5/21 Rat Beach, Torrance SoCa

[Kenny]

"When you travel, take a full quiver" is the advice I always give. Well, I didn't take my own advice and traveled light with 2 large light wind kites. Of course, that means that the wind would have to nuke. Yesterday, I went to Belmont early in the morning and it was already blowing 20 knots, so I went to Rat Beach which is at the south end of Torrance Beach. The waves were huge, double high and the wind was light and swirly - talk about a scary combination for a flatlander. I went out with the 19M SilverArrow. The wind would honk for 15 seconds, lull for 15 seconds and then be perfect for 30. Felt like I was wakeboarding behind a boat with a drunk captain manning the throttle, add to that crushing waves and I am glad to be here in one piece with all of my gear intact. The wind was way too funky to ride the waves, so I got out of the break zone and rode the huge swell. Felt like a tiny boat being tossed around in a stormy sea. After about 90 minutes of getting yanked around I called it a day. The wind picked up and steadied out as I put my gear away. I would have gone out again, but I had a flight to catch. Oh well, it was an experience.

[MikE mAy]

Kenny!!!

i need some info on north bay kiting. can you help? in a few weeks i'm goign to cleveland for 4 days and then Santa Monica area for two. taking the kites and hope to get some rides in both places... where did you get your info on LA riding, or do you just show up and hope for the best?

[Kenny]

Mike,

A good link is http://www.scka.org. It has information on some of the launch areas. Another good place to check is the southwestern forum on ikitesurf.

I have tried a couple locations in the north bay. I have been to Leo Carrillo and Zuma. Zuma is more wide open and has less pressure because it is typically a little less windy. I liked Zuma because I could ride the waves without having to get into a lineup. Leo Carrillo is a lot more popular and some days it will be windy enough to ride there, but not at Zuma. Leo has a nice area with relatively flat water due to kelp beds upwind. However, a lot of other riders seem to like the flat area as well. The waves are nice at Leo as well, but you will have to share them with other riders. The other popular area to ride is Topanga. I have not been there yet. I understand that it is a tight launch.

If you want warmer water and the most consistent hair blower wind you have ever experienced in your life, drive down to Belmont or Seal. Of the two I prefer Seal, the water is cleaner and warmer, but you do have to shuffle your feet because it is a string ray paradise. If you tack up wind at Seal there is a big flat water area that is very sweet. You can land just about anything in wind that consistent and flat water.

I advise staying away from Cabrillo. It is one of the more windy locations, but it is also popular with beach goers. The water is always very cold, the wind is always very gusty and downwind are big nasty rocks. If you don't feel comfortable going to DC by yourself, you don't want to go to Cabrillo.

Rat Beach is nice and scenic, but the wind is very difficult to forecast there. I kite it a lot because it is only 10 minutes from my father-in-law's home.

My favorite spot is Zuma, with Rat Beach and Leo tied for second. All can have very intense wave action. So check the surf report before going to those locations. ikitesurf is the best spot for forecasts and up-to-date wind reports. I usually do not decide where I am going to go until around noon. The wind is more difficult to predict there due to the Catalina Eddy. Some days the Eddy shuts just about everything down. On those days, Rat Beach often fires when nothing else does. Good luck down there. I am still sore from kiting 4 out of 5 days.

Kenny

[MikE mAy]

nice kenny! as usual- you are the man that is dialed into locations you rarely get to visit. i'll check those forums out and let you know what happens. i've got only a small window- friday after i see a customer and before i go to a wedding and saturday day before my flight leaves at 5. so, it's chancy that i will even get time and a spot nearby, but if cleveland looks like a possibility i'm goign to bring my kites and boards and see what happens....


i wish we had names like rat beach here... maybe we need to get creative and rename some spots?

[Kenny]

Mike,

I hope you get some kiting in SoCa. Your window is tight. Typically, the wind is best in the late afternoon there, but the pattern can change. Watch ikitesurf closely.

I have been to Cleveland, but I have never kited there. I would start researching it now. You may be able to get a local to show you around. I have done that on business trips to Madison, WI and Des Moines, IA - both have good kiting.

Kenny

[bordy]

how cute you two have the same avtar.....

[John Dubock]

I'm no dark sider but having surfed since 1964 in Calif., I can vouch for Kenny's tips. North of Santa Monica I'm seeing kites going out anywhere they please. Sunday drivers are ga ga with their cameras when you see a bright kite in a spot where no one else sails. Above Leo area you have good afternoon winds and kelp outside. No need to share with surfers, tons of unnamed locations. Parking is nuts I suppose in the summer though, sharing with 35M souls. Ventura C Street rocks but thats 90mins from LAX. Buoy reports are a dime a dozen.

Tin Can Beach is a good name, aka Bolsa Chica. Next to Tar pits.