Why we kite SSB instead of Lincoln?

[Brian Kelm]

Killer sesh yesterday at SSB on brand new 13 Ozone Instinct Sport II and brand new Cabrinha surf style board -- gonna REALLY be fun once I learn how to REALLY use them (thnx as ever to Mark J, Ryan & Billy B for inspiration/launch/landings, etc.)!! Unfortunately had to cut it short to hit Bonnie Raitt at Red Butt only to find I would spend the early evening at Animal Hosp with dog's bad cut so missed most of the show anyway... At any rate, I digress, the question is, it seems to me the launch at Lincoln is about 3.942 times better than SSB, what with the grass, pavillion, huge shallow butter throughout the launch area, etc... so why does the crew switch to the trash infested, tighter spaced SSB to kite???? Is it just that it's a few more minutes closer to stoke?! Brian "sheep, no trendsetter" Kelm

[brian.doubek]

I was wondering this same thing after last nights sesh at SSB(it was a great sesh for sure). As far as I can tell, the only thing SSB has over lincoln is the Sandy bottom. Lincoln has the gnarly, gritty bottom but the riding has more variety, and I think the wind might be a little better. If you wear booties and don't ride where it's too shallow, the gritty bottom is a non issue. I undrestand some people have an intense aversion to booties which I have never understood. OK, i can understand it a little for windsurfing or surfing where you walk around on the board but not kiteboarding on a twin tip where your feet are always jammed into the straps.(this bootie thing whole other issue) SO why don't people ride at lincoln? Is there something else I am missing?

[hedquista]

Why i kite ssb. First it was a nice place to learn since you were always going to be blown back to shore instead of a telephone pole and reeds. I hate the rocky bottom at lincoln and always come away with huge gashes in my feet that more than likely get infected. yes i know i can wear booties but i cant feel the board as well. I think of it like a race car driver, the more i can feel my car/board the better i can drive. Sandy beach is the big selling point for ssb. and it is 10 to 15 min closer.

if i could have one thing at ssb it would be flat water like lincoln has. if there is alot of riders at lincoln then the flat water gets too crowded becasue thats where you have to enter and exit the beach, no good riding for tricks and such. so there is a choice of what i want to ride that tells me where to ride.

I dont want it to become like the gorge at hood river where there is a place that the "really good riders" ride in the butter water and if you cant throw down then they will hassel you and boo you in to leaving. I like all the company even though it was crowded last night. i jsut go out a little farther to do my tricks and learn to use the waves to my advantage.(still working on that.)

Alex

[bordy]

Peer pressure.......

On any given north day you can find kiters at either spot. Its your choice. Each spot has advantages and disadvantages.

As a begginer lincoln has lots of pluses. But when you want to be able to throw tricks and not worry about cracking your skull on a rocky bottom while still having water depth that aids realuancing becuase you keep blowing the tricks while learning then SSB is the choice. If your a flat whater whore then Lincoln be the spot. Its your call.

As far as bootys go if you can ride with them consider yourself lucky. I put them on when the water gets cold and I need them, but I curse them the entire time I am wearing them. Plus one you land hard enough to get wedged into the strap with booties on you'll see the other issue, and it is painful......

BB

[KyrkWright]

Tuesday night was the first time for me at SSB. I am a beginner and have been to Lincoln a few times. For me, I loved the sandy bottom since I spent more time on my feet than those of you more experienced guys and gals. Secondly, I felt I had more space to practice and not be in the way as much as I feel I am at Lincoln. At LB it seems like one or two beginners is all it will handle, but at SSB there seems to be more room for everyone and the experienced riders seemed to just go out a little farther as we beginners attempted to go upwind as best as we could. Plus it is shallow for so far along the beach that again, it just gave me more space to practice and not always feel like I am in the way with only 100 meters of room. It was different dealing with waves of any kind which was pretty much a first for me but overall it was not too bad at all.

So that is my take on it as a beginner. Maybe I will feel different as a more experienced rider. But I am with Billy in his feelings for booties, so anytime I can have sand under the feet instead of rocks I think I will go there!

[mike loeser]

I'm a flat water be-atch and like Lincoln, for the lazy man's bonuses, ie. grass, potty, water and such. I hate booties as much as anyone else, but you still take the chance of stepping on rebarb, beer bottles, nails, dead bodies and such as SSB. You've seen what gets burned out there when the water goes down. So I don't recommend stepping on anything anywhere, even with booties it can be dangerous. It is nice that we have two spots to keep the crowds down as this sport is growing fast.
Mike L.

[Kenny]

I really like the flat water section at SSB where you go back into the reeds. Is it just me or has more sand been deposited at the opening (for that matter all around SSB) It seemed to me that we used to ride that section when the water was lower than it is now without any problem. Now you have to ride finless to go back in there without getting hung up on a sandbar.