Just got back. Awesome fri arvo, head high and above, little onshore should have driven up beach a little more but was running out of sunlight. Got worked on the rebel due to the on shore winds and hitting these large waves side on, haven't kited for two months so ended up inverting the rebel and getting washed into shore. Put the Vegas up and had a blast.
Beefarmer came down, we did a nice and steady morning session more northerly in it, a little lighter, swell was dropping but still large enough. Then did a downwinders arvo session, wind way more east in it and much stronger. Also down the beach much more cross and easier to get out. Did my first boost on the 11m rebel and went big, as I came down I thought Beefarmer was in for a fight on his 14m new kite. I was right. Way too overpowered.
Anyhow moral of the story, not a bad option on a northerly or north Easter, maybe easterly, but you would also want. Decent swell running. Breaks a fair way out, parrys.denmark ocean beach style, but you gotta pick your swell lines.
Worth the drive? Only if you re desperate like I was. If north east nothing else is working, and the swell in running would be worth it. Want 2.5 m plus or I wouldn't bother.
Beefarmer took some pics, he will send me to us. Which is cool haven't had a pic of me kiting since 2004!
Ya tight lines, ya saved my sanity man.
Looks like a fair swell and a bit of wind, wish I had made it, it's a nice corner of the world.
Hey eppo Ive been in Mandurah on and off for the last couple of months and ill be getting back there on friday. How does the wind compare on seabreeze to what is actualy happening in the eastury on an easterly? Has any one tried Doddies on a north easterly? Im sitting on a boat just north of Exmouth right now and we have recorded up to 32kts easterly this morning, looking to stay that way for a bit too.
Well there is a reason why we don't get a great deal of kiter's down here (well as many as you would expect given it is close-ish to Perth.
In summer (kind of like bunbury) there seems to be a wind hole...or the seabreeze kicks in like say 20km up the road at safety bay/even as far down as singleton, but then it backs off - not all the time, but most the time.
Hence I will use my 11m rebel 80 to 90% of the time. It is the effect of the estuary.
The easterlies are closer to prediction. The north easter is not particularly flash on the estuary, comes over the land a fair bit before it hits the water body. Windsurfers don;t mind it, even some kiters but I don't like the gutsy result.
Doddies is your best bet on a north easter, but the water/swell/wind direction do not compliment each other real well and it is a choppy de loppy ride on a north easter...but if ya desperate who cares right! Also even here, with a fair expanse of water before it hits doddies, the wind is quite gusty and does have holes in it. It also seems to have periods of real low wind, then band will kick in again for 10 minutes, then nothing again...the definition of a easterley I suppose.
Easturay much better on south east/east/south and even south west - although get me in the surf anyday, not a fan of the estuary, bores the living crap out of me and if you do come down here in winter, bring ya boots and hoods, the water is bloody freezing compared to the ocean, especially if you wonder a little further south.
Hope that answers ya question, chuck us a pm next time you are around, catch up for a kite.
In summary people do wonder why the sport isn't as popular down here, but the wind shadow/differences is pronounced and it is a decent drive to find the forecast all messed up as it can invariably be. Must be the esturay, been kiting here 9 years now and I still scratch my head sometimes.
Nice one cheers mate
I have moved to Mandurah now will be back in on Friday working a 4 on 4 off roster. Definatley keen to get some wind even if it means travelling to find it. Little bit frustrating over the winter when mates in Broome are getting more kiting in than me but I guess ill make up for it over the summer.
here's another little shack on the beach i found when i was down there, around the corner. looks like you can stay for free if you want. needs a bit of love though.
Stayed there ^ a few times myself :) 
Last time I kited, at Doddis with a bit of East in a southerly, I smashed my foot... that was 18 months ago. 
Had more surgery last week 
PS You guys suck 
Had more surgery last week
Well it seems our local kite beaches have been discovered down here in Albany. The nature of the coastline allows a kite location for each wind direction.
Best to be cautious of the big fish down this way! They bite in large chunks!
