Q1.Will some crew be able to get out the back to catch waves in a straight westerly and a 4m swell?
Q2. Do you think Leighton has a marginally better angle for a westerly and a more surfable wave in 4m swell for everyone?

I am keen to see the carnage either way!

The last few days like this at Brighton I didnt see anyone else out bar 1 or 2 desparados.

Ditto Ioz, Good on you waksa for taking it on!! A few crew out at brightons already getting in some praccy, or maybe just grinding off some rust, anyhow they seem to going ok.. there is definately some swell and leightons is definately cleaner than scabs at the moment anyway lots of time for things to change, as said before keep it mobile and bring on the mayhem!!

Im happy with Brighton as long as it is windy like Oz said. Big and light is no good.

make the call on the day. No use getting excited yet, ive seen more than one storm blow itself out in a day.

Jr Walks said...


So theirs no junior division then?? Cheers liam

the young guns is were its at give them a shot at glory

I hear you Sammy and it sounds like a fair enough call.

I will say however that Liam is one of the local groms up our way, he has his head screwed on and knows his limits. He has been at it for a couple of years (after about a year of flying a trainer kite just about every afternoon there was wind), has access to various size kites and his old man is an instructor.
As keen as he is, I have seen him sit out several sessions because he has recognised that it was a bit wild and also seen him handle some pretty full on conditions.

It may be irresponsible for WAKSA to have a junior division in Winter conditions, as that may encourage others that aren't as experienced but what is to stop a beginner entering the open division? and is there a minimum age limit in opens?
I'm not sure where the line should be drawn, after all we all enter at our own risk don't we.
At the moment the forecast for Saturday is only around the 20knot mark, of course as you (and no doubt Liam) are aware it is hard to predict what the wind is going to do at this time of the year.
Must admit that there is likely to be some pretty heavy closeout waves though.


I am working a 12hour nightshift tonight and tomorrow night so I will be giving it a miss. (plus there is no ancient grand master division )
Sunday and Monday look promising though.

It not so much strong wind that will be the danger on Saturday junior but the onshore winds forecast making it difficult to get out through close out sets, and if the wind is lighter it just makes it harder to get out, and easier for the kite to fall out of the sky when riding a wave or on the way in.
My biggest fear with kiting in heavy conditions is not of getting lofted but of being rolled in the lines in the surf and direct onshore winds and closeout surf is the most likely time when something like that could happen.
Just be careful because like the rest of us you will be rusty after a couple of months of no kiting.

Gee wizz

Liam don't be so sensitive, all I'm saying is a junior division in general would not be ideal considering the conditions. But if your so keen and confident in your abilty and father is an instructor and happy for you to go out, then why would you even want to go out against the non existant juniors. Just ask to compete in the opens, I'm sure it won't be a problem if endorsed by senior guy's that have seen you ride.

C'mon mate, 50-60kg holding down a 7m in consistant 30+ knots Like you say, as long as you know your limits.

Good luck and most of all, have fun mate.

WAKSA, I admire your enthusiasm to organise a waveriding event, but I fear your enthusiam may get the better of your judgement as to what conditions to allow for the event to run.

Its all very well a few experienced kiters going out in stormy conditions, good on them. But to run an "official event" in such conditions is irresponsible. It also sends the wrong message to new kiters that it is Ok and safe to kite in such conditions. It isn't. It doesn't matter how good your waveriding and ocean skills are, a 50 knot direct onshore gust could easily drag one of your competitors halfway up Scarborough beach road.

Surely a better contest would be to organise a kitestock style event in the summer in a location with good beachbreaks and a solid seabreeze- Lancelin, Gero ect.

Apparently its not the wave titles its just a comp wave titles being postponed till later on in the year?
GOOD ON yA Liam he should be able to go in the open event (with Fatherly consent) he has more water sense than some guys out there. The other thing is there is a womens division where they are 50-65kg and expected to hold 7m kites.. All in all there will be allot of people wanting to participate and the conditions will keep em out because they know it is extending themselves or there will be some that come a cropper.

Safety- I think as an event it may need an organized crew for rescue purpose just in case... Allot of us have had years out in the surf here and down south and can swim out of trouble. However some dude who hasnt and thinks a kite is going to pull him out of the surf every time may need help.

Again Leighton has a better angle for the dangle and better shape waves on these days, I live and kite at Brighton so I see it every day. Again today 2.5m swell 25knots not a kite in the sky...

Lots of Thanks and appreciation to the WAKSA crew for organizing these events for us all.

Happy days... I lost my liscense so I will be out at Brighton today...lol
PS did anyone see the crazy water spout tornado heading towards Freo yesterday it was nuts, one a few kms off trigg too about 4.30pm.

Yep, saw the water spout as I was packing up, around 4-430 I think... nuts!

AndreC said...
PS did anyone see the crazy water spout tornado heading towards Freo yesterday it was nuts, one a few kms off trigg too about 4.30pm.

Had a short sesh' on my five at Scarb' about 4 PM, and decided it was time to head home when I saw those two water spouts. The one heading towards Freo looked Fn scary.

So definetly on then???

herbyburger said...

Was out leightons yesterday late arvo and Didnt see no water spout tormato, however, after a good sesh, saw the most magical sunset for a long while, when i was packing up for a few minutes the sky was full yellow, seemed surreal, one of those moments when the metro coast actually makes you go-- wow!!!

Yeh that sunset was all time...camera would have sik...it turned on from 5-6 to huh!

Was down there at 9am,, told me that it was postponed until 1pm... fingers crossed