I live in Ohio near a few decently sized inland lakes, and was wondering if anyone here has any experience flying on lakes?

I understand that rigging is difficult without a beach, and that trees and hills are a hinderance to constant wind, but I would also like to know what you guys think a large enough area to kite board in is?

Word,

Mike

How big is decently sized? Post a reference link on google maps to help assess the situation.

Lake mac in ogalala nebraska is big enough... You can google that... Im eyeballing a lake around here that has no beaches to speak of, but its like 1 mile wide and upwards of 3 miles long (if you could follow it back)

My soccer field is 300yards by 200yards.... Anything bigger is an improvement in my book

I've been out on Atwood and Leesville a lot, and the wind is actually pretty constant for how many trees are around the perimeter. I know its not a ton of space, but I think its enough. I see people windsurfing on Atwood a lot.

There's a section of Leesville with a good 1 mile by .4 mile area...

Nimisila is apparently where people kite surf and wind surf around here, but I've never been.

Atwood: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=atwood+lake,+ohio&hl=en&am...

Leesville: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=atwood+lake,+ohio&hl=en&am...

Nimisila: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Clendening+Lake&hl=en&...

I know this isn't what you want to hear but personally I'd say forget about kitesurfing there. The wind will be just too gusty and shifty for anyone but a very skilled kite flier. I've kited Lake Erie and even there it's very gusty/shifty/crappy. I've also sailed (windsurfed) a number of lakes up in N Ohio. There's a world of difference between windsurfing and kitesurfing. If you don't want to travel, I'd say get a windsurfer. If you're willing to travel, I'd say go to Lake Erie or here to the Outer Banks. I'm guessing that you're about 9 or 10 hours from the Banks so a weekend would be do-able. We spent a summer up in Cleveland and drove to the Banks every couple of weeks. It was well worth the drive IMO.

As for "how small is big enough". One thing you really need in order to kitesurf safely is -room- and lots of it. Windsurfing can be done in much tighter spaces than kitesurfing. Again, my recommendation would be come down to the banks to learn, drive up to Lake Erie and back to the Banks as often as you can.

I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but I'd hate for you to go through a lot of money and effort only to be frustrated (or worse, injured).

I forgot to mention Berlin Lake:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=berlin+lake,+ohio&ll=41.01...

bigkahuna,

Although it wasn't what I wanted to hear, I appreciate your honest opinion/advice. I definitely plan on making trips up to Erie - there's a fairly large kite boarding scene at a few of the beaches up there.

Although I'm sure the winds will be gusty and it will be tough and frustrating, I will still attempt to fly on Leesville. Just the though of spending a weekend down at my rents cottage, waking up every morning and just walking down to the lake to kite surf excites me tremendously. It may not work out which is fine, but if it does I'll be a happy camper.

Thanks again,

Mike

I would definitely head to Hatteras for a lesson or two. It'll be thousands of times easier to learn there than any inland lake. Kiting on a lake poses many challenges, you'll need to be a pretty darn good kiter to be able to overcome those obstacles.