N.W. WIND

[g00mbs]

Anybody try an Alameda to 3rd down winder? :)

Someone might of, but it might not have been intentional. There was a boat and helicopter searching around the San Mateo bridge today around 4pm. There was also a person in a large white truck, didn't see any markings on it, asking if there was a "green kiter" that came ashore. Everyone that went out from the lower launch at 3rd returned. If someone was lost out there today, I hope they made it home safe and sound.

[le noun]

TP was nutso today. I need some kite buddies onsite to tell me not to take out my 10M when its gusting 40....

Same thing happened to me but at crissy .

[le noun]

Today! Tp is on and cranking!

The thought of kites crossing the I80 on a regular day at Berkeley or TP with the wind blowing from the west always has me shivering.
I can't imagine the disaster of one crossing the bay bridge's toll on a north wind day...

Also, I'm curious of how hefty of a ticket it would be to disrupt traffic because of your kite?
I can't imagine it being free (and I'm not even talking about a car accident, I'm just talking about backing up the freeway for a few miles). Does anybody has any idea?

[KGB Kiteboarding]

Today! Tp is on and cranking!

The thought of kites crossing the I80 on a regular day at Berkeley or TP with the wind blowing from the west always has me shivering.
I can't imagine the disaster of one crossing the bay bridge's toll on a north wind day...

Also, I'm curious of how hefty of a ticket it would be to disrupt traffic because of your kite?
I can't imagine it being free (and I'm not even talking about a car accident, I'm just talking about backing up the freeway for a few miles). Does anybody has any idea?

Le Noun I understand your safety concerns about this new spot especially on different than normal wind directions. That's why we typically check with the locals before going out at any "new to us" spot in the world...right? We, as a local community, should be promoting the smart use of safe spots and TP is 100% safe for safety minded users. With that said if any kiters witness someone being unsafe (ignoring obvious hazards)it is our responsibility to make them aware of their possibly dangerous behavior..hell I have had the talking to myself back in the day, and am now very appreciative for it although at the time I was a bit indignant.

I can assure you that the situation you describe above has never been an issue during the summer on West, South & SW winds take any stray kites well away from freeway and into the adjacent marsh lands. Yes even West winds! To date we have seen kites tumble into the marsh land multiple times and not ever once even come close to the service road much less the freeway. Usually the tumble 2-3 times the flop to rest. We have yet to see any issue like you describe in almost 5 years of regular use (almost daily in the summer)! Unlike PT emery which is a spot wherein the scenario you describe has actually almost happened just last year, with the freeway actually directly downwind!

As for North wind days ...if kiters safely walk upwind and rig on the north end of the beach then kite upwind and well away from any hazards to the south, such as rocks, fences, trees, powerlines and then finally the roadway there should be plenty of real estate to avoid any issues! Also chances are that most are kiting here on days wherein standing up is a possibility in the event of a kitemare requiring the usage of the ditch switch (to assist in recovery of the situation).

However I am fairly confident that on a N wind given all the obstacles between the water and the roadway that most likely something else would catch the kite first! I do not know of any fines that could result from a kite on the roadway, odds are heavy that it will never happen....unless some kiter kooks out and punches out while kiting right next to the freeway (downwind end of the beach on a winter north day) I still say that the fence or some other obstacle will most likely grab the bar / lines first (as I have seen happen many other times when kites are pushed out, as most times they tumble along the water/ ground etc).

To date the worst I have seen at TP was 3 years ago an older local east bay kiter (first time at TP) trying to land his kite to the parking lot over the obvious powerlines, we caught him and quickly corrected his mistake! This behavior made sense at the time to me as most east bay kiters are used to rigging and launching landing from the ice plant near (or in the) parking areas at other local spots (racetrack, Pt emery)...however TP has a long sandy beach for that so if local kiters adapt to the spot and launch from the sand then problems are much less likely to occur.

This is not to say that N winds are ideal but they are definitely kiteable at TP but perhaps for more experienced kiters, which seems sensible as they are winter winds and as we know only experienced kiters should be kiting in the bay during the winter anyway!

I hope this helps to alleviate any fears or safety concerns regarding kite mares and the freeway at TP, I say the odds much stronger of this happening at PT emery rather than at TP.

Hey just come kite it for yourself and then you'll see what I am saying is true!
See you at the beach!

[pipedragon]

I rode the bay at Coyote Point. Probably should have gone with my 7m but launched the 9m and had a blast for 2 hours on the low tide flat water. Surprised it was just me and 2 windsurfers. Landed my kite behind the Boardsports shack, home in the hot tub with a beer by 4pm.

[le noun]

Today! Tp is on and cranking!

The thought of kites crossing the I80 on a regular day at Berkeley or TP with the wind blowing from the west always has me shivering.
I can't imagine the disaster of one crossing the bay bridge's toll on a north wind day...

Also, I'm curious of how hefty of a ticket it would be to disrupt traffic because of your kite?
I can't imagine it being free (and I'm not even talking about a car accident, I'm just talking about backing up the freeway for a few miles). Does anybody has any idea?

Le Noun I understand your safety concerns about this new spot especially on different than normal wind directions. That's why we typically check with the locals before going out at any "new to us" spot in the world...right? We, as a local community, should be promoting the smart use of safe spots and TP is 100% safe for safety minded users. With that said if any kiters witness someone being unsafe (ignoring obvious hazards)it is our responsibility to make them aware of their possibly dangerous behavior..hell I have had the talking to myself back in the day, and am now very appreciative for it although at the time I was a bit indignant.

I can assure you that the situation you describe above has never been an issue during the summer on West, South & SW winds take any stray kites well away from freeway and into the adjacent marsh lands. Yes even West winds! To date we have seen kites tumble into the marsh land multiple times and not ever once even come close to the service road much less the freeway. Usually the tumble 2-3 times the flop to rest. We have yet to see any issue like you describe in almost 5 years of regular use (almost daily in the summer)! Unlike PT emery which is a spot wherein the scenario you describe has actually almost happened just last year, with the freeway actually directly downwind!

As for North wind days ...if kiters safely walk upwind and rig on the north end of the beach then kite upwind and well away from any hazards to the south, such as rocks, fences, trees, powerlines and then finally the roadway there should be plenty of real estate to avoid any issues! Also chances are that most are kiting here on days wherein standing up is a possibility in the event of a kitemare requiring the usage of the ditch switch (to assist in recovery of the situation).

However I am fairly confident that on a N wind given all the obstacles between the water and the roadway that most likely something else would catch the kite first! I do not know of any fines that could result from a kite on the roadway, odds are heavy that it will never happen....unless some kiter kooks out and punches out while kiting right next to the freeway (downwind end of the beach on a winter north day) I still say that the fence or some other obstacle will most likely grab the bar / lines first (as I have seen happen many other times when kites are pushed out, as most times they tumble along the water/ ground etc).

To date the worst I have seen at TP was 3 years ago an older local east bay kiter (first time at TP) trying to land his kite to the parking lot over the obvious powerlines, we caught him and quickly corrected his mistake! This behavior made sense at the time to me as most east bay kiters are used to rigging and launching landing from the ice plant near (or in the) parking areas at other local spots (racetrack, Pt emery)...however TP has a long sandy beach for that so if local kiters adapt to the spot and launch from the sand then problems are much less likely to occur.

This is not to say that N winds are ideal but they are definitely kiteable at TP but perhaps for more experienced kiters, which seems sensible as they are winter winds and as we know only experienced kiters should be kiting in the bay during the winter anyway!

I hope this helps to alleviate any fears or safety concerns regarding kite mares and the freeway at TP, I say the odds much stronger of this happening at PT emery rather than at TP.

Hey just come kite it for yourself and then you'll see what I am saying is true!
See you at the beach!

Ross, I appreciate the response.
I am indeed looking forward to spend some times at TP, I've been riding more and more on the east bay this year (racetrack and marina bay) since my girlfriend just started to work in Oakland and I have to drop her off in the morning if I want to use our car. Lol.
I showed up too late this year to the beach cleaning and with the lack of wind, everyone was already gone.
I swear I'll try to be there before 11am next year!
Cheers.

[Loscocco]

Anybody try an Alameda to 3rd down winder? :)

Yep.. Been done several times both ways.. and Alameda to Berkeley up winder :)

[wjb]

Charlie,
LimGee here, bro you got to do the coastal THANG, some sick sessions are to be had this time of year!
L.M.G.

Everytime I come across one of these resurrected posts I am saddened knowing there is a bit less stoke out there in the world.