Couldn't find the wind in Tahoe...

Winter snowkiting topics and locations.
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pablitotff
Couldn't find the wind in Tahoe...

Post by pablitotff » Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:34 pm

Aaargh.
Spent all afternoon Sunday chasing wind in South Lake Area. There was supposed to be 10-20 SW all day. Went to Grass lake, no wind. Hope Valley, no wind. Caples Lake, no wind and then insane gusts.
Now, a day later, I look at the Ikite data from Sunday and see 10-20 readings all afternoon. Where the hell was that? Does anyone know?
The first time we tried to snowkite, it was great. Now, I'm discouraged. It's a whole day and a long drive to wander around with no luck. Plus, now the wife says she's not kiting again until summer. "We could've been skiing all day".

Guess I'll wait until Gabe has another demo day. Sigh.

Paul

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pipedragon
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Post by pipedragon » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:06 am

I was up there too. Not kiting, just gambling. I saw those reports too and was bummed I did not have a kite but it never hit. Then of course it was windy in Alameda too. Oh well, at least I won money in the casino!!!

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Re: Couldn't find the wind in Tahoe...

Post by KillaHz » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:43 pm

Do not dispare.

A. don't ever believe the iKite sensor for SLT. It is located at the Airport which is surrounded by mountains.
B. SW winds are the predominent wind direction but tend to be gusty down low...you will need to head to higher elevations for clean wind on SW. Red Lakes Ridge is the spot.
C. Allways have an alternative for snowkiting if you are just day tripping. Bring snow shoes...you can allways hike looking for wind and if you don't get it, just ride down the mountain.

I know it can be frustrating to drive all day and not get wind but I enjoy just working my lungs outside of the city in the clean mountain air. Sometimes you have to work for the goods. The mountains are all about getting away from the normalaties of the city life...get out of the car and go for a hike...get your blood flowing.

I am sure the local boys caught wind up at Red Lakes...We score wind up there when the forcast is 5 -10 SW so 10 -20 is a pretty sure thing.

I was in Mexico and just returned. I will be up all week and for saturday but then return. I have a video shoot in Cabarete for most of the rest of March and when I return, it's pretty much on in the bay/coast so no more demos this year.

Use some of the alternative weather forcasting links I have posted on this site to get a good idea of what 's happening.
Gabe Brown
sometimes Gary Bronson...

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Re: Couldn't find the wind in Tahoe...

Post by jjm » Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:51 am

Does the wind in the Winter/Spring generally get generated from storm activity, or are there some regular characteristics that cause wind (like the stuff in the feb kbmag page 24)?

From what I've read, it seems South Shore has more kiting than North Shore, is this because there are more people interested and a bigger scene, or more accessible areas to ride?

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Post by elli » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:58 am

Last time I was there a local dude told me that Mount Rose normally get more wind. Not sure about direction, but worth keeping in mind. I think itís the other side of the lake.

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Re: Couldn't find the wind in Tahoe...

Post by KillaHz » Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:27 am

jjm wrote:Does the wind in the Winter/Spring generally get generated from storm activity, or are there some regular characteristics that cause wind (like the stuff in the feb kbmag page 24)?

From what I've read, it seems South Shore has more kiting than North Shore, is this because there are more people interested and a bigger scene, or more accessible areas to ride?
Winter East and North winds are generally created by storm activity or nearby storm activity. SW winds happen as the default just about all the time. Sometimes they don't reach the ground but you can usually hike for them.

South Shore has more unubsructed riding spots. North shore's pretty thick with trees...there are spots to ride but not nearly as many choices/wind directions to ride on.

As to the Mags, if you are talking about Kiteboarding magazine, couldn't tell you, haven't seen it. If you are talking about The Kiteboarder page 24...that is OG (Chip Wasson) and I'm not sure what you would be refering to.
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Re: Couldn't find the wind in Tahoe...

Post by jjm » Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:39 am

KillaHz wrote:
jjm wrote: As to the Mags, if you are talking about Kiteboarding magazine, couldn't tell you, haven't seen it. If you are talking about The Kiteboarder page 24...that is OG (Chip Wasson) and I'm not sure what you would be refering to.
I was referring to the The Kiteboarder article "Weather Forecast", right next to the SMACK announcement of you joining their team. :)

pablitotff

Red lakes ridge

Post by pablitotff » Sat Mar 05, 2005 11:00 pm

Finally. Kited all afternoon on Sunday 3/5 at Grass Lake in the SW. Only one other soul to share all that real estate with. That was after the wind dropped to nothing at Hope Valley just after rigging. And that advice about always having a Plan B is a good one -- we were at Hope V. doing cross country and then the wind started blowing.

How much of a hike is Red Lakes Ridge from 88? I know where Red Lake is -- is "the ridge" on the north or south side of 88.

Somehow I don' t think you'll be thinking about Tahoe much while you're suffering the heat and sand of Cabarete...

Paul

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Re: Red lakes ridge

Post by KillaHz » Sun Mar 06, 2005 8:33 am

pablitotff wrote:Finally. Kited all afternoon on Sunday 3/5 at Grass Lake in the SW. Only one other soul to share all that real estate with. That was after the wind dropped to nothing at Hope Valley just after rigging. And that advice about always having a Plan B is a good one -- we were at Hope V. doing cross country and then the wind started blowing.

How much of a hike is Red Lakes Ridge from 88? I know where Red Lake is -- is "the ridge" on the north or south side of 88.

Somehow I don' t think you'll be thinking about Tahoe much while you're suffering the heat and sand of Cabarete...

Paul
Good to hear you got some!

Yeah, I'm kind of over the winter...it's been long and cold and wet.

I got home from Mex almost a week ago and still have not returned to Tahoe...been getting some sessions down here on the coast.

If you have a plan B for Tahoe, you really can't get skunked.

Red lakes is the North side of the hwy. If you hike from the pay parking straight up, you will be there in about 30 minutes. You just have to clear the top of the ridge that you can see from the parking lot. When you get to a place where the wind is blowing straight up thhe hill, you'll know you've made it.
Gabe Brown
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