Has anyone kited the Surf spot in Tauranga bay? Or know if it is possible?

Once in a cross-shore NW and 3 foot waves , it was pretty gusty but definitely kiteable. I think the headland was disturbing the wind a bit. The advantage is you can check the web-cam and have a coffee afterwards at the Bay Cafe.

Other alternatives are Carters Beach which is more open but more on-shore or the estuary on the other side of the hill (called something like 5 Mile?) in a SW. Many kiters rave about that spot.

Simon

Westport ;
Kitesurfing locations:
9 Mile Beach, wind south to west. Over the hill from the www.bayhousecafe.co.nz/
Carters Beach, wind west to north. Right in front of the camping ground.

South West is the prominent direction so 9 Mile is the place to be.

We have kited here multiple times, it's not suited for learners. The waves can be as big as Double Decker buses!!(out the back) and they don't stop for anyone. Even the best have been munched here. As long as your confident and don't go out into the big stuff, no worries. We all watch out for each other

Cool.....so when are we going? Labour weekend Matu mentioned
Tim 8)

Hey Tim,

You should come over, keep a eye on Matu he likes to drink and kite, and usually in that order.

There are about 20 guys/girls from Nelson heading down to the West Coast, Westport Fri and Sat of Labour weekend (19 22 Oct), 15 Kite boarders.


Staying at Carters beach camping ground, mostly in cabins this time. Last year it rained and blew so hard we had to tie tents and marquees to our wagons to stop them launching.
www.top10westport.co.nz/
They allow dogs to Tim.

Anything Northerly well be kiting at Carters opposite the camping ground.
Anything Southerly well be kiting at 9 Mile / Taurunga Bay. The Cape Classic Surf Comp is on the Saturday at Taurunga Bay so should be fun.
Planning a day trip up the coast further towards Karamea and Little Wanganui on the Sunday to find a few new kite spots.

Plenty of friends, plenty of booze and good times hopefully plenty of wind and waves too.
More the merry, drag a few over from CHCH?.

The Boys in Blenheim should come over too, if your watching :roll: .

BYO Hook Knife - :twisted:

Hey Tim, the last time you were on the West Coast didn't you get horse whipped by some chic.
:shock:

lol...Tis true.... bloody foreign land owners making up their own rules regarding beach access... anyway, I'll be be there, plus I'll get a crew together, will be a blast! Havn't kited 9 mile & Carters in 7 years, last time I was at Carters spotted a big shark past the breakers...
Tim 8)

Quite a few times (3 times actually), I 've considered SW at Carters Beach where it was cross - cross off shore, usually with clean-ish waves. It didn't look too bad windwise.

With no one around, and co-kiters maybe a bit young and unreliable for cross off rescues, we always ended up on 9 miles beach though, where it was never really good, heavy for sure, but lots of water movement, rips and all that made the riding pretty sketchy. Hailstorm also

Is anyone riding Carters Beach with SW? Or is it definitely too gusty for that?

Hey Tim,

Yep it is true. Coming around the point from 9 Mile to Turaunga Bay something broke the surface to try and eat me once. It was too big to be a shark so Im calling it a Whale of the killer variety (sounds more exciting). Either way I didnt hang around to check what species it was and I certainly didnt look back as I was screaming off downwind as quick as poss. Apparently they have been catching record breaking Tuna in the area.

Alex yes we have looked at Carters in a SW, cross to cross off?? I dont know how clean the wind would be, but with SLE/Bow/Flat kites it probably be fine these days. Just south of the Carters camp ground opposite the farm land theres some nice forming waves to check out. With this many support kiters Im sure we could self rescue each other if the shit hits the fan too.

Westport is certainly a good place for generating extreme stories.

The last time I kited Carters I was having a ball in 25knots but I had a nagging feeling that something was going to happen. So I landed and after deflating and packing my kite started thinking about going out again because I was such a wuss.

A hailstorm then ripped through at 40 knots, my board got blown up the bank and onto the paddock, and my roof rack padding got totalled. I'd hate to think what it would have done to the kite.

Simon

Hey Simon,
your probably the only person I haven't mentioned the trip too.

Going to come down?

Hi Shane,

Can you let me know when you plan to head over (and return), would be intrested in coming along if I can get away from the restaurant.

Cheers
Alan

Hi Alan,

There's about 10 leaving the Fri morning and the rest on the Sat.

Have you managed to get out on the water in Mapua yet?

S

At this stage I'm looking to climb Mt Owen.

However, if the weather forecast looks bad for tramping but good for kiting then I probably will be Westport bound.

Simon

Hi Shane

Not been out yet - wind not been blowing when Ihave not been at work. Hopefully will get out over the next couple of days though.

Yesterday was primo, out for two different sessions.

Today looks the same, everyone will be out after high tide this arvo.

be keen to make the trip over from ChCh - spent a few days camped out at those beaches, no wind though...! would love to score a kite session there.

isn't that the clearwater kite weekend tho?

Hi Shaner wrong month,

www.cwa.org.nz/events.htm
November 16-18 CWA Clearwater Camp / Clearwater Classic Racing its the same weekend as Shane Murrels KUNT Event .

did this happen? i was all set to go, but the forecast of east coast sun sun sun vs westcoast rain rain rain for a labour weekend camping trip put me off - reckon you would have had some pretty meaty swell and killer winds though!

hell yes, it was all on

Weather was windy all weekend, with occasional rain squalls. Had a big session at Carters on 8s & 9s on Saturday and then moved round to 9-mile for another big ride, ending in the down-winder. Sunday was pretty wet, but still got some good riding in. Monday was sunny and windy from the get-go and the waves had really cranked up. Started on 8s & 9s again, but most people changed up to 12m (except Nick Smith who was killing it on his new 9m Naish Cult!). Sun shone all day and great riding was had by all.

Most folks opted for cabins after last year, but a few die-hards camped. Tim and the crew from Chch made the trip up to join the Nelson crowd so the local whitebaiters were treated to a great show of kites at 9-mile.

Great weekend!!

good to hear it! reckon you should get some pics up!

seem to be making a habit of making bad calls and missing sessions of late :roll: , ah well, at least i had a nice sunny weekend at home, I'm happy with that!

Absolutely awesome spot!

These photos have yet to pass the editorial review committee and don't really do it justice. Waves all the way to the horizon line, just go out as far as you dare!

http://www.nzkiteboarding.com/plug.php?e=gallery&f=238

Well your right about the photos.... lol

AWESOME weekend, windy non stop, two BIG sessions sideshore left at Carters, nuking! Later, side off....wicked!
Then the rest of the weekend sessioning at nine mile,cross on, HUGE surf, height of buildings!....well, really big.
Great people, great wind, great waves, great time!!!
A shout out to Derek @ the Star Tavern...good bloke, we were well looked after!

PS. Back in Ch-Ch by 5pm Monday, scored a downwinder from North Beach into the Estuary, then the wind filled in for super flatwater for the boys who were out till dark.

Ya love that 12m Rise Venturi eh John! Never seen him ride so well...

Tim 8)

Oh yeah, bring it on baby - that kite is sweet as... light on the bar, fast turning, lots of lift. Of course it helps to have some decent wind and waves too.