What is an ideal kite size for the light wind in Alameda?

[Thor29]

I'm gonna have to agree with several others - get to 3rd Ave as soon as possible. I made the mistake of spending too much time at Alameda while learning and it made my progress miserably slow. I didn't even learn how to go upwind that first season because the wind was just too light. However, 3rd Ave does not have a nice sandy beach to land on so it's a real pain in the butt to start as a beginner there. I made two really big mistakes trying to learn how to go upwind at 3rd that were pretty ugly. Once I got really stubborn and kept thinking I was on the verge of going upwind and ended up under the San Mateo Bridge. That was very scary. Then later I missed the lower launch and tried to get out of the water at high tide on the rocks and my lines got tangled in the rocks so bad that I had to cut them. The first mistake could have been fatal and the second mistake was expensive.

So my recommendation is to either take some lessons at 3rd Ave now or wait until next season and try to get in as much kiting as possible at Alameda while there is still wind (March through June) before switching to 3rd Ave.

As far as kite size goes, I'd lean towards an 10m or 11m at your weight, maybe a 12m if you want to spend a lot of time at Alameda. Anything larger will not be as useful once you start heading over to 3rd Ave. I weigh 190lbs and use my 12m over 90% of the time at 3rd Ave, Alameda (springtime only), and Sherman Island. The 138cm board should be fine. A longer board will help a little bit, but actually having some wind is way more important.

[friggin old guy]

Agree that alameda in general is too light to allow for progression. You wld be better off investing in some additional lessons or going on a dedicated kiting trip, maybe both. That'll help get your skills up so you can take advantage of the spots we have here that do have reliable wind.

Lessons in the delta or just taking the boat ride away from the masses is a good way to rapidly improve. Floras lake up in Oregon has a great setup with jet ski assist if you're taking lessons.

Learning in light wind with a big kite just extends your learning curve exponentially. You will eventually look at your 12 as an implement of last resort. The difference between a 9 and 12 is really pretty extreme. I usually start whining when I have to blow up my 12. Like yesterday. Sorry to anybody that had to listen to that.

[knyfe]

Oh thanks guys for sending them all to 3rd. You just want to have more room for yourself. I will open up a topic " why beginners should be in Alameda" to clean up 3rd ;-)

G

[Aloha]

BRM Cloud lol

http://vimeo.com/90836151[/video]

[schwede]

After reading this thread and looking at the Forecast today (16-20 mph) I thought I would give Alameda a go. Just like old times a bunch of newbies crashing all over the beach and the wind was onshore maybe gusting up to 13 and holey. Think I will stick to 3rd.

[le noun]

We are in August. You are running out of time. If you can't commit for the next few weeks in going to the beach about twice a week, I would just let it go for this season and focus on saving some money and jump right in in April next year with some more lessons and/or assisted downwinders.
If you took lessons last year and just start re-flying a kite now, you will end up face first in the rocks at third since your kite handling is probably not that great.
Like everybody said: forget alameda at this time of the year unless you are a seasoned kiteboarder and know how to foil or use a raceboard.
Down the line, if you know that you'll be going to alameda a lot every year (maybe you leave right there) then yes, at your size, a 12m will probably be your bread and butter. Anywhere else in the bay, probably more like a 10m, and if you become a coastal guy, probably an 8m.

However, if I'm wrong and you have the next 3 weeks off and have nothing but time to spend in the water, then you have plenty of options:
Lots of jetski lessons available around 3rd ave/coyote (like Boardsports).
Or an assisted downwinder with kiteopia at Sherman island (not too pricey).
Captain John of "kite the bay" can take you ANYWHERE in the bay where the wind blows with his sweet set up on his boat (might be your best option around September as the wind still blows around treasure island but shuts down at a lot of beaches).
Or even Eugenia at "the kite bar" in Pittsburgh (she's got a sweeeeeeeeet set up on a sand bar so you can do both land and water at once, which at this time of the year is pretty rare).

Hope all of this helps.
As I said, you might be better off waiting next April and fully commit in getting in the water at least twice a week then until you can ride upwind. After that, it's like riding a bicycle, even if you don't ride as much you'll remember how to go upwind.

Keep it safe and have fun!

[sanjose_kiter]

Don't go to Alameda, we have enough newbies there *j/k*.

I kite often in Alameda, my quiver is 9 & 12 meters and I am 150 lbs. If the wind is really light, around 12 mph or so , I mow the lawn with my surfboard and the 12 . If the wind drops below 10 into 8 mph or so, I sit on the beach and socialize with my kiting buddies :-)

My combo is useful on the spots around here , 3rd ave, Sherman, Waddell. I 've used the 9 meters around 60% of the time at 3rd/wadell/sherman while I mainly used the 12 meters at Alameda 90% of the time.

[maxsteamer]

I agree with all that have posted there opinion on this thread... Alameda is for beginners after spring... if you want real wind this time of year your better off kiting 3rd or Sherman Island. to mention a few.. I'm an older kiter & live across the street from the beach here... never progressed past mowing the lawn.. but at my age I'm lucky just to be apart of this sport.. when I do manage to get down to the launch I use a 15m & 6ft. surfboard ? I have to admit it is a bit boring!! but like I said above being a senior has its setbacks... If you do kite 3rd ..I would find someone who has kited there.. even if this means picking up the gas bill/lunch etc.. or use the buddy system & they must be ready to rescue you at a moments notice.. if you miss both launch's ... Sherman is the real deal also & requires a local knowledge to be safe..remember your responsible for contact with a seasoned kiter ..& they expect you to know what you are doing so be ready to follow there instructions if you do cross lines with them.. if you don't do exactly what they say you could end up hurting yourself & them unexpectedly.

Again I'm just another kiter out there but I have been around awhile & have seen things go bad fast ..so have fun but have a plan to kite at these sites.. & ask allot of questions.. most kiters at these sites will appreciate your questions... as they know you want to do the right thing if you have the time to take a lesson over there ..I would recommend it as those instructors are the some of the top guys on this sport & your money will pay you back in the long run.

Anyway... My name is Max & I just wanted to chime in here with a tip or two... Good Winds

[ozreiuosn]

I agree with pretty much everything everyone here has already said, I just wanted to add that don't let the grumps scare you away from 3rd. They were all beginners once too.

Just be communicative, introduce yourself, be honest about your ability with everyone, don't get a big head. Keep a 6pack in a cooler in your trunk to thank whoever helps you out.

Of course, when the forecast calls for great wind at Alameda, go there. But as everyone else said, those days are quickly disappearing. I see more and more foil kites, strutless kites and foilboards in Alameda, so the lightwind department isn't so off limits to us these days, but they aren't any good to learn in. Once you're a little more seasoned and still very keen on kiting in Alameda you can then invest in light wind gear.

I've had many friends in the same kind of situation as you, and solved a ton of their problems just by scheduling a private lesson/assisted downwinder.

[mf1tym]

Thank you all for the information and steering me into the clears of not getting a huge kite yet.

I originally thought that the in light wind situation one just need a bigger kite. But I guess the relationship between kite size and wind speed is not as simple as that. From reading the posts, I realized that keeping a big kite up in the air requires as much skill as keep a 10M/12M up in the air during light wind.

The reason why I said I was going to practice out of Alameda was because of the easy beach landing and shallow water.

Last year, I practiced body dragging out at 3rd Ave twice. First time I was lucky and got back to the lower landing beach. Second time I got dragged out to the rocks. Both times the kite dropped after entering into the wind shadow, and I was not able to re-launch it. I figured, maybe I should not go to 3rd until I can ride upwind consistently.

Alameda's beach front in comparison to 3rd was like walk in the park V.S. going to boot camp. LOL

The past 2 weeks I have gone to Alameda 4-5 times to practice my water start. (along the way I got plenty of practices on water re-launch as well) I am now able to get up on the board and glide 5-10 meters before falling forward on my face or backwards on my butt. The times I am able to keep my balance and not fall, the kite stopped pulling and I just sank straight down.

At this point, is going to Alameda to practice my water start/staying on board to down wind realistic? Or it is still hard to do this as a beginner because of the wind factor again?

Is an assisted down winder fitting for someone at my level?

Thanks for all the advice once again guys.