We're all intermediate kiters thinking about going to New Caledonia late September / early October. I'd like to ask you guys for some tips.
I've done my homework and I know that the season starts in November/December however we can only take 10 days off in September.
Will there be any wind? What average speed? If no wind then what about the surf?
Would it be better to stay in Noumea for the whole time or to rent a car and try different spots every couple of days?
I also found out that accommodation and food are quite expensive... So are there any alternatives? Apartments maybe? Where?
I have already looked at Zephyr Tours but their first tour is only in November!
Any help would be great :)
Cheers
Hi thp,
My first post.
I moved to New Caledonia from a landlocked European nation this year. My original idea was to just try kayaking and standup paddling and that would be my watersports activities all set. (Before I was into mountain biking, indoor rock climbing and snowboarding.)
However, I've given up this idea as it's really very windy here! I get to standup paddle at the main watersports beach (Anse Vata) about once every 2 weeks, and right now it's in the "off-season" for wind. (OK, I could SUP more if I went out at 8am instead of going to work, but there you go...)
So, the reason I'm on Seabreeze this evening is part of my research/preparation for giving kitesurfing lessons a go in September. Obviously I'm not a wind- or kitesurfer (yet) and I haven't lived here long, but I reckon you'd have to be a good chance to be able to ride over here during the period you're looking to visit. No guarantees of course! But I reckon that over the last 4 months of the off-season here, I've seen wind- and kitesurfers out on the water on average 4-5 days a week. Usually 12-20 knots.
I'd split my time between Noumea (there are 2 main spots - one right at Noumea in deeper water for intermediate and above, and one a 15 minute water taxi ride over in a lagoon (Ilot Maitre) - and another open just in the off-season I think, Ilot Goeland) and Poe, which is 1.5 hours drive north. Accom would be cheaper up there. Not sure how to stay cheap in Noumea, but it's a small town and you don't have to stay right at the beach if you find something cheap elsewhere.
Food is cheap if you hit the bakeries. Good sandwiches.
That said, there are probably better places in the Pacific to go in September, but I am even more ignorant of that. :-)
Hope this helps!
Select to expand quotethp said..
We're all intermediate kiters thinking about going to New Caledonia late September / early October. I'd like to ask you guys for some tips.
I've done my homework and I know that the season starts in November/December however we can only take 10 days off in September.
Will there be any wind? What average speed? If no wind then what about the surf?
Would it be better to stay in Noumea for the whole time or to rent a car and try different spots every couple of days?
I also found out that accommodation and food are quite expensive... So are there any alternatives? Apartments maybe? Where?
I have already looked at Zephyr Tours but their first tour is only in November!
Any help would be great :)
Cheers
great spot in early september totally recommend going at this time any later isn't much better. have fun 
Select to expand quoteflyingcab said..thp said..
We're all intermediate kiters thinking about going to New Caledonia late September / early October. I'd like to ask you guys for some tips.
I've done my homework and I know that the season starts in November/December however we can only take 10 days off in September.
Will there be any wind? What average speed? If no wind then what about the surf?
Would it be better to stay in Noumea for the whole time or to rent a car and try different spots every couple of days?
I also found out that accommodation and food are quite expensive... So are there any alternatives? Apartments maybe? Where?
I have already looked at Zephyr Tours but their first tour is only in November!
Any help would be great :)
Cheers
great spot in early september totally recommend going at this time any later isn't much better. have fun
CSelect to expand quotetantrumizer said..
Hi thp,
My first post.
I moved to New Caledonia from a landlocked European nation this year. My original idea was to just try kayaking and standup paddling and that would be my watersports activities all set. (Before I was into mountain biking, indoor rock climbing and snowboarding.)
However, I've given up this idea as it's really very windy here! I get to standup paddle at the main watersports beach (Anse Vata) about once every 2 weeks, and right now it's in the "off-season" for wind. (OK, I could SUP more if I went out at 8am instead of going to work, but there you go...)
So, the reason I'm on Seabreeze this evening is part of my research/preparation for giving kitesurfing lessons a go in September. Obviously I'm not a wind- or kitesurfer (yet) and I haven't lived here long, but I reckon you'd have to be a good chance to be able to ride over here during the period you're looking to visit. No guarantees of course! But I reckon that over the last 4 months of the off-season here, I've seen wind- and kitesurfers out on the water on average 4-5 days a week. Usually 12-20 knots.
I'd split my time between Noumea (there are 2 main spots - one right at Noumea in deeper water for intermediate and above, and one a 15 minute water taxi ride over in a lagoon (Ilot Maitre) - and another open just in the off-season I think, Ilot Goeland) and Poe, which is 1.5 hours drive north. Accom would be cheaper up there. Not sure how to stay cheap in Noumea, but it's a small town and you don't have to stay right at the beach if you find something cheap elsewhere.
Food is cheap if you hit the bakeries. Good sandwiches.
That said, there are probably better places in the Pacific to go in September, but I am even more ignorant of that. :-)
Hope this helps!Select to expand quotetantrumizer said..
Hi thp,
My first post.
I moved to New Caledonia from a landlocked European nation this year. My original idea was to just try kayaking and standup paddling and that would be my watersports activities all set. (Before I was into mountain biking, indoor rock climbing and snowboarding.)
However, I've given up this idea as it's really very windy here! I get to standup paddle at the main watersports beach (Anse Vata) about once every 2 weeks, and right now it's in the "off-season" for wind. (OK, I could SUP more if I went out at 8am instead of going to work, but there you go...)
So, the reason I'm on Seabreeze this evening is part of my research/preparation for giving kitesurfing lessons a go in September. Obviously I'm not a wind- or kitesurfer (yet) and I haven't lived here long, but I reckon you'd have to be a good chance to be able to ride over here during the period you're looking to visit. No guarantees of course! But I reckon that over the last 4 months of the off-season here, I've seen wind- and kitesurfers out on the water on average 4-5 days a week. Usually 12-20 knots.
I'd split my time between Noumea (there are 2 main spots - one right at Noumea in deeper water for intermediate and above, and one a 15 minute water taxi ride over in a lagoon (Ilot Maitre) - and another open just in the off-season I think, Ilot Goeland) and Poe, which is 1.5 hours drive north. Accom would be cheaper up there. Not sure how to stay cheap in Noumea, but it's a small town and you don't have to stay right at the beach if you find something cheap elsewhere.
Food is cheap if you hit the bakeries. Good sandwiches.
That said, there are probably better places in the Pacific to go in September, but I am even more ignorant of that. :-)
Hope this helps!
Thanks for your help!
I don't actually mind staying a few blocks away from the beach.
And I'd say you should definitely give kitesurfing a go. But be prepared... you'll get hooked and you'll end up spending all of your money in kite gear :)
Select to expand quotethp said..
Thanks for your help!
I don't actually mind staying a few blocks away from the beach.
And I'd say you should definitely give kitesurfing a go. But be prepared... you'll get hooked and you'll end up spending all of your money in kite gear :)
Lessons commence in September. Well, I managed to reach satiation point with my last expensive hobby (mountain bikes), so this will be a good progression.
Hope it works out for you in New Caledonia! Today they forecast 17 knots and it was almost dead still. I'm not used to the forecast being wrong, so obviously it can happen.
Select to expand quotetantrumizer said..
However, I've given up this idea as it's really very windy here! I get to standup paddle at the main watersports beach (Anse Vata) about once every 2 weeks, and right now it's in the "off-season" for wind. (OK, I could SUP more if I went out at 8am instead of going to work, but there you go...)
Well, since I wrote this post we're in the middle of a 4-week no-wind spell here in New Caledonia! I don't think I'd noticed more than one 4-day windless spell since I moved here in March, so now I know it can happen. :-(
Also rainy.
But I'm sure things will have improved by late September. 
