Just wondering if anyone kites any of the local lakes around Canberra.
Have been told it's normally too gusty.
It's rare, but it has been done on Lake Burley Griffin. The problem is not so much the gusts, but more the trees around the foreshore making launching and landing hazardous.
If the wind is from the east or south, LBG's East Basin would be the place with the most open aspect.
yep there are quite a few guys who kite there regularly. I see a guy riding BEST kites out there all the time. I have yet to give it a go cause iam a wimp, but will definitely be giving it a go when i get the balls hahaha.
Where are you based in canberra??? what is your skill level??
LBG definitely seems kitable. But as bristol said launching and landing areas are scarce, I think drift launching, and landing your kite on the water are necessary skills to have here. Also I think you really need to pick your day carefully, In my limited experience of canberra, there is no shortage of wind(infact I reckon it has more wind than the coast!) but mostly it is quite gusty and up and down. I think big board/smaller kite combo may be the best option.
Select to expand quoteBristol said..
If the wind is from the east or south, LBG's East Basin would be the place with the most open aspect.
That is handy advice.
Since the predominant wind direction is w-nw where do you suggest for this direction?yarralumla bay?
someone used to tell me east basin was actually best in a SW. Yarralumla bay has nice amounts of wind in a westerly but its the gustiest part of the lake (5 to 25knots was the usual). From what i remember the spot to launch and land near the boathouse restaurant was pretty clear, can be sharp rocks on the bottom though.
Select to expand quotebennie said..
. . . Since the predominant wind direction is w-nw where do you suggest for this direction? Yarralumla bay?
I am not a kiter, merely a sailboarder. Observationally, Yarralumla Bay seems to be hopeless for launching - too many threatening trees near the edges of the lake. A couple of years ago, I did help a kiting mate launch in a NW from the point to the west of Yarralumla Bay. He really struggled to get the kite into clean air.
Coastflyer's link, posted in 2008, shows photos of kiting on East Basin in a n-nw. I think that's the only realistic place to kite on LBG for any wind direction. It's not a bad place to windsurf, too. 
I think I will just have to give it a go next time it's blowing,
Maxiy I'm in belconnen, skill level well been kiting for a few years, I can only do jumps, back rolls, like riding in waves.etc.
Bennie I came back from the coast the other day as there was only 12 kts. Get to Canberra and it was blowing 20 plus, made me think surely LBG can be done.
Brendont
Well iam in Gilmore, i have 2 mates who i kite with down the coast, me and one of my mates are the upper end of beginner (cant do jumps, backrolls or ride in waves hahahaha) so you sound like you know your stuff. my other mate is just a beginner, but we all would be keep to have a kite in LBG, shoot me a PM if you decide to give it a go, i would be keen to join.
Hey Peeps!
Im the dude withe Best kites. Im out on the lake most of the time if its windy. Ive made a face book page and it has a google map of the spots I launch from.
If you need lessons I have my IKO instructors licence so just post me a message on FB.www.facebook.com/canberrakiteboarding
Cheers,
Guy.
