A First-Timer Guide to Winter Storms

[eaddic]

I am a beginner kiteboarding moving to the Bay Area from LA.

I am really eager to ride the big storm winds of NorCal!!!

Although I am a raw beginner, I am sure I will do great my first time out. I have watched a couple kiteboarding videos...also, I have done some stand-up paddleboarding and some rollerblading, so I have great balance. Kiteboarding should be a cinch for an athlete like me.

I bought an old 16 meter C-kite on Ebay. I am 140 lbs. And I know it can get cold up there, so I got a 2 mm wetsuit vest, and some wetsuit shorts. That shoud keep me toasty warm. Especially since I expect to be up and riding most of the time, and probably won't spend much time in the water.

I know safety is important, and I've hear those reel-type leashes can be dangerous. So I decided to use a urethane surfboard leash. That should be alot safer, so I shouldn't even need a helmet.

When the big storm comes through and the wind is howling, I plan to hit Ocean Beach for my first session. I'll either self launch, or maybe I'll rig up, hook in, grab my board and kite, and swim out past the waves and do a water launch. THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!!

As you can see, I'm pretty dialed. But I just have one question...I know it's kind of stupid, but I definitely don't want to look like a kook out there. So the question is, do you guys wear the Speedo over the wetsuit, or under?

Thanks!!!

[ramsey]

speedo over the wetsuit is the style

[vant20]

Gee, newbies are an easy target. Can't wait to move up and take my turn :roll:

Anyway the sarcasm is pretty good. Too bad some people seem to have forgotten how it feels to want to be out there not because you want to be cool but just because you don't really have a choice.

Anyway, if you see me on the beach and I do something stupid feel free to stop me before I get hurt. Thanks!

[windhorny]

plpease clarify you were joking about the 16m kite and using it in storm winds! But the speedo DOES in fact go over the wtsuit, always has.

[Bulldog]

So all the storm sites EXCEPT Alameda are blowing right now...but there's an awfully big green blob on the radar, just offshore and headed this way...

[windhorny]

alameda is probably blowing 15. more than doable right now.

[Bulldog]

Ooh. Light wind storm kiting. :roll:

[jjm]

We're in SPI right now, we'd love for it to be blowing 15! :)

[windhorny]

more like 0-20 but more on the 0 side right now. Wait for clearing.

[eaddic]

I was not making fun of newbies with the Ocean Beach/novice post, I was making fun of people from LA.

I figured the example was so ridiculous that everyone would get that I was attempting humor and not being serious. Sorry if I offended...figured there was a chance that could happen.

For the record...I do not recommend:

that a 140 lb novice attempt to ride storm winds with an old 16 meter C kite.
that a surf leash is safer than a reel leash.
that a helmet is optional when using a board leash.
that a 2 mm wetsuit vest is sufficient for winter in northern CA
that Ocean Beach is a good destination for a novice during winter storms.

And I was also joking about the Speedo. Everyone knows that the Speedo is worn proudly OVER the wetsuit.

Eric