Hey, anyone been to the Cook islands lately to kite?? We are thinking of Aitutaki Island (images.google.com.au/images?q=Aitutaki&a...p;btnG=Search+Images) in June/July but are not too sure how raliable the trade winds are..... Anyone found a site with wind stats??

Dunno about wind stats...

But what I have learnt from my own experience is that trade winds are very fickle in the South Pacific.....

So if you do go, take other things to keep yourself entertained ( e.g. surfboard, snorkelling gear, knitting) if a broad trough of low pressure should decide to kill all high pressure trade-related wind.

Do not, at all costs, run over or sleep with any of the locals pigs.

Cheers, when did you and/or people you know go there?? Anywhere more reliable for June/June trade winds in the south pacific??

been to rarotonga/muri beach for a one week midwinter escape, but with no kiting gear, last june.
10-12kn was the most i've seen for a few hours in the whole week, but mostly it was around 6-8kn.

if you want to go somewhere specifically for a kiting holiday, i guess there will be more reliable places for trade winds.

I went to Rarotonga, Muri beach aswell in October, got up to about 12knots at the most one day out of 12, was definitly not windy enough. But awesome diving on the other reefs.

Aituitaki is a gorgeous kite-surfing location, wait-deep for miles.
We got 3 days out of four, only one sample though.
I think Aitutaki is in a more trade-wind prone zone than Raro, there are no mountains to push the wind though. Like almost everywhere, you can't rely on the wind.

Simon

Went there in Oct as well (both Muri and Aitutaki). Had 2-3 days kiting out of 9, 2 days Muri and only 1 day Aitutaki (was there for about 6 days). Would be awesome if the wind came thru. We got stung by Air NZ and Air Raro for excess baggage so take a bow kite (1 size fits all) if you dont want to pay extra. :?

bro, lived up that way and taught my self to kite there, the place is one of the last kite paradises left pretty untouched...not too much else to do up there{ diving, not much surfing unless you know spots X, Y, Z} trade winds will start around this time but will be better later around september oct. ....trades are S.E. but can get westilies as well, get the bishops boat to one foot , kite the sand bar for a few hours , then down wind back to samadi bar for a well deserved cold one or three, then do it all over again the next day...if you want more low down give me a call 021767597 chur t 8)

I kited Aitutaki in june 2004, took a 16 as my only kite, I was pretty inexperienced back then but could have kited 7 of 7 days if I hadnt burst a LE bladder. I found a windmeter site at the Airport at Zuji.com and had a stab at kite size from that. If you took 16 and 12 you would be sweet, but watch the 16kg airline weight limit. It is the most amazing flatwater place you will ever kite.
Slyde