How is 3rd for a beginner spot

[wjb]

Is there an area down wind of the launch to land and get out of the water. Ikite lists a beginner launch on the map. Is this better at high tide. Any tips would be great. Thanks, Wade

[adamrod]

Hey Wade,

IMHO, 3rd is the best beginner spot in the bay area. I may catch some flak for saying that (from 3rd ave people who don't want beginners, or from Alameda people who think Alameda is more friendly), but here are my reasons and some tips for kiting at 3rd.

1. it has very consistent strong wind. Alameda is nice, but if the wind is light, it takes a good degree of skill to kite there.
2. there are a lot of people out there willing to help you out, and a lot of water so you won't get in anyone's way
3. there aren't random members of the public wandering around.

tips:
1. low tide is nice because you can touch the bottom, but SUCKS when you're getting out because you have to walk through knee deep mud. the mud is terrible. really terrible. high tide is fine, but the swell gets tough if you're learning
2. beginners launch upwind about a 200m walk from the rigging area. the wind is clean and there is a big launch area and lots of people to help you out once the season is underway
3. then, you kite downwind (because if you can stay upwind you're not a beginner) and end up at the downwind beach near the parking lot. you need to start heading toward this beach earlier than you think.
4. if you miss the downwind beach, you'll have to body drag down to inktomi or any other small spit of sand that is visible. you dump your kite in the water, roll up your lines and self rescue to shore. as a beginner at 3rd, you'll be doing a lot of self rescuing because you'll probably miss the downwind beach the first couple times you try. If you miss the inktomi beach, then you'll end up going under the san mateo bridge, which can be scary, but isn't honestly, because the water gets shallow beyond that and then you can just walk in.
5. if you do make it in to the downwind beach, you can wrap up your lines, and walk back upwind for another go.

so, in conclusion, 3rd ave seems scary because there are lots of rocks and strong wind and no long stretches of beach, but to be honest, you're learning how to kiteboard, and the most important part of kiting is the wind, and 3rd ave has some of the best you'll find.

that's my .02.

[average_male]

1) If you are a beginner, only go to 3rd when it's low tide. You can stand up, assuming you are taller than 3 feet, well past 100 yards off the parking lot shore.

2) The mud is a great feature at 3rd aveógreat for the skin. After a long day of kiteboarding, you can take a nice mud bath. Folks up at Napa pay hundreds of dollars for this sort of thing.

3) It also helps if you have a bow kite (XBow) or a kite that can relaunch easily.

4) Get lessons.

5) Last but not least, when at 3rd, if you aren't sure about something, always ask. 3rd ave has won the 2002, 2003,2004, 2005 & 2006 award for the Bay Area's Friendliest kiteboarding beach. Just don't fly your kite over the bike path, or some one will put a cap in your @ss.

[windhorny]

If you can stay upwind at all, your fine. Even if you cant but go downwind slowly, 3rd would be ok. You start at the upper launch and just make sure come in at the lower launch, with your kite high as the wind gets funky down low with the golf range in the way. Alameda is ideally your learning spot but the wind is normally light. Wind is your friend unless it is way too much. And 3rd does get it more often and smoother.

[knyfe]

Wade,

make sure that you have GOOD lessons before you go to 3rd. I had it last year that a new guy showed up at 3rd but actually never launched his kite at the beach as he only had lessons by boat or jetski. The biggest worry at 3rd is clearly the launch as it is a slippery mud area, no sand and only big rocks as wave breaker. You will automatically end up in the hospital if you mess up there at launch. We had it 2 years ago that a beginner messed up and jumped head forward straight into the rocks. And this was a light wind day and not standard good wind which saved him his live. Luckily he survived but at the moment everyone thought he is dead.

At the same time I saw so many beginners messing up at Alameda but no one got really hurt as it is a sandy long beach. Of course also there you can get you into the hospital, which we had last year - if you try to get a 16 going if the big guys are on a 10.

I still think Alameda is the CLEARLY better beginner beach but has the problem of low wind and too many beginners. One of my friends also was pissed by the missing wind at Alameda and went over to 3rd with the result that he already had his kite once eaten up by the rocks as he couldnt relaunch fast enough and one run-away kite as he was a full goof-ball in the water.

BUT as everyone already told you 3rd has the best and most helpful community and the best wind but is not a safe beginner spot.

And Yuri just wants to keep you away from Alameda, thats for sure ;-) Georg

[windhorny]

Nyuk Nyuk! :mrgreen:

[wjb]

And Yuri just wants to keep you away from Alameda, thats for sure ;-) Georg

How about if I offer up a few post session brews and help launch and land his kite. I am not beyond bribery :mrgreen:

I have taken several lessons with Nat at Sherman and spent quite a bit of time there doing downwinders mostly body dragging and finally getting on the board for some brief rides. My problem was that I have not even wake boarded before and could have had a quiker learning curve if I had spent more time honing that skill before I tried it with the kite. Then there was the time I just left kitopia island and the wind got real light. I must have relaunched my kite 15 times on the way back. Another time I had to self rescue about half way back because the kite got wrapped up in the lines. Donny took pity on me and gave me a ride back on the jet ski.

I have a full quiver of 06 Vegas's (9, 12, 16) so I won't be tempted to ride a bigger kite than is prudent.

Bodega Harbor is probably closest to my house and I will probably go there if the wind is good but I am just looking for additional places to go and trying to determine which ones would be good for a noob like me. Thanks for all your comments. I look forward to meeting you all this up coming season. Wade

[windhorny]

And with that said, I think you should do a few more Alameda board runs and see where you end up. I dont remember what Bodega is like, isnt there an outside and inside area there? Leave 3rd for when you are at least confident on staying on the board-or if Alameda is just a bust everytime you end up sitting on that bench pretending to see whitecaps like the rest of us lazy schmuks.

[bobbyboom]

2) The mud is a great feature at 3rd aveógreat for the skin. After a long day of kiteboarding, you can take a nice mud bath. Folks up at Napa pay hundreds of dollars for this sort of thing.

Dude, that made me laugh so loud! Funny! You forgot the smell. They should bottle that. Yum!

or if Alameda is just a bust everytime you end up sitting on that bench pretending to see whitecaps like the rest of us lazy schmuks.

Ha, that's so true! Last season was my first and I was always in awe of everyone's theories about the wind/fog etc. It was great but it never brougth the wind.

My tip for kiting 3rd ave being a beginner is get a crappy used kite. Since you haven't ridden on the board much you may crash your kite and hit it on the rocks. If you rip your kite you would best be rippin' it with a crappy kite. I don't mean to scare you but 3rd is not very forgiving if you aren't confident as rocks pretty much line the entire area except for the upper and lower launch areas.

-Bobby

[Greg]

Ridable wind has been a problem at Alameda, its only good when there is a real push throughout the bay, otherwize it will be marginal at best. Spring is Alamedas best season and summer can be good, fall is VERY HIT AND MISS. Strong winds in anything but stormy conditions are very rare!! South storms are not good for beginners.
3ed Ave has by far more reliable summer/fall wind. The wind is also strong enough to power you UP-WIND as opposed to MAYBE hold your ground at Alameda. Lower tides allow newbies easy access off the water and around the rocks.

Due to the new kite designs level of safty/de-power and easy/reliable relaunchibility I think 3ed ave is the premeer place to kite in the bay.