Hey guys and girls!

Looks like I'm gonna be studying in the Hamilton area from October for around 9months! Woooo

So my first question is where are the best spots within reasonable driving distance?

Also what wetsuit thickness will be best for that time of year?

Also are there any kite schools near any of these spots that I could get in contact with? Cause Im gonna be a hard up student so could do with perhaps getting some part time instructing work on the go!!

Cheers in advance!!

Look forward to riding with some of you soon!!!

Hamilton is quite close to the best kitsurfing location in NZ

RAGLAN HARBOUR !!!!!!!!

and Its only a 40min drive

October the water is starting to warm up, so you could get away with a short wettie but if youre here for 9 months that puts you right back into winter

local hangout is right next to here -> www.gagraglan.com/index.php
Tony keeps BLOW ME (the kiteshop) well stocked with any goodies you may need and when the winds not blowing this is where you will find everyone :wink:

Hey Regg,

October onwards for 9 months, nice!

You picked the second best spot in NZ, Raglan is well worth the drive and never disappointing!

Charging out going tide, sweet flat water, and kick as waves!

Talk to Tony the Mayor (The God Father). If you dont run into him, he will run in to you.

Enjoy, Shane A.

Heheh seems to be a very slight difference of opinions on Raglan! :wink:

But yeah sounds like an awesome spot! Cant wait now just gotta find a way of getting all my gear over as well as the rest of the stuff for 9 months! Clearly kites are the priority though .

Cheers for the info though! Hopefully see you out on the water very soon!

Hello

Keen to do a trip down to Raglan, how's Raglan for kiting offshore in the waves, are you liable to get yourself in trouble with the surfers, or is it ok?

Cheers
MarkT2

Hey reggy-uk;

Nice timing for the equinoctal winds, they usually start around October and last for a few weeks, westerlies prevailing - west is best.

I may be able to assist with some instructing work - send me a PM if ya interested.

I find a good 3/2 steamer is best for all but the warmest summer days jan/feb ( though we got alot of antarctic- influenced weather in those months this year )

MYM; in answer to your question

Kiting offshore in the waves in Raglan is fine if you are COMPETANT with:

# self-rescue
# assessing conditions
# strong current sweeping out to sea, whirlpools, holes & rips
# shallow sandbars & heavy surf

You wont find any surfers on the raglan bar when it's onshore, so there are NO WORRIES there....

But you will ALWAYS find guys SURFING the pointbreaks, they are pretty much off limits to all but the most experienced kiteSurfers, conditions for riding there are rare,FICKLE & difficult. If you were to KOOK up on the points you would find yourself washed up on the rocks with a posse of pissed of local surfers to deal with & then some even more pissed of local kiters, SPEWING for you possibly wrecking any FUTURE chances to ride there.

There is already alot of angst & AGGRO amongst surfers vying for waves on the points, many different groups are putting pressure on the use of this area with surf competitions at club, national & international level, MASSES of tourist surfers IGNORANT of point surfing ETTIQUETTE create daily fodder for testerone filled local lads to beat on or berate, filling the bay with an ORGY of unbridled EGO - Everyone wants to get a peice of the long lefthanders...

Kitesurfing is well down the list, a BOTTOM dwelling eater of
CRUSTS of crustations breakfasts (a group of Jetskiers were successfully BANNED from the point after many ANNOYING years of using the face of the waves people were surfing for their take-off ramps)

Please, please, quote the above many times - to friends & in as many internet worm holes you know of that are relevant to kiters travelling to Raglan.....

ASK, ASK, ASK the locals before going out ,many of them have their own RESCUE stories to tell & it is all to easy to become another VICTIM at Suckers Point / The Raglan Elevator :roll: :cry:

Ha ha! Makes for some pretty gloomy reading - sorry...

There is a really good crew of people to kite with in Raglan.
Everything is sweet just so long as you remember:

# The conditions demand full respect
# Avoid the surfers :wink: