Waddell Creek Guidelines
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:09 am
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Waddell Creek Guidelines
It's time to play in the waves!!!!
As more people in the SF Bay area move from beginner to advanced levels, these are the thoughts that many kiters will have this year. This write up is intended to educate.† As one outsider who has spent some time at this spot, I wanted to share some ideas on how to preserve this special/killer kiting spot. What follows is just one mans observations and experiences, your mileage may vary ;-)
Where is Waddell? Some basic information
If you have to ask..just kidding. It is across the street from Big Basin Redwood Park. About 12 miles N. of Santa Cruz. The parking lot is dirt, with a nice size sand beach.† The amount of sand changes with seasons and tides.
Waddell is a long sandy beach, with rocks in the impact zone on the right side of the beach. On low tide, you can see the rocks. On higher tides, you gotta know where they are or you will pay some dues. Big airs on the inside of the surf zone are not recommended to people who donít know where the rocks are.
This is a popular beach with hikers, windsurfers (the pole people), surfers, sharks, seals and tourists. Please understand that we are just one of the many users of this incredible resource. As a matter of fact, we are one of the ìnewerî users and should show respect for the ones who have been playing here longer. When launching on days when the wind is light and there are other beach users ñ be careful where you launch. Always check for little kids running around who donít know much about kites. When self launching, make sure no family is walking towards your set up.basic stuff, but I've seen some really stupid stuff (leaving a kite ready for self launch while running to the car to get a drink of water)..
When you are not using your stuff, roll up your lines, and stack your kites. Make sure to put sand on the kites: it blows hard and while you are getting warm in your car, it sure would suck to see that nice new kite tumbling down the beach.
Donít ride w/a board leash at Waddell. If you canít body drag back to your board, you have no business riding here. A board attached to you while waves are working you over is nothing but problems/accidents waiting to happen. Speaking of body dragging, think about this long and hard: do you want to be trolling in the red triangle??? Donít go for big tricks on the outside.
NOTE: There have been no documented kite accidents at Waddell. This has kept access from the state of CA folks a non-issue. Please do all that you can to keep it that way!!! We need no DATA!!!!!
Basic parking lot etiquette. Donít show off your rides accelerating by speeding up in the lot: there is enough dust from the natural wind. Park in an efficient manner, so that your bros can have a quick place to park while experiencing major ìsession jonesî. Park facing the water or w/your tailgate to the water.† DO NOT PARALLEL PARK to get a better view: you will be consuming multiple spots and withdrawing from your karma account.
Basic skills required to kite @ Waddell
Mobe with blind landing + handlepasses ñ just kidding.†
You must be proficient at jumping both ways, strong upwind skills, self-landing and launching, good kite selection and basic knowledge of waves.† You should be a very good swimmer.† You should be at least a strong intermediate kiter.† If the wind dies, you will need to self land downwind and walk back to the main beach.† Donít go past the point where the wind meter sits ñ no good landings are to be had there.†
Wind and Water
Be aware that you are entering the food chain when you enter the water at Waddell. This is the south apex of the Red Triangle.† Do a google search is you think Iím making it up.
You are not the biggest creature nor have the sharpest teeth.† The water is always cold, and you need a 4/3 suite at the minÖ.some days, when itís been flowing for weeks and the upwelling is going, your feet and hangs get numb after a few hours of kiting.† Many people wear hoods to help conserve body heat.
The beach is just downwind of Ano Nuevo ñ a major seal colony.† Itís also known as the ìlunch counterî due to deep-water shelf which sharks love.† Partially eaten seal carcasses have washed up on the beach.
The wind goes here on thermals ñ when there is a fog bank ñ on NW North Pacific High caused winds, clearing winds and storm SE winds.† It almost always has some energy coming through.† If you donít have small kites ñ 4/6/8 meter ñ donít waste gas.† A 10m kite is considered large at Waddell.†
Because the air is cooler and denser, the wind has more punch on the coast.† This means that when a sensor is reading 20, you will most likely be lit on a 8m kite.† I am 210#, and 8m is my main kite at Waddell.† Iíve had many days on my 6m kite.† Before you toss up a big kite ñ see what others are riding.
People come here to ride waves.† If you just want to do freestyle and go high on your jumps, please find another spot to play.† Showing off for your friends in the impact zone ñ ìhey bro, check out my new kite loops on this lit 10m kiteî is not a good idea.† More on wave rules later.
The waves here are big, fast and have a lot of punch.† While the bottom is mostly sand, going over the falls will put sand down your wetsuit and into your ears .† The white water has a lot of energy, and you better have solid jumping skills to clear itÖ..or your body will pay the priceÖyou donít want your doctor telling you that you canít kite resto of the season due to blown knees/ankle/hip??? Do you???ÖSeasons alter the size and speed of waves.
Letís break it down by season.
Winter ñ raging storms with massive swells and big south/se winds.† Only extremely experienced people should venture out.† You will most likely have the water all to yourself, except for the big fish ;-)† Be proficient in self launch/landing.† Donít go out further then you can swim in.
Spring and fall ñ the winds cranking ñ 4/6/8 meter kites are common ñ and the waves have a lot of punch to them.† Ask the people whose ribs have been broken by the powerful waves.† The beach works on all direction swells ñ NW to Sweet South swells.† Fall is especially busy time for the landlord† - aka whitey.
Summer ñ the winds are howling and the waves have mellowed out a bit.† South swells from South Hemi storms still come through and make the place epic wave riding.† This is the season when a lot of new people are on the water.† This is a good lead in to wave rules.
Wave rules
Iíve made a lot of the following mistakes myself and have been appropriately schooled.† Please take the following seriously and you will have fun here.† Before you hit the water, take a few minutes to watch how people are riding ñ you can learn a lot by watching (why do you think porn is so popular??)
Basic kiting common sense: people riding waves are trying to get upwind to line up for the next wave.† When you are approaching someone, person upwind keeps kite high, person downwind keeps it low.† Donít go out lit/overpowered and ride with your kite near the water at all time: you will use way too much real estate and get vibed.† If you canít kite w/your kite 45 degrees off the water, you are on the wrong size kite. If you are having a hard time staying on the water w/your kite overhead, you picked the wrong size kite.† When you ride waves, your kite will feel 1 size bigger then it actually is ñ apparent wind caused by wave speed is one of the reasons.
Person who is riding the wave has right of way.† If you are going out, you have to give right of way to kiter going down the line.† Turn around and go back to beach until they have finished destroying the wave ;-)
Person upwind of you has the right of way to the wave.† People who are more qualified, and can rip the wave, have the right to good waves over rookies.† Trust me on this one, you will earn much karma by giving waves to the shredders.
First person on the wave has the right of way.† Before you jibe onto a wave, check to make sure that someone is not lining up for it from the outside.
If you get on the same wave as someone else, my advice is let have the wave and get out of the way.† You will earn major karma points for this.† If someone waves you, this means they are giving you the wave, but you better rip that mother, or you will not get any more waves from that person.
Waddell has multiple peaks ñ places were the wave breaks.† Leave the peak in front of the parking lot to the experienced local people.† Go either upwind or downwind.† Itís a big beach.† Once you have paid your dues, can ride in a line up of many people, know how to stay out of the way, know the names of ? the people on the water, then you may consider riding the main peak.
If you came here to do freestlye, donít do it in the surf zone.† Go away from the waves, or way upwind/downwind.† If you are going to try new moves off wave faces ñ like kite loops which use up a lot of space when blown ñ check to see that you have lots of room.
Remember that there is a core group of locals who have played in these waters for many years ñ surfing and windsurfing.† This is their backyard and you are a visitor.† Act with respect and be humble.† On weekends, when it gets crowded, the locals still like to play, but their waves seem to have more people on them who show no respect to the rules.† When you show up, they can tell that you are an outsider.†
If you show respect and donít get in the way, you will have fun.† A cooler full of cold beers to share after the session is also a good idea ;-)† If new people were coming to your spot how would you like them to behave??†
Have fun.† Good winds and waves, Zeev.
Contributed by Zeev Gur, 2004
San Francisco Bay Area kiteboarding safety, access, information, reviews, forums, and classifieds.
Waddell Creek Guidelines
It's time to play in the waves!!!!
As more people in the SF Bay area move from beginner to advanced levels, these are the thoughts that many kiters will have this year. This write up is intended to educate.† As one outsider who has spent some time at this spot, I wanted to share some ideas on how to preserve this special/killer kiting spot. What follows is just one mans observations and experiences, your mileage may vary ;-)
Where is Waddell? Some basic information
If you have to ask..just kidding. It is across the street from Big Basin Redwood Park. About 12 miles N. of Santa Cruz. The parking lot is dirt, with a nice size sand beach.† The amount of sand changes with seasons and tides.
Waddell is a long sandy beach, with rocks in the impact zone on the right side of the beach. On low tide, you can see the rocks. On higher tides, you gotta know where they are or you will pay some dues. Big airs on the inside of the surf zone are not recommended to people who donít know where the rocks are.
This is a popular beach with hikers, windsurfers (the pole people), surfers, sharks, seals and tourists. Please understand that we are just one of the many users of this incredible resource. As a matter of fact, we are one of the ìnewerî users and should show respect for the ones who have been playing here longer. When launching on days when the wind is light and there are other beach users ñ be careful where you launch. Always check for little kids running around who donít know much about kites. When self launching, make sure no family is walking towards your set up.basic stuff, but I've seen some really stupid stuff (leaving a kite ready for self launch while running to the car to get a drink of water)..
When you are not using your stuff, roll up your lines, and stack your kites. Make sure to put sand on the kites: it blows hard and while you are getting warm in your car, it sure would suck to see that nice new kite tumbling down the beach.
Donít ride w/a board leash at Waddell. If you canít body drag back to your board, you have no business riding here. A board attached to you while waves are working you over is nothing but problems/accidents waiting to happen. Speaking of body dragging, think about this long and hard: do you want to be trolling in the red triangle??? Donít go for big tricks on the outside.
NOTE: There have been no documented kite accidents at Waddell. This has kept access from the state of CA folks a non-issue. Please do all that you can to keep it that way!!! We need no DATA!!!!!
Basic parking lot etiquette. Donít show off your rides accelerating by speeding up in the lot: there is enough dust from the natural wind. Park in an efficient manner, so that your bros can have a quick place to park while experiencing major ìsession jonesî. Park facing the water or w/your tailgate to the water.† DO NOT PARALLEL PARK to get a better view: you will be consuming multiple spots and withdrawing from your karma account.
Basic skills required to kite @ Waddell
Mobe with blind landing + handlepasses ñ just kidding.†
You must be proficient at jumping both ways, strong upwind skills, self-landing and launching, good kite selection and basic knowledge of waves.† You should be a very good swimmer.† You should be at least a strong intermediate kiter.† If the wind dies, you will need to self land downwind and walk back to the main beach.† Donít go past the point where the wind meter sits ñ no good landings are to be had there.†
Wind and Water
Be aware that you are entering the food chain when you enter the water at Waddell. This is the south apex of the Red Triangle.† Do a google search is you think Iím making it up.
You are not the biggest creature nor have the sharpest teeth.† The water is always cold, and you need a 4/3 suite at the minÖ.some days, when itís been flowing for weeks and the upwelling is going, your feet and hangs get numb after a few hours of kiting.† Many people wear hoods to help conserve body heat.
The beach is just downwind of Ano Nuevo ñ a major seal colony.† Itís also known as the ìlunch counterî due to deep-water shelf which sharks love.† Partially eaten seal carcasses have washed up on the beach.
The wind goes here on thermals ñ when there is a fog bank ñ on NW North Pacific High caused winds, clearing winds and storm SE winds.† It almost always has some energy coming through.† If you donít have small kites ñ 4/6/8 meter ñ donít waste gas.† A 10m kite is considered large at Waddell.†
Because the air is cooler and denser, the wind has more punch on the coast.† This means that when a sensor is reading 20, you will most likely be lit on a 8m kite.† I am 210#, and 8m is my main kite at Waddell.† Iíve had many days on my 6m kite.† Before you toss up a big kite ñ see what others are riding.
People come here to ride waves.† If you just want to do freestyle and go high on your jumps, please find another spot to play.† Showing off for your friends in the impact zone ñ ìhey bro, check out my new kite loops on this lit 10m kiteî is not a good idea.† More on wave rules later.
The waves here are big, fast and have a lot of punch.† While the bottom is mostly sand, going over the falls will put sand down your wetsuit and into your ears .† The white water has a lot of energy, and you better have solid jumping skills to clear itÖ..or your body will pay the priceÖyou donít want your doctor telling you that you canít kite resto of the season due to blown knees/ankle/hip??? Do you???ÖSeasons alter the size and speed of waves.
Letís break it down by season.
Winter ñ raging storms with massive swells and big south/se winds.† Only extremely experienced people should venture out.† You will most likely have the water all to yourself, except for the big fish ;-)† Be proficient in self launch/landing.† Donít go out further then you can swim in.
Spring and fall ñ the winds cranking ñ 4/6/8 meter kites are common ñ and the waves have a lot of punch to them.† Ask the people whose ribs have been broken by the powerful waves.† The beach works on all direction swells ñ NW to Sweet South swells.† Fall is especially busy time for the landlord† - aka whitey.
Summer ñ the winds are howling and the waves have mellowed out a bit.† South swells from South Hemi storms still come through and make the place epic wave riding.† This is the season when a lot of new people are on the water.† This is a good lead in to wave rules.
Wave rules
Iíve made a lot of the following mistakes myself and have been appropriately schooled.† Please take the following seriously and you will have fun here.† Before you hit the water, take a few minutes to watch how people are riding ñ you can learn a lot by watching (why do you think porn is so popular??)
Basic kiting common sense: people riding waves are trying to get upwind to line up for the next wave.† When you are approaching someone, person upwind keeps kite high, person downwind keeps it low.† Donít go out lit/overpowered and ride with your kite near the water at all time: you will use way too much real estate and get vibed.† If you canít kite w/your kite 45 degrees off the water, you are on the wrong size kite. If you are having a hard time staying on the water w/your kite overhead, you picked the wrong size kite.† When you ride waves, your kite will feel 1 size bigger then it actually is ñ apparent wind caused by wave speed is one of the reasons.
Person who is riding the wave has right of way.† If you are going out, you have to give right of way to kiter going down the line.† Turn around and go back to beach until they have finished destroying the wave ;-)
Person upwind of you has the right of way to the wave.† People who are more qualified, and can rip the wave, have the right to good waves over rookies.† Trust me on this one, you will earn much karma by giving waves to the shredders.
First person on the wave has the right of way.† Before you jibe onto a wave, check to make sure that someone is not lining up for it from the outside.
If you get on the same wave as someone else, my advice is let have the wave and get out of the way.† You will earn major karma points for this.† If someone waves you, this means they are giving you the wave, but you better rip that mother, or you will not get any more waves from that person.
Waddell has multiple peaks ñ places were the wave breaks.† Leave the peak in front of the parking lot to the experienced local people.† Go either upwind or downwind.† Itís a big beach.† Once you have paid your dues, can ride in a line up of many people, know how to stay out of the way, know the names of ? the people on the water, then you may consider riding the main peak.
If you came here to do freestlye, donít do it in the surf zone.† Go away from the waves, or way upwind/downwind.† If you are going to try new moves off wave faces ñ like kite loops which use up a lot of space when blown ñ check to see that you have lots of room.
Remember that there is a core group of locals who have played in these waters for many years ñ surfing and windsurfing.† This is their backyard and you are a visitor.† Act with respect and be humble.† On weekends, when it gets crowded, the locals still like to play, but their waves seem to have more people on them who show no respect to the rules.† When you show up, they can tell that you are an outsider.†
If you show respect and donít get in the way, you will have fun.† A cooler full of cold beers to share after the session is also a good idea ;-)† If new people were coming to your spot how would you like them to behave??†
Have fun.† Good winds and waves, Zeev.
Contributed by Zeev Gur, 2004