Hi all,
I have taken a few lessons at the Gold Coast and I can water start and ride. I manage to go upwind a bit but not stay upwind all the time. I still crash my kite and myself occasionnaly. I am at the point where I think I don't need more lessons for the moment but more practice. The last couple of time I went out I was actually just practising but I had backup in case things went pear shaped. I have been thinking of going with a friend to Sandgate/Brighton as I live in Brisbane. I know it is rated as spot for beginners but I have never been there. My main concerns are the crowd and water depth. I still lack a bit of control sometimes so I need some space. And I'd like to be in water where I can still stand in case I am in trouble. So what is your advice?
Thanks.
The reason it is rated for beginners is the water depth.
Haven't been there in ages but there are jellies after northerlies, and lots of newbies. A 100m walk towards Shorncliffe or Brighton and you should have lots of space.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of room, at high tide it is tempting to launch, land and practice close to the boardwalk but this is how most of the accidents have happened.
As for the wind, in a S-SE go to Brighton, in an E-NE go to Sandgate
All the best,
Rob
Both places are good I mostly kite at Sandgate and yes gets very crowded,lots of nubees but we all started somewhere, but lots of room if you move 50 mtr left or right,lots of people willing to give a bloke a hand there.I live on the south side of Brisbane and that's 30 min drive but traffic is full on after 1 pm but I do like kiteing there ,water depth is consistent depth for a long way out so good it you need to stand but you do need to go a little deeper to practice deep water launch cause one day you will fall off in deeper water first time I did it was a little different than what I was used too .
One thing to note Marsu is tide. Mid tide at brighton would be my recommendation as you can launch and walk the kite a few hundred metres upwind and to the side away from the launch area.
Thanks guys. I have already done relaunch in deeper water, that's not too much of a problem. Getting the board back is a bit harder that's why I want to be able to stand, so I don't spend my time body dragging upwind. But I do practice body dragging before I stand up to get used to it.
go for it.
live in brisbane it's the best location for starting out.
high tide shallow for a long way out.
low tide the water still shallow just have further to walk.
wide open area you can stay clear of everyone.
Enjoy friendly crew happy to help.
Not sure why (edit) this isn't very commonly done, but as a beginner I did heaps of downwinders from brighton to sandgate or vice versa (depending on wind). I found it a fantastic way to get started as there was no pressure to stay upwind and it was generally very roomy (the area between sandgate and brighton is practically empty - I have never seen it crowded at least).
Sometimes I did it with mates and we parked a car at the end location and drove back, sometimes I just jogged (left gear, drove back and picked it up), and often some friendly soul would give me a lift back.
If you do this on low tide you also generally have a decent exit strategy if things go pear shaped (ie, float to the beach).
