Kiting spots near Atlanta

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graham84
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Joined: 01/08/2013 - 10:02
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Kiting spots near Atlanta

Hi Guys,

I have just joined this forum mainly looking for some information and hopefully to meet some local kiters.
I have just been posted to Duluth (just outside Atlanta) for 3 months, starting from the first week in January.
I am a South African who has been kiting for a few years and can’t imagine going 3 months without water-time, so I am bringing my gear.
Are there any kitable spots around Duluth and if so whereabouts?
I have read up about the Florida Panhandle, this is about a 5 hour drive, I think, and so far my only plan is to drive down there on the weekends. But I am hoping there can be kiting closer than that.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Graham

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Randy
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Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Graham,

Welcome to ATL. There are some kiters here and hopefully they will chime in. Kiting on Lake Lanier is a bit more difficult than in coastal areas since a lot of our launches are windshadowed. Old Federal (on the wiki page) is the place the kiters used most often, but some have sailed (flown?) at Vann's Tavern, Tidwell and Van Pugh. Now that the lake is very low, its probably easier to lauch. Gene of Windsense fame is our resident windsurfer/kiter and can give you more useful info. Good luck and kiters are more than welcome here!!

If you do make it down to the panhandle, Destin/Ft. Walton has a lot of kiters and some great lauches. I've not been to Panama City, but its probably good too. The Outer Banks (10 hour drive) is by far the best for all wind sports.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

In declining order of quality

Hatteras
Keys
Rest of Florida - too many places to list. Just remember that you have to go pretty far south if you want to make sure you are warm. Closest Florida is 5-6 hours away. Miami is 12 hours. A lot if not just about all the sites on the wiki in Florida are probably fine for kiting.
Charleston, SC area
Lanier: Old Federal (west winds)/Vanns Tavern (east winds)

Not a kiter but from years of observation. Any where else is not good enough and far enough away that you would want to go some place nice anyway.

Welcome to town. Hope you enjoy it here.

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max1482
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Joined: 01/31/2013 - 21:29
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Hello I am a kitesurfer too!
I moved here from France.

I live next to Lake Attalonna.
I have already kiteboarded once at Lake Lanier and I met 2 kitesurfers : Ron and Rian and view other windsurfers.
I went to Sullivan's Island too last summer, good spot! but around 5 to 6 hour drive...
If you are looking for another kiteboarder, let me know!

Max

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gene_mathis
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Joined: 05/17/2002 - 05:00
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Max, Graham and all other kiteboarders,

There used to be a good group of Kiters kiting out of Old Federal park and Vanns Tavern on Lanier, but kind of died out. When you plan on going, post on the club's webpage where and when and others may join you. The forum actually has a kiting page. It would be good to get a kiting group going again.

http://windsurfatlanta.org/Forum/viewforum.php?f=7

I kite some in Hatteras and Florida, but havent had much success at Lanier. I do need more time on the water, and Lanier is alot closer. Give me a call sometime when you're going, 404-735-4944, and I may join you. There are also some good kiters in the area, as well as some sort of kiters and kiter want-a-be's.

Gene

Gene Mathis

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Pro tip: you (kiters - plural) may want to email or message through this board other kiters who may have checked in at one time or another but aren't regulars. Sometimes, it helps to shake the tree.

I'd love to see more kites on Lanier. Summer can be so dull up there :twisted:

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nitro
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Joined: 08/26/2003 - 15:07
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Another option would be my local lake (Clark's Hill) over here is Augusta. The launch is MUCH better for kiters than anything you will find at Lanier. The real problem with any lake around the southeast though, is the quality of the wind. We get wind occasionally, but it is almost always gusty.

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Holger
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Joined: 03/27/2013 - 15:47
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Just moved to Flowery Branch 2 month ago. I´m windsurfing for decades but have only small boards and sails so it seems to me that Lake Lanier might not be the best spot for my stuff. I started kitesurfing 2 years ago. Which kite sizes are normaly used on Lanier? Can anybody recommend a kiteshop to me? Hope to meet some of you guys on the water.

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webguy
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Just moved to Flowery Branch 2 month ago. I´m windsurfing for decades but have only small boards and sails so it seems to me that Lake Lanier might not be the best spot for my stuff.

How small is "small"? Also curious as to the last time you used "big" stuff.

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gene_mathis
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Chris P was powered up on a 4.5 Monday (and we had two 5.2s,) with gusts into the 30s (MPH), that's probably not that small for the Gorge, but...

A couple of Sundays ago, 4 Kiters kited at Old Federal, on 11 and 12 meter kites.

Welcome to Flowery Branch!

Gene

Gene Mathis

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Holger
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Joined: 03/27/2013 - 15:47
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

to make it more clear - Boards between 70 and 95 liters and sails between 4.0 and 5.4. So 4.5 is pretty ok and I hope we have a lot of those days Biggrin

Some colleagues at work told me Lanier is not really windy so I thought I would need some bigger raceboard and sails > than 7.5 which I do not have.

"Big" or "small" hasn´t been a judgement, I only wanted to know what you guys are using...

Just checked Van Pugh yesterday after work: is it the north part of the park where you normally windsurf?
Holger

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cp
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Joined: 09/19/2007 - 23:09
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Hey there - there are a lot of variables to consider when you're deciding what gear you need to have fun windsurfing in Atlanta, the most critical of which might be the extent to which you have the freedom of time to go when it blows. If planing on a shortboard is all you are interested in, and you only have two predetermined days a week available, I'm afraid you won't be able to get in a lot of sessions. I'd assume this would also be pretty true for kiting.

If this doesn't put you off, then I would say that the typical kit for the average decent day at lanier, for a shortboarder of average size would be 105 -120 liters and a sail 5.5 to 7.5. Personally, when I shortboard, I'm usually disinclined to go more than 6 meters, but if I have shlog some at times it doesn't ruin my day. I am a little lighter than average and can go whenever it blows, and am usually undeterred by air temps in the upper 30's.

On the other hand, if your ideas of fun in windsurfing should go beyond shortboard planing, then a whole other range of possibilities may open up.

cheers - Chris P

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webguy
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

to make it more clear - Boards between 70 and 95 liters and sails between 4.0 and 5.4. So 4.5 is pretty ok ....

IMAGE(<a href="http://windsurfatlanta.org/sites/default/files/pictures/wsmeme/jwpepper.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://windsurfatlanta.org/sites/default/files/pictures/wsmeme/jwpepper.jpg</a>)
You ain't from around here are ya, boy?

Some colleagues at work told me Lanier is not really windy so I thought I would need some bigger raceboard and sails > than 7.5 which I do not have.

"Big" or "small" hasn´t been a judgement

We understood that. Smile Just wanted to make sure that our replies would be in proper context. Small board for some people is 75 liters, others, 105 liters.

4.5 is pretty small for most places this side of the Mississippi, Cape Hatteras included, especially in warmer air. 6.something and smaller will get you by on most "windsurfing" days between Nov. and March but as it gets warmer, you would need something bigger. The problem with kiting then is the lake gets pretty crowded so you'll have a more difficult time finding space to launch and open water if you are going on a weekend. On a weekday, you'll be fine.

Just be mindful that the wind can be up and down here. If it's a marginal day, don't be further than you want to swim from the beach.

Just checked Van Pugh yesterday after work: is it the north part of the park where you normally windsurf?
Holger

Yes. South end is primarily a camp ground which is open seasonally and as the Corps (who run the lake) budget allows.

Welcome to town and thanks for posting.

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RetoRenny
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Joined: 01/16/2013 - 09:50
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Does any one know anything about Kite boarding on Fripp Island? I m looking to launch myself in that area but I have never been there before.

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Holger
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Joined: 03/27/2013 - 15:47
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Thanks for the feedback. Hope to see some of you soon on the water.
and: yes, I'm not from the area - I'm German. So if my English is not absolutely clear, be a little patient with me.

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max1482
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Joined: 01/31/2013 - 21:29
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

hey this is Max!

I am a kiteboarder too (From France).
We are few kiteboarders over here (around 6 to 10), we are riding at old federal on lake lanier.
Let me know if you want to be in contact with us.
I am riding with 11m naish park and 7m f-one bandit.

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FoilDodo
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Joined: 03/19/2008 - 23:50
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Re: Kiting spots near Atlanta

Renny, I've been to Fripp and it seems like it would be great for kiting. I windsurfed there off the beach about mid-point of the island. There's a sandbar 100 yds out that makes for some awesome flat water. It occurred to me it would be a killer speed sailing spot with the right wind direction. Access might be an issue, unless you are an owner, guest or renter on the island. There is a public beach nearby but I don't know what the set-up off the beach is there.

If I could have only one board and sail for Lanier, it would be my old, old school 120 ltr slalom board and a modern, cambered 6.5 sail. Add a 5.5 and that kit is what I sail probably 80% of the time. That's probably a big board for a 180 lb guy but it feels right to me.

I'm also a beginner kiter and am anxious to try to get going on Lanier. I hope having a support boat will make it doable this spring/summer.

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