Hey All,
So a KLM (kiting limiting move) by me in the last few months...... had to move to Canberra for work. Hey, I dont mind Canberra, but damn it, closest kiting is really down Batemans Bay or Jarvis. Love Jarvis, hate the drive. (missing Dolls badly....)
Now, the question - has anyone kited in Jindy? Yes, I'm talking about down the road from Perisher and Thredbo. Its a big open lake, and there are sometimes some windsurfers.
Yes, it will be bloody cold, but my folks have a place there that I will be staying at for a week, so I'm just hoping.... praying.... that this is a possibility.
Mikey aka DreadZ
My guess is the wind will be all over the place if it blows at all, even if you managed to jag it to be at the downwind end of the 6km stetch of lake. All you'll get are the remenants of mountain gully winds.
You'll also have to wear the rather high risk of willywillys at this time of year. Have a foolproof disaster backup - Eg. a mate with a boat or jetski. Dont do it alone.
Lake Eucumbene would be better although its more remote, but having been there a couple of times I'd say mountain lakes really arent kite friendly at all.
What are you going to do when you're out in the middle and the wind just dies for 2 hours ? Hypothermia will get you before anyone knows your missing.
Yes I have and yes it's f#$%^n cold mate. You can pretty much ride all winds but the best I've had is NW and SW can be gusty but fun and I rode between the two islands. it was sweet. Summer is nice when you get the summer NW.
Give it a crack have fun and watch the odd snag.
later
Also consider using some kind of PFD as fresh water isn't as buoyant as sea water, you don't float as easily.
Great info, thanks guys. I think a steamer will be in order, and yes, will have a backup boat perhaps. Hahaha, chilly kiting, sounds interesting ....
I reckon you should give it a go. People kite on the mountain lakes in NZ - Lake wanaka, wakatipu (beside queenstown), Coleridge (middle of nowhere and ice melt cold) and Clearwater (nothing to recommend this one). It is ALWAYS really really insanely gusty, but that's part of the adventure. As long as someone knows where you are, and you can swim (I'm still amazed at how many kiters think swimming is an overrated skill) then I say go for it.
They windsurf on Jindabyne so there has to be wind. And now, with bow kites, you can kite in a hurricane, didn't you know!
Lake Coleridge: Mountainy, but GOOD!
