Forums > Kitesurfing   South Australia

Milang is back!

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Created by Chap > 9 months ago, 2 Sep 2010
Chap
SA, 164 posts
2 Sep 2010 10:33AM
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For those of us who drove out onto the sand spit at the State Freestyles 2 years ago, that's no longer an option as it's all underwater. The water is back up to only a few metres from the original lake bank.

Only about 2 legs of the jetty are dry and the boat ramp is back in action. I'd say the main gutter off the end of the jetty would be 3 feet deeper than at the Free's.

I even saw a yacht sailing across the lake on Sunday for the first time since the 2007 Milang-Goolwa Classic.

Bring on the southerly breezes...and summer!

DaGodfather
SA, 280 posts
2 Sep 2010 12:59PM
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I don’t know about everyone else, but I fail to see the benefits…

The water used to be about 1m deep regardless how far out you went so it was safe and easy to retrieve the board - now its above my head.
Last winter I had to QR on the lake about 1km off shore because of a wind change. I then simply walked back in 30++ kts wind and massive chop all the way to the beach.

The water level now is about 1.3m higher then it was in Jan this year and still going up.
My preference is flat shallow water, so I’ve given up on Milang now and started going to Parham instead (its also closer to drive, less chop and the water’s clean!).

Rooboy
SA, 298 posts
2 Sep 2010 4:56PM
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Cool less crowded for the rest of us then, he he.

sharkbiscuit
820 posts
2 Sep 2010 8:57PM
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Hi All

Where is Parham ?. Is this near Webb beach ?. Is it deep enough for a fin ?

Cheers J

easto
116 posts
2 Sep 2010 10:59PM
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We attended the State titles 2 years ago.....i if you arent from that part of the land then it was a huge shock to see Milang like that with FA water,quite sad.....
Its great to see Chaps..... and im sure the great crew that looked after us at the sailing club that night would be fully stoked to have some of their playground back too.
Look at the positive sides of this!!!!!!

Genetrix
SA, 236 posts
3 Sep 2010 10:43AM
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sharkbiscuit said...

Hi All

Where is Parham ?. Is this near Webb beach ?. Is it deep enough for a fin ?

Cheers J



Yeah mate just up from webb, It can be deep enough for windsurfing but ya got to get the tide smack on, also alot of weed in the water so a good weed fin would be needed.
Alot of trial and error is required to get to know the spot and what conditions work, Ive been kiting at parham since 2002 and it took me years to know the spot, but when ya do its all worth the stuff around.



The pic is taken in 20 to 30 knots

sbray
SA, 350 posts
3 Sep 2010 10:59AM
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sharkbiscuit said...

Hi All

Where is Parham ?. Is this near Webb beach ?. Is it deep enough for a fin ?

Cheers J



Parham, (previously & sometimes referred to as Port Parham) is approx 70 km north of the Adelaide CBD.

It is approximately 2 Km north of Webb Beach.

www.google.com.au:443/maps?hl=en&q=port+parham+south+australia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=2zKATPuWB4jqvQPoyYi4BA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CA0Q_AU

Is it deep enough for a fin ?

As with many areas there is a balance of pros & cons with Parham.

The area is tidal.

At very low tides you will have to walk your Kite & board 200mtrs+ before you find enough water to kite. This is usually not considered a "walk of shame" but just a neccessary evil.

The water, as you would expect, can be very skinny as the tide changes.

If you are graced with a good, incoming tide and good wind, you can kite the afternoon away and finish within metres of your transport at the boat ramp as the higher tides can provide up to a half metre depth very close to the carpark.

The minor downside is that this same high tides usually lifts & floats a large portion of the beach weed line which then provide interesting finish rafts.

There are some shallow but craggy rock reefs which can effectively remove fins or chunks of skin. I have achieved both in my short but effective Parham learning curve. I usually wear surf boots, as do many of the permanent kiters at parham.

Some of the area further north is classified within the Wakefield Proof range (Defence Department governed). try www.hydro.gov.au/n2m/1998/edition_5_134-151.pdf, I will leave you to figure it out.

Parham is known for its crabbing so you will possibly encounter persons walking in the shallower waters, not concentrating on kiters.

Please do not clog up the boat ramp with vehicles and make the local's lives more difficult.

There is a small core of long time kiters based at Parham. These are excellent, generous people. They also form a leading role in speed kiting within Australia and now, the world stage.

Parham.......not for everyone but that's probably a good thing

Cheers
Fossil
The eternal learner









DaGodfather
SA, 280 posts
3 Sep 2010 12:22PM
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sharkbiscuit said...

Hi All

Where is Parham ?. Is this near Webb beach ?. Is it deep enough for a fin ?

Cheers J



Sharkbiscuit, do you have Google Earth installed on your PC?
If so, just type in Parham SA into Google Earth and it'll go to it - if you don't have it, below are some screen shots.

To get there from Adelaide just head north on the main Port Wakefield Rd and turn left when you see Parham sign (just past Dublin). Its good bitument road all the way to the beach.







Chops
SA, 107 posts
3 Sep 2010 4:46PM
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Pity Pharam is so shallow. Went their awhile ago and got over hitting the bottom everytime you fell off. If your trying anything new and might land upside down I'd go else where.

Genetrix
SA, 236 posts
3 Sep 2010 5:19PM
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Chops said...

Pity Pharam is so shallow. Went their awhile ago and got over hitting the bottom everytime you fell off. If your trying anything new and might land upside down I'd go else where.


Yeah well Parham isn't freestyle friendly but it is when the tide is high 2m plus , like I said before it takes time and patience to get to know the spot. Parham is one of the best speed kiting spots in the world and can produce good wind when other places don't .
Anyway its good to hear you lads have some water at Milang, should be a good summer for lake kiters . I miss going to boggy and cruising along the reed beds etc. Hope one day it comes good for us all.

KFKiter
SA, 213 posts
3 Sep 2010 5:35PM
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It's good to hear Milang is getting full again.
Chap, are the boats near the reeds nearly floating again?


sharkbiscuit
820 posts
3 Sep 2010 5:01PM
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Thanks for the tips guys. I've been meaning to give these far north beaches a go since I started. I didn't know anyone used them until I heard about Tim's record a few months back. If anyone is going up there again, I'll be keen to tag along

J

Chap
SA, 164 posts
3 Sep 2010 6:57PM
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Actually, Tim makes a good point. I might have to visit Boggy as 07/08 was the last summer it was ridable. Interesting to see if it's ok? Most (formerly) submerged objects have been removed from Boggy and Milang so less dangerous for kiters and windsurfers which is the only bonus.

Paul, yes mate, the yellow Noelex (the one growing grass) is now floating. The white Farr has been taken away but where it was is about 2 feet. Some of the little private jetties even have water. I reckon it's deeper that the first time we did that Pt Sturt downwinder with Nuggy. Might have to do another one!

Genetrix
SA, 236 posts
3 Sep 2010 9:49PM
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If you do happen to check out boggy , please let me know how she is looking. would love to go for a spin on the old lake again.

Nug
SA, 24 posts
3 Sep 2010 10:16PM
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Ill be keen for that chappy love the pt sturt to milang down winder....

EB
SA, 492 posts
3 Sep 2010 11:14PM
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Good news indeed.The lake and river need the water, just checked the radar and the rainfall is heavy in the upper murray the lake should continue too rise.Maybe the level will go over the Clayton Weir?
Anyhow I will be kiting in the Clayton Bay Milang area in January was wandering are there kiters out on a regular basis in summer,have any been to Clayton?
Looking forward to it maybe catch some of you guys out there.



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Forums > Kitesurfing   South Australia


"Milang is back!" started by Chap