The future of wavekiting

scottnorby · Wed Jun 11, 08 9:58 am **The future of wavekiting**

Just finished reading an article in the May/June issue of Kiteboarding.
The article was about wavekiting (kitesurfing).
The article interviewed 10 of the most progressive wavekiters in the world.
It made me realize even more---how stoked we are to live in Oregon where we have incredible wavekiting conditions ---and easy access to all our beaches.

Questions in the article:

Does the best kitesurfing involve BIG waves?

All the riders said no.

The bigger the waves, the more chance you are going to fly down the face and power your kite up (apparent wind)
Alot of guys ride in FRONT of the big waves but not really engaged ON the wave.
Really 2 to 6 foot is the most realistic kitesurfing conditions. And not worrying about staying up wind makes for an even better session.
......sunset beach downwinders???

Plus...if the conditions are big it is much more realistic to be on a surfboard and really tapping into the simplicity of surfing a big wave with just a board...no jet ski or kite assistance.

Wavekiting is about catching 50 waves in a session because the kite transports you there. Not about catching a wave at Jaws where the kite just tows you in---and you may as well let go.

In addition, high wind is not necessary and in fact blows the wave out. So a steady 15 to 20 with a 5 foot swell is like a dream.
Oregon coast...all summer.

Is wave competition feasible?
It is not in most places. Because the wind, waves and beach accessibility all have to come together. The number of places in the world that this happens are so few....and usually involve a 12 hour plane ride.
In Oregon, we have all of those---all summer.

If there was a world tour for wave kiting what wave would be best?

Again it is pretty clear that the perfect wave is no where within the consumers visual distance. If consumers can't watch then no big car company or cell phone company will sponsor it?
Essentially the future of wave kiting is that it is a solo sport and probably will not gain a lot of attention from the public aside from TV and video.

And yet, in Oregon we have a scenario where we have wide open beaches, wind, waves---and potentially a contest God forbid.

There are now 100,000 to 200,000 kiters in the world and only a handful of us really go into the ocean on surfboards.
I am definitely not claiming to be good because I feel I suck when I watch Josh Mulcoy tear into it at Scott's reef---but I am claiming that we have the goods here in Oregon.
And I am still surprised that more riders here in Oregon have not realized the potential for wavekiting?

Most people in Oregon view our sport as something you do in the dirty river.
Most view it as a stunt.
I am still surprised people move to the gorge just to kiteboard....but not to the beach where they can wavekite?

My wife and I were just in Hood River, watching 20 guys rig up at the sandbar. We couldn't believe the chaos. And didn't even care to go out. We had all our gear and didn't see the joy in it?

It's pretty clear that we have two different sports here---

One is an adrenaline filled challenge of technique and testing a riders agility in the water and jumping in the air. And who doesn't respect a talented wakestyle rider? It's amazing.

The other sport is a solo adventure connecting all the dots of wind, water and wave. Wavekiting.
NW winds this week. Swell 5 to 7 foot tomorrow.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2026 Posts Windward

most think I'm lying about the conditions

but generally people like the conditions they are stuck with

some hate the cold wind and water
some don't like big wind
sharks
coastie scumbags ,,,,

but after going to a lot of coastal kite locations
I was very happy to be back
with the abandoned
beaches of Or.

scottnorby · Wed Jun 11, 08 10:17 am

Right on blowhard....I totally know what you mean.
No cold wearing the new 3 mm Patagonia wool suit.
You should get one.
And the most shark attacks in the US are in Florida and Hawaii.
Go figure.

Seems like most surfers here would rather just bitch about the wind instead of just get out in it.
Any surfer converts in your area?
Did you surf before you kited?

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2026 Posts Windward

hear that
our long time surfer who lives in his van at the beach
is paying Willy for kite lessons after watching us for years
no surfing for me ,windjonnie/pole boader

I've heard good things about the new suits
just need to wear out my 3 hotlines first

all the guys I learned to kite with are surfers (whiskey run crew)

most of the surfers we get are valley boys who don't know where to go
but plenty of stoke
paddle boards look like the next thing I'll try

scottnorby · Wed Jun 11, 08 10:35 am

Right on.
Surfers will probably catch on before kiteboarders.
They are not afraid of the wetsuits or the ocean--- and don't care about the farmers tan.

I think the gorgey's are there for the sun as much as the wind.
If the gorge was cold year round the crowd would be thin.

brass · Since 15 Jul 2006 152 Posts Stoked

So what you're saying is....Sunset beach/ Oregon coast is a world class kiting venue?

And to that I say, YOU ARE CORRECT SIR.

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

ok Scott, enough already... the gorge is where it is at Thumb's Up

. The coast is cold and flukey Crying or Very sad

and 'wavekiting' is <enter your own three letter word here> Laughing

.

(come and get it Gonians, the days are getting warmer, Manzo -for your N coast travelers- is starting to blow more regularly, and I can't even begin to say how stoked I am to think that possibly high pressure might be sticking around for a couple of months

) - oh and got pitted more than a few times on one of those downwinders from Del Ray to Seaside yesterday - bring it Exclamation

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1873 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

I love kiting in the waves in Oregon...It is actually equally as fun if not more than the Gorge for me right now since my wrist ingury.

The thing about the Gorge is for me being from the Midwest and only familiar with big lake waves, the gorge-swell lets me "hone" my skills(strapless and strapped) for when I get to the coast.....

When I go to the coast, the twin-tip stays in the car. Smile

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

I agree that Oregon is pretty great for wave kiting, but disagree on some of the points.

2-6ft being most realistic doesn't mean that's what you want. Who wants to surf 2ft waves? I think head high to double overhead is the best size depending on how critical the wave is. It's big enough to have lots of fun and progress, but not so big that you just have to run away. I think with the right board, kite, and technique you can ride those waves without getting overpowered by the kite (baring off downwind, etc.). Also, side-off wind can help make riding the wave with a kite easier, and it cleans up the wave faces a lot. It's a dangerous direction and is rarely found, but can be really fun (e.g. San Carlos). Finally, having a long and clean point break that barrels nicely would be awesome. This doesn't happen much in the North Oregon coast. I personally prefer riding smaller kites in the waves, but I definitely see the desire for smooth wave faces and lighter wind.

The OC doesn't have the most epic world class conditions, but on average it is an awesome place to ride, and it is still my favorite.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4910 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Nice thread Scott - though you coasties are blessed

Was sititing on the Jetty at Nehalem after a few mile walk on a mid-summer Saturday morning - was amazed no people, no boat traffic (in Flordia where I grew up there would be a least two hundred to three hundred people pouring out the inlet in jetskis, runabouts, etc) only a couple of harbor seals. Rain and cold has its advantages.

Also Congrats on the Coldest Day in June for Astoria in recorded history yesterday!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

We're too busy trying to get pitted on river swell!

Actually I took a week off with a few others here to tour the Oregon Coast, it was probably my best week of kiting all year.

I try to get out there when I can, but you got to admit lately its been SW more than NW. Once it starts getting in the pattern you can be sure we'll be out there.

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

Good post, scott.
i surfed before I kited (sold my quiver to buy kiting equip!). Scott, do you use a surfboard of kiteboard in the surf? I want to start kitesurfing, but dont' really have the $ to invest in a surf board. Plus I hate having a surfboard, since I'm constantly damaging and then repairing it.
For my part: I really like kiting in the columbia, I love being in fresh water, and, the water warms up in the summer. There are plenty of places that aren't croweded, too, you just have to look around (and often avoid HR). Its pretty cool that they are developing into distinct sports, that's something to embrace, I think.
I'll be at the coast this Fri/Sat, doing my best in the surf, hopefully it won't be overhead...

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 479 Posts Obsessed

2'-6' hawaiian?

scott, are you trying to get more downwinder partners, or selling property? Wink

gene, as expected given our absence, the coast looks great for the weekend.

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

scottnorby · Wed Jun 11, 08 11:04 am

Kyle,
Understood. But you can pick up used surfboards -beat to sh-t--for about $75.
I ride a surfboard primarily.
One strap in front or strapless.
Gotta few collected over the years.

6'1 Liquid Force
6'3 Sauritch custom
6'4 Tony Staples swallow fish custom (weird but fun)
6'6' Wayne Lynch rounded pin epoxy (just ordered today)
8.0 Hansen custom (1971)
9'0 Epoxy Santa Cruz
9'6 Stewart

Mostly the 6'1 or 6'6 this season.

Got some other weird old boards laying around but those are on the typical menu.
Gotta have enough to share with the wife and kid.

And if the waves are just little ramps I do like to ride a twin tip.
Liquid Force 137 Recoil comp.
But I am definitely not an air guy nor wakestyle.

Jacking up my knees and the idea of getting hurt doing a trick is just something that I stopped dreaming about 2 years ago.....when I watched a guy snap his femur landing a powered kite loop in Mexico....far from a hospital.
Freaky sh-t.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2595 Posts The 503 METAL

I'm with ya that we have the goods. But even though I've put all my kiting eggs in the coastal basket, I don't like hearing our mighty Columbia referred to as "the dirty river". Confused

We get our share our fecal warnings too so don't get too high on that horse. Twisted Evil

All our coastal spots have their magic but I certainly appreciate the Northern Strip. Was recently down in Pistol. Great wind, but not much swell. At least up here you get some fun little ramps and mushers when it's small. Down there with the steep beaches it's nothing but lake and shore pound!

It's funny, someone was saying how they went to the coast to kite and it was windy and they started rigging...but then it started raining. I was like, "and.....?".
Laughing