I posted a while back about a trip to Hatteras and I know there aren't many kiters in Atlanta but after the turn onto 10th street in the P'tree road race someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was a kiteboarder...I was wearing a Real Kiteboard T-shirt. Now that is a small world or the sport is growing faster than I thought.
Any chance that person is on this site?
Anyway, I'm trying to get people up to Hatteras with the Atlanta Ski Club and I'll hopefully have a few videos running at the next social (Park Tavern - Corner of 10th and Monroe off Piedmont Park) tomorrow night Thursday July 13th, 6 PM-till whenever. I’m trying to spread the word so let me know if you are interested in joining us in Hatteras. Right now I’m looking at a 3-4 day trip August 25-28 or Sept 22-25.
I don’t see why we shouldn’t include windsurfing as it is a great spot for that as well…Of course, I don’t need to tell anyone on this site about that. The trip will be a multi-day kiteboard instructional trip but for those that already know how to kite or only want advanced instruction for one day we can arrange it. And I’ll be happy to arrange advanced windsurfing instruction if any windsurfer wants to join us.
Scott
Oh and for you kiters out there let me know if my marketing “comments” and trip description work. And windsurfers…I’m just kidding about it being cancelled ;-)…
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Are you ready to find out more about the worlds fastest growing sport?
Would you like to participate in a sport that can be done on water and snow?
Well, come join the Atlanta Ski Club in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina for a complete introduction to the sport of Kiteboarding!
Also known as kitesurfing, the sport has just recently become recognizable. With its creation in Hawaii and France in the 80s to the establishment of multiple equipment manufactures and a world tour in the 90s, Kitboarding has become the fastest growing and most exciting sport around.
Never wakeboarded, windsurfed or snowboarded? No need to worry as the 15+ plus professional instructors at Real Kiteboarding in Cape Hatteras North Carolina are ready to get you from “Zero to Hero” in just 3 days!
Already an accomplished Kiteboarder? No need to worry as Real will set up a custom camp tailored to your experience level.
So, join us in this exciting and eye catching sport and be ready to snowkite this upcoming ski season! Oh, and don’t tell any windsurfers because windsurfing has just been cancelled!
Since this is a first of its kind for Atlanta Ski Club members we need to know if you are interested. We’re tentatively planning the last week in August (25-28) so if you want to know more about this exciting sport and are interested in joining us please respond to Scott by 7/22/05!
Want to find out more about the sport of Kiteboarding?
Checkout these websites
http://www.realkiteboarding.com
http://www.kitesurfingschool.org
http://www.kiteboardingmag.com
" Oh, and don’t tell any windsurfers because windsurfing has just been cancelled! "
Hmmm... I don't think that Real Kiteboarding has ever tried to kiteboard on Lake Lanier! I bet that windsurfers get 3 times as much time on the water as any kiteboarder does. This is not put down anyones skill level, as the same would probably be true for a kiteboard professional in our area. Maybe if I lived along the coast, I might be tempted to convert to kiteboarding where 10-15kt seabreezes plentiful. But at our local lakes, with cramped launch sites and gusty, holey wind, I just don't see the appeal!
Don't get me wrong -- I think its great that you are trying promote the sport in our area by organizing a Hatteras trip. No doubt that if you get wind, you can learn more in one week there, than you will in one year here! Good luck.
While I haven't tried to kite on Lanier I imagine you're right. Hard for kiting to be done much locally. While kiting equipment is lighter and "less bulky" we certainly need more space which Lanier doesn't have much. Tybee is the closest at 4 hours and even there can be sketchy depending on the crowds on the beach.
Are any of the other kiters getting any time in on Lanier lately? I'm not sure the winds are that great this time of year on Lanier but when somebody is planning on going out let me know as I'd like to check out the spot I've read about in previous posts.
And really, any windsurfers that want to try kiting or simply windsurf Hatteras should go with us. Great conditions for all of us obviously. While I haven't talked to a lot of windsurfers but I have met 3 guys that windsurfed for years and now only kiteboard. You know I'm really not sure why they converted but I found it interesting having never windsurfed before.
Scott
Windsurfers know better than to go to the OBX in Aug.
That's not a time of year noted for wind. Oct-Nov and March-June are the sweet spots. Even late Sept is a bit dicey, depends on the jet stream's mood.
Plenty of us go to Hatteras - just at other times of the year.
There are kiters on Lanier but as Chris mentioned, they tend to be more sensitive to the conditions, especially regarding wind shadows at the launch and wind consistency.
We've been hearing for a number of years that windsurfing has been cancelled. We try to keep that in mind every time we go out.
I was down at St Simons Island, GA last Sunday for one of the best ocean windsurfing sessions I've had anywhere. I watched four kiters there ripping it up in the shallows off the point at East Beach, the public beach area there, but then they all quit at once. I guess the tide or wind got "wrong". (I don't know-- perhaps kiteboarding was cancelled or something.) The wind had sure picked up so I rigged down to my 4.7 "Super Freak -- more like a 4.5 really. Put in a couple more hours in some wild, awesome conditionws. I'm not about to trade the "access" windsurfing enables to so much more of what the ocean has to offer. That's what it's all about to me. We windsurfers were going all over the place enjoying a varitey of conditions including the abiltiy to safely sail way out on the open ocean, over the wild and crazy outer sand bars, and do down-wave jibes with the thrust of the wave surfing you forward on the surge and come screaming into the shore break zone in screaming carves (that may often end poorly, I admit) -- all skills that I mostly learned here on the southeastern inland lakes.
Chuck Hardin
Whitecap Windsurfing, Inc.
c:706-833-WIND (9463)
See, I knew I could get good info from you guys! I had no idea when the best wind was in Hatteras. I did learn to kite up there last July and the wind was great for 2 of the 3 days. The winds weren't enough for windsurfing although one afternoon they were high enough that I did see one windsurfer out there.
I'm moving the trip to the end of September as that will give me more time to plan and get participants. Plus based on your comments the wind should be better.
Thanks!!
Scott
"East Beach"? I was looking for any kiters or windsurfers last October but I found none. I was off the 14th street and the beach dead ends into the "marsh" area...Is this where you launched from?
And I think the kiters were just scared of you...sounds like you showed them up