Hey all.
usually ride on the coast but thinkin of checking out the river after work on friday (wind permitting).
Had a quick look at the waksa site. Just wandering of the pro's and con's of Melville and pelican point. So any info on kiteing spots on the Swan would be muchly appreciated.
Best spots, cleanist wind, best wind directions, local rules or etiquette etc.
Thanks..
It's always a bit gustier and a bit weaker on the river. Melville is pretty nice and flat though. Just remember to observe the local rules that are outlined on the WAKSA site. It's a place that we could lose access to very easily. There are lots of million dollar homes right accross the street from a very narrow beach.
Just walk well out into the water to launch and don't try to self launch or land. It's really shallow a long way out so take care when you do a turn or jump less than 50m from shore. There are usally lesson going on too. Keep well clear of the students with yellow helmets just as a courtesy.
Have fun.
melville is good, especially good for beginners coz there plenty of room to fk up and not end up on the road (cross on shore with a sou wester), that being said, quite often kites and human teabags being slung through the lineup. wind gets a bit gusty but fun, observe the local rules as usual, do not enter the windsurfers area launch from in the water a bit as opposed to across/above the road etc..will be pretty straight forward when ya get there.
pelican, also good but usually kinda straight onshore, less gusty than melville, but still gusty river material, not alot of room to move, pretty crowded with more than 10 blokes out. Good for intermediate or above, again,watch what kiters are doing when ya get there, its common sense, stay out of sanctuary, stay away from windsurfers, that leaves you a strip about 50m wide, and 300m long.
off the point at pelican is good, bit rougher, but better wind, and avoid the hero's doing douche rolls for thier grandma groupies right in front of launch and land area.
these spots are easy to suss out, observe where everyone else is riding and go there, ask if you have to just pls dont rock up and do what you want where you want or someone will let u know about it.
most important, have fun!
also at melville there are yellow buoys about 50metres off shore . Don't come any closer to the beach unless you are launching or landing .
That middle bouy needs to be moved back out a bit - its been dragged in a few times now un intentionally - not sure if WAKSA will fix or dept transport
Stinky - dont be afraid to go and mention the bouys to them - most people ive pointed them out to had no idea thats what they were there for. Spoke to one bloke and his mate about it the other week, they werent aware.
And there are HEAPS of new faces down there this year
Yeah mate ill be at that litle dog beach this weekend. Both mornings hopefully. I tried to let a few guys know bout the bouys but its too hard. I hate sounding like im telling them off. But definately lots more people down there even at 2.30 in the arbo. i would hate to lose this spot have been kiting there 4 years and flew stunt kites at the rugby club (used to be YMCA) since i was a kid.
Thanks for the info guys. Seems like theres more room at Melville then, i'll give it a go.
Will be weird kiteing in flat water =)
Hm, looking at the forcast for friday. SE! Anywere good on the river in that direction? point walter?
As I said crowded, jellyfish, crap wind...why when you have one of the best coastlines in the world to kite!
Eppo - trying to protect your little spot are you???
The Swan River is a great place to kite, if you can get down there early enough in the day like 2.30pm till about 430pm when the conditions are best, not ideal but the best that if can offer. 19-24 knots yesterday at that time according to the graphs - PUUURFECT!!!
It has its own appeal for being super shallow a fair way out (great for learning - new rider or people trying new tricks) and is within 6-8kms of Perth's CBD! How many people get the luxury of leaving the office and being down there and on the water within 30mins switching your computer off??, that to me is heavenly!! Gusty or not. Its even easliy rideable on a bike if you dont have wheels.
Observe the rules of launching and the yellow bouys and enjoy!
South earterly winds most people will agree are more gusty than other directions, and almost not worth bothering with.
Talkin of easterlys.
Whats the go with point walter? Thinking about the weekend now. Would it be fine there with sat's SE winds? Seems like it would looking at google maps =/
Cant find any info on the WAKSA location guide. What winds are ok there?
Pt walter works on ESE,E,ENE and NE but SE is cross off shore. Would also like to say that today was ripping in the river had a ball and was actually quite flat. (low tide)
