Dillon Today (Friday)

[ETHANol]

Anybody going to go check out Dillon Today? I don't have iKitesurf but the bouys look windy already.

As far as the shark, all I can say is no kitesurfer has ever died from a shark attack. Always play it safe, but be real with your fears.

[KillaHz]

No Kitesurfer has ever died from a shark attack but I did get bumped at Dillon after a gear failure. I had to swim for about 2.5 hours and was bumped pretty hard about a half hour through.

Dillon is a very sharky spot...just make sure to stay pretty close to the beach and you'll be cool. The thing is, there's a channel between the beach and the sand bar where the waves break, so you have to cross the zone on your way in or out. No problem if your kite is still in the air...if it completely deflates like mine did, your in trouble.

Seems windy everywhere today. Dillon wouldn't be a bad call though.

[KillaHz]

slow server

[ETHANol]

I've surfed at Dillon countless times, mostly years and years ago, but was out Sunday and Monday. So in comparison kitesurfing seems safe. Not to mention the large crowds of other surfers that surf there reglarly. Wadell has to be one of the sharkiest places with it's massive seal colony, but it's not so much an issue there. Why is it that more out of the way places seem more sharky? I'd say it's because the whole shark fear is mostly irrational. I'd like to say stay the F$@$# out of West Marin but I'm getting sick of kiting alone. I've gotten in several sessions since I've been back here and yet to see another kitesurfer.

Car accidents driving to the beach, getting slamed into rocks, and drowning are a little more real to me.

[KillaHz]

For sure...

Waddell does seem sharky but the facts are, anywhere north of the GGB and South of The Russian River are the most sharky. The mouth of Tomales bay is like a food conveyer belt for the big fish. There is a lot of seafood and shellfish harvesting up there and I think that contributes to the healthy shark population...pretty straight shot to the Farrallones from there as well.

I surf Dillon and so do many of my friends. I never paddle out there on a short board though and I don't think I ever will. Kiting is for sure safer there, but just think about what happens when your gear fails. Spending almost three hours in the water there swimming last year made me consider this.

Just be sure to pre-check your gear in the winter time there. Dillon also is a good place to go when other coastal spots are too big. It will be a bit smaller there. You will see people at Dillon during the season but likely only going to see a couple people during winter. For south winds, head to Doran beach and kite in the ocean just east of the jetty.

[More Waves Please]

Report from the San Mateo Coast just before noon was that the swell is HUGE. Just checked - the HMB buoy is showing a primary swell of 18 ft @ 16.5 secs. Wind was very north. Generally not good for HMB and points south - gusty and side-off could be pretty painful in a lot of ways. Possibly a nice direction for OB, though. Decent low tide running right about now, too. Good luck - I'm stuck in the office for the afternoon!

[bobbyboom]

I was at Sherman today. Just me and two other folks. I self launched my 10m and rode solid for about an hour and a half before the wind died down to poo. It wasn't even all that cold, and... no sharks to worry about, only fisherman. =D>

-Bobby

[moblvet]

Tuba was quite kitesurific yesterday.