powerzone - 19-6-2007 at 09:45 AM
pablo / snowbird / others...
where do you guys fly land kites in BC? landboarding? bugging?
i still wanna come up and kite with y'all, but don't know where i'm going.
Bladerunner - 19-6-2007 at 02:04 PM
Low tide ( below10ft ) allows us miles of room to run at 72nd.( mud bay ) Same launch as the water folks but on the opposite tides. On a good day you
can do both. Take the Tsawassen Ferrie exit and turn south on Ladner trunk road then right on 72nd at the west end of 72nd is a dike. Heaven is
beyond. The sand is semi-hard pack. Great for the buggies do-able on ATB. It's not far from the boarder.
Gary Point is about the best / most popular park. Take Steveston highway west off the main highway. At the very end is 7th. turn left and G.P. park is
at the end of the street to the right. Both of these locations work with all wind directions.
I ride in Vanier Park after work because it's close. It's small and hardly worth the drive. It only works on W. N.W. winds.
We are exploring the Nexan lands in Squamish for the Thermal winds it offers in the summer. VERY windy there. Another good place to double dip, riding
water and land the same day.
Give a heads up and I'll do my best to meet up with you !
Pablo - 19-6-2007 at 05:16 PM
Yeah, Garry Point is the best bet for grass, 72nd is hit and miss, some days it's fairly dry with water hazards everywhere, other days it gets
hardpacked more like Seaside. I've ridden it on a board when it's nice and dry and it's firm enough that the wheels don't sink in at all.
I've also been digging around Squamish, thermal winds, 20-25knots all summer long if it's somewhat sunny. Nexan lands are a little tight, but 1/2
paved, 1/2 gravel and it has the same thermal winds as Squamish, 5 min drive from the Squamish Spit, one of the kitesurf hotspots in North America. If
you surf it's a must hit. There's also a couple schools in Squamish with some fair sized feilds. But I'd have to fly them before recommending them,
could be gusty nasty wind, could be smooth. Gotta really try them for myself.
We'll also be at Seaside for the July long weekend.
powerzone - 20-6-2007 at 09:45 AM
COOL thanx guys !!
what are the best days to venture up north? Summer NW thermals?
when does wind turn on during the day? i assume its like down here it comes and goes without prediction and if it is ON you'd better get it while its
around.
Bladerunner - 20-6-2007 at 04:07 PM
You can be sure of company on weekends and most windy weekday afternoons at Gary Point. Most wind directions work for G.P. and 72nd but South is
usually the cleanest. Not many folks get out during work hours ( as compaired to the surf bums ) . In summer often the best winds are in the morning
as the valley warms up but there are no reliable thermals until you hit Squamish. We usually post on Skypilot if we are heading to 72nd. Summer is
pretty hit and miss. I check the Vancouver Airport and sands head for wind readings as it's in between.
For thermals Squamish Spit is very reliable. If it is sunny in Whister it's blowing in Squamish. The Nexan lands are the best we have found around
there, Pab's is still searching. The Spit of course is always worth a visit. They have just done upgrades to improve the launch.