This is pretty much my first season and really only hit the same spots over and over and havnt done a downwinder yet... Unless you count the unintensional ones resulting the dreaded walk of shame back up wind...![]()
So was wondering what is your favourite downwinder route? Where do you start and finish?
I assume you are talking about metro beaches... there are some great downwinders further afield... but as far as metro here are a few tips:
Henley to Kiteshop is a good run. 2 x jetties, usually some good flat gutters along the way and a few kickers.
Henley North Sailing club to kiteshop. 1 x jetty, again some good flat spots and kickers
Anywhere from north of grange jetty to Bower rd.
Generally the swell will get smaller as you travel north. Anything further north than bower rd is pretty flat
(also run into council restrictions). You can pretty much pick any spot and go from there, perhaps try from north of grange jetty up to bower rd carpark for a first session so you dont have to navigate jetties on your first go.
Give swimmers and crowded areas such as Henley square a wide berth on your way through, and finally, watch out for fishing lines as you go around jetties cause squid jags and kite lines dont mix........
Thanks Gibo.
I actually live in the hills so anywhere South is fine for me too.
Is about the same amount of travel time whether I head to Sellicks, Semaphore, Victor or Milang.
Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep an eye on the forums for the next organised downwinder. Figure that if I go with a few blokes who have done the run before it will make it easier to navigate and know where the finish point is.![]()
An awesome downwinder is from moana to port noarlunga if ur chasing surf, just watch out for the reef ![]()
Goolwa is another good spot - you can (4WD) drive on the beach for a 10km stretch between Goolwa and the Murray mouth.
It can be difficult to stay upwind, with the swell pushing you towards the beach, so a downwinder is a good option.