!

Saturday and Sunday saw some gusty and flukey conditions up on the beaches, down south at Dolls would probably have worked well or Boat Harbour. These lacking conditions were a perfect opportunity to get the new quad copter drone doo-dad out in some wind and have a crack at shooting some kiting. This is the first crack I’ve had out in a decent breeze and it handled it superbly.

Check out the footage that I whacked together. This is straight from the chopper with no extra stabilisation done to the footage.

Cheers

The NEW Hobbs Carbon Kite Buggy

I’ve had the pleasure of begin across Dave’s carbon kite buggies since initial conception. The first buggy was simply awesome and an engineering marvel to me being all in carbon. We had an opportunity to test out the old one a while back in some seriously stupid wind at Stockton. That was a long while ago now and Dave has progressed to version 2 of the new buggy. Named the H-BOMB this thing is a serious bit of kit!

Dave’s attention to detail is outstanding, the build quality and level of thought shows when you get up close to this thing. This is no toy, its a serious bit of kit!

h-bomb-1

 

So what’s changed? Well, a lot! Gone is the carbon backbone replaced with a stainless frame member that is adjustable in length so lanky / short can fit snugly into it. The seat unit has seen a total redesign, still in keeping with the originals looks its carbon on the outside with a custom made webbing seat on the inside supported by hand crafted stainless tubes. I believe the seat is also adjustable for width when you order so thats every dimension of pilot catered for. Other tweaks to the front end for simplicity and reliability have been made and the rear end mounts have had a tidy up with full adjustability for ride height.

Optional fat or skinny wheels for hard / soft sand are available and best of all it breaks down quickly for easy transport.

Gobi-Dessert-H-Bomb
The Hobbs H-BOMB carbon buggy in action in the Gobi

Now I’m a pretty good kiter but I’m no buggy pilot. But word on the beach is this thing is purpose built to GO FAST, and I like fast. Above is an exclusive kitesurfing.com.au pic of the buggy in action during testing in the Gobi Desert.

Well done Dave for knocking out such an awesome bit of kit! Can’t wait to have a go soon :)

H-Bomb-3

For more information check out http://www.carbonkitebuggy.com/ We are proud that this has been developed and made on the Northern Beaches of Sydney!

 

 

kitesurfing.com.au on ABC702 Saturday @ ~6am

Hey all,

Just a quick heads up that kitesurfing.com.au’s Pete will be on ABC702 (that’s AM radio for the 20-30 yr olds – for the <20 year olds, it’s called a RADIO, your parents had one and your gramps had a really cool one!)

If you don’t have a radio you can stream it on your phone using Tunein app or probably via the ABC702 website. We’ll be recording it and posting it up here for those that are still sleepy at that time.

We’ll be talking about kitesurfing and just how awesome it is (I hope). It could go either way depending on Friday nights antics :)

Listen in..

Pete

Anzac Weekend forecast + SUP Demo @ Kurnell

Hi All,

Let’s spend a moment to think about the Anzacs. Right that’s done, now let look at whats happening this weekend!

Looking at the charts below, we can see a cold front that is swinging its way up the coast over the next few days. That is going to drop the temps down a bit and swing that wind Southerly most likely with a lot of wet stuff falling.

Depending on where you are on the coast will obviously determine when that wind swings. Seabreeze thinks currently sometime early Sunday morning but I’ve seen that about 6 hours out before so keep an eye on the charts down the coast on Saturday to see if its swung yet.

Seabreeze is also calling a Northerly breeze late Friday into Saturday and this is probable as its been the trend for most the recent southerlies. (It’s not a sea breeze people!)

So, Where does that leave us Sydney Siders? Well, lets look at the facts.

  • Most people will be drinking this weekend, that really gets in the way.
  • The traffic will be shit as its the end of Easter long holidays
  • This wonderful sunny period can’t last forever!

For these reasons I’m personally going to stick around Sydney but I’m hearing of a few trips south. I personally don’t want to blow my weekend sitting in traffic so will stick local. You’ll find me somewhere on the Beaches or maybe doing some lessons at Botany. But there is wind to be had so get out there! Remember, Double-Demerits this weekend and there is ALWAYS a cop on the road from Dee Why to Long Reef!!

There is a SUP demo on at Kurnell on Saturday (see below) held by James Grundigs at Alliance Kite Gear

IDG00074

anzac wind 2014

Sunjam SUP

 

Wind coming.

Have you seen the forecast for the next week? Its looking pretty crazy! There is only one problem. Sydney sucks in a west to southwest breeze!! There are a few local options like Boat Harbor but to make the most of it you are probably going to need to get right outta dodge and hit some classic winter kite spots.

image

The lakes at The Entrance can offer super flat conditions. Usually quite gusty but epic none the less. Launching can be sketchy off the grass and near the trees but its a great spot.

Hawks Nest also offers awesome, slightly safer conditions. The big bay keeps the chop down and will usually give you somewhere to wash up if there is an issue.

The only issue is school holidays and easter and all that jazz. Traffic will be a nightmare and accommodation will be expensive.

But there are your 2 best options. I know where I’m going!

If anyone is keen let me know.

The end of summer.

The end of daylight savings for me signals the end of summer. No more post work surfs or kites and the return of 6am rig ups at the beach to catch early pre-work southerlies.

Yesterday gave us some great conditions here in Sydney. Long reef was RAMMED! I counted nearly 40 kites  at one point. It was good to see everyone spreading out a bit up the beach and for once I didn’t see much carnage. A few people still ignoring the surf flags just to the north of the lagoon tho. If you see people kiting into the flags please go and have a kind word to them.

Sunday is a possible in my book. Its westerly at the moment and lots of rain forecast. I’m feeling a little dusty so have not looked at the charts or rain radar so I’m calling a maybe and keep an eye on it.

Take care out there.