From my perspective it has been pretty bad, may be due to poor timing etc. One thing to note is "el nino" is officially over as of this year.
What do some other long term kiters reckon?
IMO last year was ok, year before Crap, year before that was great. Just one opinion or is there some truth to it?
What do you think?
It has been a great season, I'm actually giving up the occasional windy day to rest. And the wind is all over Victoria.
I think its better then last year, but due to bad timing i havent had a decent session yet.
Winter was good though!
3 weeks at OldBar starting this week! should be epic!
Depends on how you rate the quality of a year. It certainly hasn't been one of those clockwork afternoon seabreeze years, but we haven't had that for a couple of years.
In terms of average days between sessions? I average a session every 2 days so it's the same as every other year. I think the longest break was 18 days (not including a month off to travel os, which has dropped the total hours as well).
Just a quick look shows that my longest run this year is 6 days kiting in a row. I usually get 3-4 days in a row then 2-3-4 days off.
In terms of hours per kite size I have used my 7m for 24 hours compared to 18+/- for the 13 and the 10 so that's a good sign.
My total hours for the season are up to 60 hours so it's going to be an average year, if not above average. I have deliberately tried to spend time doing other stuff so I am a little bit unhappy that the wind has been around on the weekends when I would prefer to be in the mountains. It's not the worst problem to have.
I've had 14 sessions since October so I think this season is better than last year. But several have been in frontal wind conditions rather than sea breezes - not ideal for newbies. Also, with a Sector 60 I sometimes mean I get a session when others are on the beach.
Have to agree that the wind is there but the quality seems to be lacking.
I remember quite a few years back in my windsurfing days regular afternoon seabreezes that would slowly build to 20-25knts just like a sea breeze should.
Lately it all seems a bit hit and miss!
At least now there is loads of weather data available online to help predict when its going to be on
This post appears every year without fail.
November and December were quite good, let's hopeit continues into the new year.
Btw Perth early Jan should make up for any lack of wind in Melbourne :)
Pushing the fckun pram around the fckun doncaster shoppo all day........ Looking at the green arrows and silently having a winge to my self!
Friday looks good, got the green light on that little pearler!
My season has been good so far , but need to travel also, KITE Point Danger on Monday 8m, Tuesday 10M at Fairhaven ,Wed 10m Middle Brighton and Thursday to Sunday look good as well ,note i am riding 5'5" kitesurf board AND have 6m for big wind days
Good summer season so far, back to a regular 4+ kite sessions a week, most of the time on a 10m
This summer everyone seems to be on a surfboard, during 1 session there was only a single TT on the entire beach.
Had a session to remember yesterday. Maxed out on my 7m!!!!!!
Was great untill some devil in my brain said LOOP THAT ****ER whille your 30feet high!
Torn LCL in knee and sprained ankle!
FCKU U SUMMER!!!
Yep ballistic yesterday afternoon maxed on the 7m on the surfboard. I was amazed to see 2 guys down the beach, 1 pumped up a 12m but luckily thought the better of launching, the second had a 9m and got smashed as he tried to launch, to his credit he pulled the safety before any serious damage. The same guy was struggling to stay up wind during the previous days seabreeze, not sure what made him think he could cope yesterday??
Much better than the last two years IMHO. Still not as good as 2007 - 2010.
Had RAAFS beach to myself for two hours today
Huge day on Thursday 8m on the north wind Then epic kite at Middle Brighton in afternoon 6m rebel ,5'5''kitesurfboard an 4to 5ft waves ALSO KITED today 10m THATS 5 DAYS IN A ROW ,Sat may hit Inverlock
Yesterday at Hampton in 30 knots was epic, I was well powered on my 7 and the swell was big
More photos here: www.peterskiteboarding.com/2012/12/plenty-of-power-in-thirty-knots-at.html
Today was a more mellow sea breeze but still some good waves at Green Point.
Suniboy, sorry to hear of your injury. Take it easy.
Some weeks no wind, others 3-4 sessions easy.
Have had 3 overpowered sessions this week and one average.
Seabreezes seem to be returning but not strong enough on their own, usually the day has to start with a reasonable southerly. But the fronts bring the real action...
1. Shallow Inlet SW 30+ on Monday 24/12
2. Shallow Inlet E 35+ on Wednesday 26/12 (guys with 8m's were coming in overpowered and there was only a 6m out and seemed fully powered up, I had a 9m so had small kite envy but still got great runs/airs)
3. Ricks SSW 35+ Thursday 27/12 overpowered again on my 9m but had some good runs but waves never came through so maybe should have gone to Hampton/Brighton. Some poleys sitting on the beach waiting for wind to drop.
4. Mentone SSW Friday 18~20 ok but fun. Amazing how strong winds make you lazy in lighter winds...
5. Sat looking OK for some wind in the arvo.
6. Tuesday NYD looking good also. Love summer!
You just started this thread to stir up the wind gods, and bring in the last week - which has been windy each day.
If so - a big thanks.