The season started out here in the gorge about a month ago. I have had some absolutely amazing days so far!!! I have had days that were in the upper 30's and then I went to the coast and worked some waves in the upper 20's and yesterdeay I was out in mid 20's - not very many people out there just yet - its still too cold. Been having a good time and looking forward to some more really good days!!

woooot!!
let the fun begin!!!
May has been absolutely golden out at the coast. I've been riding almost every day. Its been pretty sunny and getting to feel like summer I've been getting really good at riding the waves...I finally figured out what the do with the kite when going down the line...usually i make a nice turn on the lip, but my bottom turns have been way to big, which makes it hard to get more than a few good whacks before the wave breaks. So now i've been downlooping the kite almost immediatly after i smack the lip, then by the time i make my bottom turn my kite is already pulling me into the wave....its taken a bit to get the timing. Now I get the same feeling from a 10ft wave that i get from a 30ft boost.

I have to tell you all about this,...

12 mile downwinder from Bandon the Cape Blanco (floras lake). Hazardous sea's warning for rough sea's & high winds. the swell was about 7-8ft at 10 seconds, with 4-5 ft wind waves. So in all it was 11-14 ft swell once you include the wind waves.
So we start off feeling really good, the waves we're perfect rollers that you could ride in for a long ways. Then about 4 miles down we ran into the mouth of new river. So We rode into the river, played around with the rapids,...rode right past a group of about 5-7 seals that looked to be playing, They all stared as i rode by then one barks and they all flee! ( i'm thinkin great, im gonna get attacked by a group of seals )
We rode back out to the waves and started off on our trek,....which suddenly turned VERY serious! The beach was no longer nice and wide, it turned into a short & steep beach with waves not breaking until they hit the sand. "no Problem" i say to myself, I'll just stay out here where is "safe". The problem was that the sea was getting a LOT more hazardous as we got closer to Cape blanco. (for those who dont know, blanco is the western most point of the lower 48)
So now the winds have picked up to 40+ knts, the swell turned into 15-20 ft rollers literally the size of houses. Not only that, but they dont break until they hit the beach!!! which is a very dangerous place to be. So i'm riding up and down these big as waves, doing my best to try and outrun them before they get to steep and start to barrel (on the beach). I'm getting a lil scared now,...I see the wave in front of the one i'm on start to barrel,....a big enough barrel to drive a car thru...now i realise that its MY wave barreling so i sent the kite thru a loop and took off like a rocket, narrowly missing being swallowed up, and only about 5 ft from running aground in the sand. There was NO safe place to be (execpt maybe off the water )
So As i'm riding up a 20 ft face, and down the backside i see a light out about 3-4 miles....then again, only this time i see it....It a friggin boat...getting tossed like a rag doll. Glad im not the only crazy F*)@!er out here. After narrowly missing these huge breaks for the 3-4 miles i finally see the sand cliffs that tell me its time to get out...but where? if i get near the beach its gonna be inmenent doom. I'm thinking about it & how to get in and did'nt realize the wave i'm on is getting steep, steeper, now its barreling!!!,....i got hit with the break water and it felt like being thrown into the spin cycle of a washing machine. I would have never been able to detect what way is up if it wasnt for my kite. Which in turn pretty much pulled me out of the frothing mix of water & bubbles. by the time i had a chance to get my bearings, i'm on the beach looking at a wave 10 ft above my head come crashing down on me!....I actually said "oh shit" just moments before getting taken out.
But this time i got put further up the beach and was able to grab my board and make a run for it. I'M SAFE ...i kept telling myself...I'm Safe.

So to end my journey i hopped over the sand dune and rode the smooth flat fresh water until sunset. I plan on doing it again, but maybe when its NOT hitting 30-40knts

-sol

Wow good too see some good water riding opening up. Sol thats quite the story maybe you could add it in the kitemare area for future refrence. skill and knowing your kite is what saves you in a desperate situation. Stay calm and remember rule 1 fly the kite first. Totally goes to show you experience plays a big role in some our big adventures we go on. Good job Sol for staying safe. Keep the reports coming.

Sol man, that sounds like good times. I'm going to have to make a trip down there at join you. Make a weekend out of it. Keep me posted when you see like a friday, saturday, sunday looking good and I'll try and rearange my schedule to make it down there.

I'm loving the coast and need some more salt in my system. Would also be good to ride with you again

Do you ever hit Floras lake?

hey man!!!

Good to hear your out getting some nice seshions!

We're staying in bandon cause its in between floras lake, and coos bay. I'm doing lessons in the bay, but when i got a day off we usually go to the lake. I've been usually hitting the ocean only in southerly's. (left hand breaks) But i will definetely get in touch when i see a good stretch of North winds. still just a lil to early in the year, but the inland heat should be a major factor....oh yea, and the water down here is cleaner

Wow good too see some good water riding opening up. Sol thats quite the story maybe you could add it in the kitemare area for future refrence.

good idea,...i'll post it up

Great trip report Sol-flyer . Although I have no idea what the Oregon coast is like or what its like to ride ocean waves really could picture you out there by the descriptions....sounds spooky fun, like you were really glad to have it over but totally stoked for having done it.

So many ways to have a blast in this kiting thing

lewmt wrote:
So many ways to have a blast in this kiting thing

Most definately man!!

Great trip report Sol-flyer . Although I have no idea what the Oregon coast is like or what its like to ride ocean waves really could picture you out there by the descriptions....sounds spooky fun, like you were really glad to have it over but totally stoked for having done it.

hey thanks bro
here's a shot of the sand cliffs where it's time to get out. This is a nice calm day,....nothing like described, but you can see how the waves are not building up, due to a steep drop.



this is the type of beach thats more ideal, long breaks with nice 50yd glass sections between. You can crash a long ways out and still stand up.

what part of the coast is that you're flying at? Looks tasty and mellow.

Craz Z wrote:what part of the coast is that you're flying at? Looks tasty and mellow.

SOL rides in Southern Oregon - don't know the exact spots though.