Crazy question in winter
Moderator: Gillespie
Crazy question in winter
Does anyone on the island go kite-boarding or kite-surfing out on the water (in much warmer times of the year!)? Interested in learning more about it. Thanks!
Re: Crazy question in winter
Hi. Yes. I've been kiteboarding on the Island since 2002...mostly on Donigal Bay. It's been a bit tricky launching during the last few years because of the very high water levels but it's still doable. Nice thing about BI is you can move around depending on the wind direction. The wind usually blows 10 - 18 or so 2-3 times a week SW or NW during the summer which means you can usually get away with a 12m kite. I use my 10m maybe once every two or three weeks when the wind gets higher or I'm foiling. The lake starts to get pretty wavy in winds over 15mph which is really fun for jumping etc. Let me know if you have any questions and I will be glad to help if I can (chris.screven@msn.com).
Chris Screven
Chris Screven
Re: Crazy question in winter
Hi, Chris. Thanks so much for answering. I am on the west side of the island, so usually have good winds. Confession: I've never actually kite surfed. I tried years ago in the Columbian Gorge, but it was far too windy for a beginner.
I'm trying to come up with fun & exciting high-powered activities for when my grandchildren come visit. (I want to do it, too, but, we'll see) Just not sure where to begin. I spend the winter down near Chicago. Do you think i should look for some used equipment in good condition or bite the bullet and buy all new gear? On-line i see there's a good place near Grand Haven. Do you know a place you can recommend?
Again, thank you for response. I appreciate your time.
Mary Beth
I'm trying to come up with fun & exciting high-powered activities for when my grandchildren come visit. (I want to do it, too, but, we'll see) Just not sure where to begin. I spend the winter down near Chicago. Do you think i should look for some used equipment in good condition or bite the bullet and buy all new gear? On-line i see there's a good place near Grand Haven. Do you know a place you can recommend?
Again, thank you for response. I appreciate your time.
Mary Beth
Re: Crazy question in winter
Hi Mary Beth,
The big thing about kite boarding is that it has a rather steep learning curve and beginners need a narrower set of conditions to learn in. Winds need to be side on shore and relatively steady. Flat water helps a lot too but beginners should be able to learn on some moderate chop. Lake Michigan get pretty choppy when the wind is about >15mph or so. The best situation for the west side of BI is 10 - 15mph wind from SW or NW. Strait on shore is difficult for beginners to learn in because they can get blown into shore. very quickly. A beginner is going to spend quite a bit of time just learning to fly the kite around in the air and then do some body dragging without a board to practice kite control. Nice waist deep conditions with no big rocks below the surface and with 10-12 mph side shore winds are great or this. There is also the issue of launching and landing the kite since you need at least 100ft of clear beach to do it safely. Most accidents occur during launch and land times so it's important to learn a solid protocol for this. Right now most of BI doesn't have much beach so water launches might be the only way to get the kite in the air safely. It would be a very good idea to take some lessons. There are a few outfits in Michigan:
https://www.greatlakeskiteboarding.com/lessons-camps
https://www.mackiteboarding.com/lessons/
You will need a kite, bar and lines, board, harness, and life vest. A helmet is not a bad idea too. You might want to give Brian Foli a call. He was going to start kiteboarding and bought a whole bunch of equipment back a few years ago. Maybe he would want to sell it. The only problem might be how the kites were stored. If they get to hot like in an attic etc. they can get damaged. I use Switch Helium kites. They are perfect for beginners and more advanced riders and are reasonably priced. I'd start with a 12m kite and a fairly large board designed for light wind for BI. Their bar and lines are good too. https://switchkites.com/products/helium ... 6086759535.
Hope this helps....Chris
The big thing about kite boarding is that it has a rather steep learning curve and beginners need a narrower set of conditions to learn in. Winds need to be side on shore and relatively steady. Flat water helps a lot too but beginners should be able to learn on some moderate chop. Lake Michigan get pretty choppy when the wind is about >15mph or so. The best situation for the west side of BI is 10 - 15mph wind from SW or NW. Strait on shore is difficult for beginners to learn in because they can get blown into shore. very quickly. A beginner is going to spend quite a bit of time just learning to fly the kite around in the air and then do some body dragging without a board to practice kite control. Nice waist deep conditions with no big rocks below the surface and with 10-12 mph side shore winds are great or this. There is also the issue of launching and landing the kite since you need at least 100ft of clear beach to do it safely. Most accidents occur during launch and land times so it's important to learn a solid protocol for this. Right now most of BI doesn't have much beach so water launches might be the only way to get the kite in the air safely. It would be a very good idea to take some lessons. There are a few outfits in Michigan:
https://www.greatlakeskiteboarding.com/lessons-camps
https://www.mackiteboarding.com/lessons/
You will need a kite, bar and lines, board, harness, and life vest. A helmet is not a bad idea too. You might want to give Brian Foli a call. He was going to start kiteboarding and bought a whole bunch of equipment back a few years ago. Maybe he would want to sell it. The only problem might be how the kites were stored. If they get to hot like in an attic etc. they can get damaged. I use Switch Helium kites. They are perfect for beginners and more advanced riders and are reasonably priced. I'd start with a 12m kite and a fairly large board designed for light wind for BI. Their bar and lines are good too. https://switchkites.com/products/helium ... 6086759535.
Hope this helps....Chris
Re: Crazy question in winter
Thanks again,Chris, for your message from the 15th. Only saw it just now. A lot to consider. I hope to be bac k on the island early May. I'll look up Brian Foli when i return. If you are around and have time to get a cup of coffee, I'd certainly be interested in knowing more about how you got into kitesurfing.
I'm looking for non-motorized crafts to get out on the water. I have a canoe, two kayaks and seriously considering a couple of hydrobikes. Kitesurfing, i think, could be great fun, especially for the younger generations in my family.
Again, thanks. I appreciate your time!
Mary Beth
I'm looking for non-motorized crafts to get out on the water. I have a canoe, two kayaks and seriously considering a couple of hydrobikes. Kitesurfing, i think, could be great fun, especially for the younger generations in my family.
Again, thanks. I appreciate your time!
Mary Beth
Re: Crazy question in winter
Thanks again,Chris, for your message from the 15th. Only saw it just now. A lot to consider. I hope to be bac k on the island early May. I'll look up Brian Foli when i return. If you are around and have time to get a cup of coffee, I'd certainly be interested in knowing more about how you got into kitesurfing.
I'm looking for non-motorized crafts to get out on the water. I have a canoe, two kayaks and seriously considering a couple of hydrobikes. Kitesurfing, i think, could be great fun, especially for the younger generations in my family.
Again, thanks. I appreciate your time!
Mary Beth
I'm looking for non-motorized crafts to get out on the water. I have a canoe, two kayaks and seriously considering a couple of hydrobikes. Kitesurfing, i think, could be great fun, especially for the younger generations in my family.
Again, thanks. I appreciate your time!
Mary Beth
Re: Crazy question in winter
Hi Mary Beth, I'm Becca, Bryan Foli's wife. He really wanted to kite board and bought all the equipment. Our summers are just too busy to take lessons and actually do it. He would love to sell his equipment. It has been stored in a nice dry basement. Reach out to me on fb (Becca Foli) and I will share his contact info with you.
Re: Crazy question in winter
Hi Mary Beth. FYI. I am here if you want to talk about kite boarding...Chris
Re: Crazy question in winter
Sounds good, Chris. I have company leaving tomorrow. Perhaps, at your convenience, we could either meet at dahlwinnie's (coffee/pastry on me!) To first talk about what all is involved. If you prefer, though, I can meet you wherever you say, with all the gear I bought from Bryan Foli. Your choice. I'm at 231.448.2364, if you'd prefer to talk via phone. Very excited to hear what you have to say.
Mary Beth Hawkinson
Mary Beth Hawkinson