All-
Headed to Perth for two and half weeks from late December to early January. I am staying near Trigg Beach and will have the family with me. Was hoping to get a couple tips for the trip:
1. Kite sizes: looking at the forecast (I am 85kg with a directional), was planning on a 7, 9, 12. Any reason for smaller kites? I remember the winds howling down off one of the points, but other than that remember it being mostly in the 14-25 knot range.
2. Margaret River- never been here before. Any particular beaches to kite (or not to kite) understanding that I am beginner/intermediate kitesurfer so will not be looking for anything over head or super technical.
3. Learning to foil: with plenty of wind during this time, is learning to foil easy to do? Or is it worth just concentrating on wave riding while in Perth? Was thinking it would be nice since the weather is beautiful but imagine you would want to travel to flat water to learn versus the beach. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.
Cheers to anyone who has the time to respond!
Tom

1) kites are all good and your guess on the wind is too.
2) Margaret river doesn't really have beginner / intermediate kite places. Try Augusta which is 50kms from Margs. There's the river mouth and the southern ocean.
3) foiling is reasonably easy to learn, but if you're time poor and unable to do it when you return I'd focus on improving your normal kiting. Or get a few lessons. Kitebud is a bit further north from Trigg but I hear does good lessons at Pinaroo Point. The river is a good spot if you're going to try teach yourself (from Melville Beach Road) in a SW or Attadale's dog Beach in the morning easterly. You'll need at least 2 hours to get up and going if you've got the right gear. Leighton also good if the wind is less than 15 knots - gets a bit bumpy otherwise.

Good luck and hopefully you don't get here when it's too hot - above 35 deg c and the seabreeze is ****. Above 40 deg c and the seabreeze is non-existent!

Hi Tom,

Have a look at our location guide here: www.kitebud.com.au/locations/ Augusta might be your best bet on the ocean side with a directional board. Augusta only works on SE winds, which may happen down there especially if it gets very hot in Perth (35-40 degrees)
Margaret river has mostly advanced spots like main break, wouldn't advise kiting there unless you are very comfortable with larger waves and shallow reef.

We'd be happy to introduce you to foiling although you have to plan this in advance as our schedule is usually jam packed at this time of year.

Mikey gave you pretty good advice, we are having an unusually hot summer which means less sea breezes in Perth . You could even consider Albany.

Christian

Regarding Margaret river, is this a place you can only ride with a leg rope?

Thanks Mike and Christian for the tips!
Will check out the guide and get back to you about the foil lessons. Appreciate the help!
Tom

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CJ2478 said..
Regarding Margaret river, is this a place you can only ride with a leg rope?

yes

Margaret river has magnificent wine's
Trigg hasnt

2hrs is enough to learn foiling if you are a genious (does occasionally happen). Being good on directional helps.

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TomKites said..
All-
Headed to Perth for two and half weeks from late December to early January. I am staying near Trigg Beach and will have the family with me. Was hoping to get a couple tips for the trip:
1. Kite sizes: looking at the forecast (I am 85kg with a directional), was planning on a 7, 9, 12. Any reason for smaller kites? I remember the winds howling down off one of the points, but other than that remember it being mostly in the 14-25 knot range.
2. Margaret River- never been here before. Any particular beaches to kite (or not to kite) understanding that I am beginner/intermediate kitesurfer so will not be looking for anything over head or super technical.
3. Learning to foil: with plenty of wind during this time, is learning to foil easy to do? Or is it worth just concentrating on wave riding while in Perth? Was thinking it would be nice since the weather is beautiful but imagine you would want to travel to flat water to learn versus the beach. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.
Cheers to anyone who has the time to respond!
Tom

Hey Tom
My advice:
1. - agree with kite sizes, though if it gets 25 - 30 knots, which it can do, a 6 or 5m is also good to have, but with a 7m, you'll cover 90% of wind ranges we normally have this time of year.
2. - Augusta rivermouth/ocean-side definitely a great spot to kite as a beginner/intermediate, with a SE wind. There are other spots which are also beginner/intermediate friendly down there on a SW, such as Boodyadup beach, Boranup beach and Honeycomb beach, when there's a small swell <2m. But stay away from ALL the reefs down there if your not super confident in the waves. All the kiteable reefs down there are pretty heavy, not very forgiving and generally kinda technical launch spots too. You'll also be kiting by yourself at almost all reef-breaks down there, except Margs Main-Break, which is experts only and full of poleys.
3. - fark-knows - that's my plan for a retirement sport.....

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danno said..

TomKites said..
All-
Headed to Perth for two and half weeks from late December to early January. I am staying near Trigg Beach and will have the family with me. Was hoping to get a couple tips for the trip:
1. Kite sizes: looking at the forecast (I am 85kg with a directional), was planning on a 7, 9, 12. Any reason for smaller kites? I remember the winds howling down off one of the points, but other than that remember it being mostly in the 14-25 knot range.
2. Margaret River- never been here before. Any particular beaches to kite (or not to kite) understanding that I am beginner/intermediate kitesurfer so will not be looking for anything over head or super technical.
3. Learning to foil: with plenty of wind during this time, is learning to foil easy to do? Or is it worth just concentrating on wave riding while in Perth? Was thinking it would be nice since the weather is beautiful but imagine you would want to travel to flat water to learn versus the beach. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.
Cheers to anyone who has the time to respond!
Tom

Hey Tom
My advice:
1. - agree with kite sizes, though if it gets 25 - 30 knots, which it can do, a 6 or 5m is also good to have, but with a 7m, you'll cover 90% of wind ranges we normally have this time of year.
2. - Augusta rivermouth/ocean-side definitely a great spot to kite as a beginner/intermediate, with a SE wind. There are other spots which are also beginner/intermediate friendly down there on a SW, such as Boodyadup beach, Boranup beach and Honeycomb beach, when there's a small swell 3. - fark-knows - that's my plan for a retirement sport.....

Danno -
thanks for the feedback. I took your advice and switched my 7m with a 6m. But then I looked at sea breeze forecast This morning for City Beach and now I've entered kite surfer purgatory debating between the 6m and 7m!

any thoughts before I leave tonight? Thought a 6m would help if I try foiling - but looking at the forecast, it looks like 80% 7m weather.
any debate / thoughts welcome.
Tom

Just go the 7 mate