...Sigh...
In march I'm moving from Perth to Brisbane for 18 months (sigh again). I have some questions for the locals...
1) I currently get away with a 7m and 10m kite in Perth. Will I get any use of my 7m in Brisbane (20kts +), I particularly enjoy winter storms 20-30kts. Do you get these in Brissie?
2) Given that i don't normally get out of bed for anything less than 16kts, will my 10m be fine (allowing that i would be kiting less often) or should i be looking into a 12m?
3) I'm moving for work and i therefore have my rent covered and get to choose where to live. I'll be working in eagle farm just north of the gateway. I was choosing between sandgate area/wynnum area/ascot area. Any advice? I've been told to avoid having to cross the gateway at all costs. I want to be close to work, but not too far from the coast. Or would i be better living closer to the nightlife, etc... opinions wanted.
4) Can you/does anybody kite around the wynnum/manly/lota area or is it better driving across to wello if you were to live there. The shoreline looks pretty muddy, i can't see where you would launch.
5) Whats better for weekend kitesurfing, gold coast or sunshine coast?
Cheers in advance.
Matt.
I'd go for Sandgate/Brighton area... 2 minutes to the local beach (which is nicer than wello - less rocks, but more people...) 20min commute on a good day to Eagle Farm - 60mins to the Sunny coast for the weekend trips... 90mins to the Gold coast...
Yes you'll need a 12 unless you weigh under 70kg's - that 7m might get used 2 or 3 times while your here if you ride a twintip - more often if you ride a surfboard at the coast...
The Wynnum area has a few local riders - it is muddy and full of mangroves though - but with the right local knowledge these guys make it work alright... I bet they'd prefer Sandgate 
I like the Sunshine coast on the days off - it's closer, but the swell's smaller...
I did the same move early last year, you properly know it but holly you are going to be disappointed with wind hey. I moved to Scarborough and the set up is ok (wish here was waves but) and locals are friendly and all ways up for chat etc. I pretty much solely used my 7 - 9mtr in WA, I think I have used my 7 twice and my 9 not that much I have a 13mtr which gets the most use now. I recon a 11 would be probably the best size for the average arvo breeze. I have only kited Brighton once and thought it was pretty crapy, lots of mud, the Redcliffe – Scarborough area is nice I’d have a look around before you settle on a base.
I think, I know / knew you in WA hey???
Grant.
How will you get to work if you lived out of the city? The only reason I ask is that if you don't have time to kite in the arvo's after work, then you are better off living closer to the city and hitting the bay/coast on the weekends.
Keep in mind that you are at least a 60min drive to somewhere decent with waves and sandy beaches.
Whatever you do, don't move to the south side . Also, be careful where you chose to live in Sandgate if you do...if you can get somewhere in Ascot/Hamilton/Clayfield, you'd be laughing as it's probably one of the nicer areas in Brisbane
I see you also like cycling...the scene is pretty good here for that...you also like to MTB?
Brisbane is fun - you'll like it!
Also there is no daylight saving in QLD so a Kite after work could be a problem. Depends how much you like Kiting. If you can only kite on the weekends you could have 8 weekends in a row with no wind during the windy season. Plus 16 Knots in WA is different to 16 knots in QLD something to do with air density.
Good luck I wouldn't do it If I were you
Yeah, thanks for the advice fellers.
I was originally keen on the sandgate area, but the more people i speak to, the more i'm leaning towards living close to work somewhere in the gap between sandgate road and the gateway. I ****ing hate traffic, i never really deal with it where i am in Perth. I guess i can still nip off to sandgate after work any time there is wind rather than have to do it everyday.
I was watching a few people kite at sandgate last time i was over there, it wasn't really all that appealing so i think a few weekend trips up the sunny coast might be in order.
To grant: sorry, you must be thinking of someone else, you don't ring a bell.
To Ry: I've heard that bris is good for cycling, but i can't really see where. Where do people go? I often ride to work, but kingsford smith drive looks suicidal.
Finally, does anyone get out on the water in winter storms much over there (ie should i sell my 7m even though it is currently my favourite kite)?
Cheers.
Yeah I'd be keeping your 7 dude, I get out on a 7 at least once a month.
It's not as good as WA but we still get over 25knts even without storms. The storm fronts from the sth are fun if your up for it.
The world you live in is about to change to a dark place, Brisbane for wind & waves is on a different planet to Perth. If you hate traffic then no mater where you live on the North side you will get stuck with it. I work in Eagle Farm and live in Brighton the best thing I found is to use the bike track that runs through the wetlands and when I had my motored bike I could do my 25km trip in about 40min.
Ascot is the best place to live if you want it close to work but remember the traffic can even stop you getting their quickly because of Kingsford Smith drive. The best thing is they are just about to do road works on Kingy and thats going to slow one of Brisbane slowest roads down again.
Are you sure you like this job.
I have been riding Sandgate road for 2+ yrs now and have to agree that the driving in this state is the worst. I put it down to Queenslanders (in general) being very impatient. They run red lights like you wouldnt believe and will cut off a cyclist to turn into the next driveway or street; they aren't patient enough to wait the 2-3 seconds it would take the rider to ride past the point they want to turn at!
But yes, there are some good suburbs that can connect to some very nice cycleway. There were some veloways planned for Stafford Road, Kedron to CBD and Kenmore to Brisbane CBD but I think these have been either put on hold or canned altogether. Its silly that they created these bus ways but never incorporated a cycleway into them.
Matty, I think you will survive...the climate is very agreeable and the kiting not too shabby. Some might say the winds aren't as good as Perth, but at least we can claim our season is longer (if that is any consolation). There are some nice areas in and around the city and there are less great whites. The woman are beautiful and some of them even kite (I think). Either way I am sure the guys around here will make you feel more than welcome in the kiting community and be more than happy share their secret spots with you.
sandgate is full please take a number and well get back to you when we have a vacancy, no wind, crap drivers, dirty water, crowds, cabrina riders are all the norm. the bike paths suck as well. head south
From Wednesdays Paper, front page...... Anyone keen for a kite around Manly area?
Sharks close in at Manly Harbour
NEWSLOCAL NEWS
20 JAN 10 @ 09:16AM
MANLY coast guards have relocated their training grounds after increased sightings of mature bull sharks in Manly Harbour and surrounding waterways.
Coast guard spokesman Harvey Shore said members started spotting shark packs in October and November last year.
He said in response to the heightened risk, the coast guard’s induction course had been moved from harbour waters to local pools.
“We didn’t want our new recruits to be eaten so we tend to do it in pools now,” Mr Shore said.
While swimmers, yachties and water sports enthusiasts are being warned of the danger, Queensland Shark Control Program manager Tony Ham said it was not unusual to see the increased shark numbers.
“Bull sharks generally come into rivers and canal areas at this time of year to breed,’’ he said.
``But with the hot and wet weather over the past few weeks, it would not be unusual to see an increase in numbers close to shore.”
At least one recreational water sports organisation has introduced an electronic shark deterrent to its operations.
Darling Point Sailing Squadron president of Sailability Bayside Kevin Maddox, who helps organise sailing pursuits for around 100 disabled people, said wheelchair-bound sailors were often chest-deep in water before they were transferred to the boat.
``We have an electronic shark deterrent called a shark shield operating any time someone is in the water,’’ he said.
``It sends out a pulse to deter sharks and we won’t put anyone in the water unless we have the device on.’’
The club recently bought the device after shark sightings but are currently working to buy a pontoon to avoid time in the water.
``We’ve heard lots of stories but we haven’t seen anything so I guess the device is working,” he said.
