Hey all, decided to move to Christchurch from the UK, to start afresh, bringing the family with me (and hopefully my Phantoms).

But I don't do water, I'm a landboarder by inclination and want to know what the scene is like for landboarding in NZ?

Are the beaches any good in the Christchurch area? Will I be on my own? :?

How is the NZ kite second hand market? It would be easier to sell my Phantoms in the UK first, but I don't know how easy it would be to pick them up second hand again in NZ.

Any pointers or comments on life in general in NZ would be much appreciated.

Tony

Hey Tony

Good move.. Living in Christchurch and being and expat Brit myself, I can tell you its a great place to live, (forget what the JAFAs say!)

The beaches here are excellent for landboarding when the easterly wind comes breezing in at anywhere between 10-30 knots. We are blessed with about 15kms of flat hard-packed sand north of New Brighton Pier, and another 8kms south of it. Ride time is about 3.5 hours before and after low tide, with a strip of anywhere between 10 and 30 metres to play with.

Landboarding is becoming more popular here in Christchurch, as I quite often see another 3 or 4 people out on their boards when the wind is right. There doesnt seem to be any specific clubs or groups dedicated to landboarding set up yet, but with the increasing popularity, who knows.

In my opinion you would be better placed to bring your Phantoms with you as the 2nd hand market for them is a bit scarce. Im sure some of the dealers round here would say otherwise

As for life in Christchurch/New Zealand, Ill PM you my email address

Spiglord

To be fair you should say that the wind would be anywhere between 10 to 30 knots but with a median much closer to the lower boundary, something like 12/13...

Just imagine this poor guy coming here thinking the wind is around 20kts...

Fair enough Alex, I guess the average is more likely to be around the 12-15 knot mark, but still more than enough for us landboarders...

So what's all this goings on about CHCH getting excellent sea breezes? 12-13 knots doesn't sound like my idea of a great sea breeze. I take it that the actuall buggy/landboard beaches are 12 knots but the kiteboarding and poleboarding spots like the pooza and lytleton harbour are the spots that get 20-30 knot thermals every day?

But Spiggy is right you don't need 20 knots for landboarding, unlike the water version where 12-13 knots isn't a major turnon at all.

But if you really must have 20+ knots i suggest the never ending west coast beaches of the North Island during Winter and Spring. Heaps of room, nice and wide and steady wind and the beaches will be deserted.

We lie, it all a conspiracy. That is all.

Damm

Looking at www.howisit.co.nz whilst sitting here at work, I can see it's blowing a pretty constant 13-14 knots directly onshore, (NE/ENE) all this afternoon.

With the afternoon low tide, it would have been an awesome landboarding afternoon...!

Actually it was a touch Northerly and yeah probably close to 15..

I'm buggered.. say no more.

Jeez!
it kicked around 5 or 6 with the rain at a solid 20 knots with gusts up to 28kts recorded on windnet. Good angle...
OK, I quit the Chch-sux conspiracy, ... at least until next week.