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Forums > Kitesurfing General

Sri Lanka this winter

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Created by KSSALTONA > 9 months ago, 12 Jun 2012
KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 2:38PM
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Just spent 16days in Sri Lanka with a group we booked. This was our first time running trips as KSS Travel.
It could have turned out better, the wind was on every day from 18-22 knots to start with than we had from 25-28knots for the last 6 days. Wind was blowing day and night with about a 15min break during the night.

We organised the food and had Sri Lankan food with less spice, a lot of seafood and crabs which we caught at night.

The lagoon had its busy times but most of the time i went over lunch and we had the lagoon to ourselves. We also went to a few islands which had the flatest water i have seen so fare.

Great trip but travel from the start of May to end of September and you will have winds 99% of the days.
KSS Travel will be running more trips in July and August!





ApatheticEnd
WA, 995 posts
12 Jun 2012 12:41PM
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How much all up?

Could be on the list for next year.

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 2:58PM
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2000 inc
Airfares
accom
food
transfers.

The trips in july and August are a bit more due to school holidays 2399 and airfares going up in general.

I took 300 spending money mainly for beer and spent about 150.
The trip is well worth it we had so much wind we took a few days off! You can kite from 6am to 6pm.

theDoctor
NSW, 5784 posts
12 Jun 2012 3:31PM
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Only flat water...?

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 3:49PM
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Tones of flat water.
There is some surf but its wind swell we found one spot called donkey point which is protected about 20min downwind. Small waves but clean.

I didnt visit the big wave spot about 1km off shore but i was told there are nice clean waves there when its big. This spot works about 3 days a week.

The side of sri lanka we stayed at isnt really a wave location. If you go to the east side they get some nice surf.

eppo
WA, 9579 posts
12 Jun 2012 2:00PM
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Do they run the tours on the wave side. I'm with the Doc, I would want more waves. Flat water is nice but for only so long.

Sounds like you had a ball, awesome.

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 4:05PM
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I dont actually know but i will find out.
I was told its amazing but only for experienced as the wind is cross off and swell can get quite big.

The North guys test there kites in the flat water spots we kited and in the waves on the other side so must be decent.

jev7337
QLD, 460 posts
12 Jun 2012 4:52PM
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I like the look of that flat water. What's the wind like and what size kite do you need?

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 5:10PM
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There is tones of flat water, we spent a fair bit of time in the lagoons but these islands are the best spots i could find.
Wind is genrally good can be a bit gusty at times when couds come over.

We used 11m the first day or two but would have been fine on a 9m then everyone was on 9m or 7's. I used a 7m for the last 6days of the trip. So i would take around a 10m and 7 or 8m next time.

Laugage is 30kg so i managed to take board with bindings, 3 kites, 2 bars, pump and harness with clothes and weighed 28kg. So there's no problem with taking 3 kites if you have them.

pearl
NSW, 984 posts
12 Jun 2012 5:15PM
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There can be heaps of swell in Sri Lanka. Just got to time the waves and wind. This is a photo of a trip I did there. The waves were breaking over this hotel in the south. I was staying up the road and you would get splashed at high tide in the beachfront cafes having brekky.

felixdcat
WA, 3519 posts
12 Jun 2012 3:19PM
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Looks a bit swampy...... is sand or mud bottom, great flat water!

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 5:35PM
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It is a bit muddy at the island but its not deep mud. The other islands have sand bottoms.
The one in the pics is the muddy one but has the best flat water and goes for k'.

Rob S
VIC, 391 posts
12 Jun 2012 6:20PM
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ApatheticEnd said...

How much all up?

Could be on the list for next year.


Hey Josh,

I was on this trip with the KSS crew. Altona is my local spot.
I made a 13 minute video. I will bring a copy to Cocos for you.
Or PM me your address and I post one now.
I kited 31 sessions in 16 days. Just had the last afternoon off to dry gear and pack.
I travel heaps and I always compare costs on the basis of dollars per potential kiteable day.
It was at the low end of the cost scale.
My 16 days included all meals, Single supplement for private room, A day at Puttalam Lagoon (with boat support) for a downwinder to the islands,
Trip to National park which I opted out of (it was windy)
I took my Zephyr 17 and it stayed in my bag. Used my 11 metre for 6 days and the 8m from then on.
Very windy. Some of the strong wind seemed to be related to the stormy weather in Colombo.
The wind was a bit gusty for those days.

$2718 (Includes $978 airfares)

theDoctor
NSW, 5784 posts
12 Jun 2012 8:05PM
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eppo said...

Do they run the tours on the wave side. I'm with the Doc, I would want more waves. Flat water is nice but for only so long.

Sounds like you had a ball, awesome.


I guess the hash could help to over look the lack of waves...

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 8:20PM
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theDoctor said...

eppo said...

Do they run the tours on the wave side. I'm with the Doc, I would want more waves. Flat water is nice but for only so long.

Sounds like you had a ball, awesome.


I guess the hash could help to over look the lack of waves...


There's plenty of that!! but there is a wave spot at donkey point
www.yokitetour.com/

The big lagoon we dont send people too its too gusty the islands and small lagoon at Kalpitiya is where you get steadier winds, these spots are amazing for flat water.

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
12 Jun 2012 8:39PM
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Here's a little video of two of the flat water spots, it was really windy i was over powered on my 9m. Should have put up a 7.



Chris_M
2129 posts
12 Jun 2012 7:23PM
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Yay-yer! Looks sick!!!!!!!

mrsternmarke
VIC, 10 posts
13 Jun 2012 12:22AM
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hi,
our trip to sri lanka was awesome! learnt a new trick nearly everyday. its amazing for progression at any skill level.
spent the whole month of may



there and was kiting every day. will be back in july for 4 more weeks. perfect kite conditions for flatwater, but also spots to play in waves! The lagoons are perfect to progress and learn new tricks, the kite safaris to the islands offer amazing kiting and downwinders.
check out the homepage of KSS Travel

www.ksstravel.com.au
or
www.facebook.com/KSStravel

cheers lars

TKC1
SA, 52 posts
13 Jun 2012 9:09AM
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felixdcat said...

Looks a bit swampy...... is sand or mud bottom, great flat water!


The Kalpitya lagoon is slime and mud with shells and such.. I'd definitely recommend booties! The Kappaliadi lagoons are much the same but with less damaging shells and more damaging bits of corrugated iron!

I spent over a month there at the beginning of the year and every single cut or scratch I got became horrifically infected and I've got the scars to prove it.. I wouldn't be surprised if the water in the lagoons has some sort of sewerage run-off into them from the villages.. So don't expect clean, clear water!

In saying that.. still great flat water! :)

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
13 Jun 2012 6:08PM
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TKC1 said...

felixdcat said...

Looks a bit swampy...... is sand or mud bottom, great flat water!


The Kalpitya lagoon is slime and mud with shells and such.. I'd definitely recommend booties! The Kappaliadi lagoons are much the same but with less damaging shells and more damaging bits of corrugated iron!

I spent over a month there at the beginning of the year and every single cut or scratch I got became horrifically infected and I've got the scars to prove it.. I wouldn't be surprised if the water in the lagoons has some sort of sewerage run-off into them from the villages.. So don't expect clean, clear water!

In saying that.. still great flat water! :)


The beach we were kiteing didn't have many shells at all, pic attached. So no problems with launching or landing.
The bottom is a bit muddy but they must have cleaned up any iron in the water because there was none.
Also Sh#* running into water no there isn't.

The water isn't clear because of all the wind the silt comes up from the base of the lagoon. In the off season the water is clear so definitely no Sh#* in the water.


Rob S
VIC, 391 posts
13 Jun 2012 8:28PM
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Hey that's me in the blue boardies.

Yep, a bit of mud on the bottom in some places.
But look at the color of the water. I don't see muddy.
If it was unhealthy I would have been crook for sure.

mrsternmarke
VIC, 10 posts
13 Jun 2012 10:08PM
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This is a video of the KTA crew who stayed at the same place. it shows only one of the great spots you can go to on 1 or 2 day trips. the islands offer great steady wind, with amazing flat water spots!

deanrobi
VIC, 641 posts
13 Jun 2012 10:34PM
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Chris_M said...

Yay-yer! Looks sick!!!!!!!


Great vid, what camera set up did you use

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
13 Jun 2012 11:40PM
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Rob S said...

Hey that's me in the blue boardies.

Yep, a bit of mud on the bottom in some places.
But look at the color of the water. I don't see muddy.
If it was unhealthy I would have been crook for sure.


From your 32 sessions, 6-8 hours a day maybe more. We were wondering how you keep going!!

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
13 Jun 2012 11:51PM
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deanrobi said...

Chris_M said...

Yay-yer! Looks sick!!!!!!!


Great vid, what camera set up did you use


Was a really simple cam, its HD but it wasnt mine it was Leo's a french guy we organise accom with. Worth about 300. I can find out if you want? I didnt zoom much because it stuffed up the focus. Its easy to film when your in a spot like that!

ice
VIC, 222 posts
15 Jun 2012 5:42PM
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I went on the May trip with KSS as well and liked it so much I stayed an extra week.

KSS organised everything except my Visa:

- the flights were with a quality airline and we had a 30 kg limit - this allowed me to take two boards (a directional and a twin tip) as well as 2 kites - all were used

- comfortable and well located accomodation - you could kite whenever you wanted - a couple kited every morning at sunrise - I preferred sunset

- fresh, good quality and heaps of food

- friendly and helpful local staff

- day trips to other locations, including the massive flat water spot pictured above

And yes, there was wind 24/7 and I kited everyday on nothing bigger than a 10m.

Thanks Lars and team for an unforgettable kite trip



harryhayes
VIC, 21 posts
21 Jun 2012 6:06PM
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Here's some footage from the KSS trip





Enjoy !

pro merc
NSW, 300 posts
22 Jun 2012 12:06PM
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Looks like a sick place to go, KSS would be a good company to go with im sure!

KSSALTONA
VIC, 207 posts
22 Jun 2012 1:05PM
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pro merc said...

Looks like a sick place to go, KSS would be a good company to go with im sure!


You should come!!

millsy
VIC, 21 posts
2 Aug 2012 1:08PM
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That joint does look s$%t hot! Great pics and vids too.
Im heading over in a couple of weeks for a friends wedding which is down south. Did you guys venture down that way at all? I hear that the winds are nowhere near as strong or consistent as the northwest coast.
Also, did you have any luck with getting cheap gear over there, with the factories being over there. I have two good kites, but thinking of not taking them over and buying while there.
Cheers

craggers
WA, 475 posts
2 Aug 2012 8:16PM
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KSSALTONA said...


The trip is well worth it we had so much wind we took a few days off! You can kite from 6am to 6pm.



6 til 6 ??? Sorry KSS but you lie.... ha ha ha

The legendary Morfil was doing massive boosts from 9pm til after midnight on the first fullmoon session, and on the next one we left at 11pm and CrazyChris insisted on solo session til 3am!! all you could see of him was the white slash from the phosphorous stuff in the water ripping across the lagoon at warp speed!!!



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"Sri Lanka this winter" started by KSSALTONA