By Julie Gilbert
August 5, 2004
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Julie Gilbert in Tarifa
Photo by Ludovic Franco
Courtesy of Red Bull |
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Whether you just picked up the kiteboarding bug or you've had it for awhile
now, whether you're thinking ahead to ward off the winter doldrums or
you just want to plan a kiteboarding vacation somewhere new, or whether this
trip is for you and your buddies or it's a trip with your wife or hubby
and you're trying to disguise it as 'not just a kiteboarding trip', read on
for tips regarding some great places to consider for your next kiteboarding
vacation.
I've been to countless kiteboarding spots around the globe, some good, some
bad, some just average and some I'd put on my top ten list any day of the
week. A handful on those sweet spots are Maui, The Gorge (Hood River,
Oregon), Baja, Dominican Republic, Tarifa, Spain, the Oregon and California
coasts, and one soon to be on my list - Australia. Each spot has pros and
cons of course, and each spot deserves a column of its own, but my goal here
is to give you just a taste of each spot in hopes that it may inspire a
trip you'll be able to record in your scrapbooks forever.
First up - Maui. Now although Maui may have gotten a bad rap for certain
things in the past - poor hospitality from local kiteboarders, strong gusty
wind, kiteboarding politics, etc. - these are all things that are have been
blown out of proportion. Sure, there's some truth in the rumors, but believe
me (I live there part time) there's many more reasons to visit the magic
isle than not. First is the sheer number of days that Maui is windy in a
given year. We've had some flukey winters in the past, but you are far more
likely to kiteboard than sit on the beach waiting for wind, and that's a
great thing when you're on a kiteboarding vacation. We do have more than our
fair share of strong wind days, so don't just bring your 20 meter
kite. You'll have to go much smaller. As for the few people not versed in
hospitality at Kite Beach, I am not sure who gets that bad rap, but Kite
Beach is really a great kiteboarding community. You just have to give it a
chance. If you need kiteboarding lessons, there are many companies like
Kiteboarding School of Maui to give you a hand. And as for the kiteboarding
politics, just don't get involved. You're on vacation, remember? Drop into a
local shop, get the lowdown on where and where not to kiteboard, introduce
yourself to the local crew and ENJOY! There are a lot of windy days to be
had on Maui, and if there's no wind, you'll have plenty to do with Haleakala
Crater to hike, the reefs to snorkel, the local culture to enjoy, and much,
much more.
Another one of my favorite places to kiteboard is The Gorge. Not necessarily
because it has the steadiest wind in the world, but because it has so much
to offer. You can snowboard, mountain bike, hike, kayak, fly-fish, kiteboard
and more all in one day. With Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens all
nearby, it's a photographers dream! The Gorge carved out by the Columbia
River makes for great scenic views, as well, but that's not what I like best
about the area. Again, it's the number of windy days that makes this place
one of the top on my list for a kiteboarding vacation. I'm sure you've heard
the rumors that the Gorge can be gusty. Well, it can be, but it can also be
great. With spots like Stevenson, Rufus, and some other secret spots, you're
sure to enjoy. If you're just learning, there's a great sandbar on which to
learn and heaps of lesson companies to teach you. If your crew consists of
non-kiteboarders, they'll be happy as well. It's an outdoor enthusiasts
dream, and after a full day of action (it doesn't get dark until nearly
10:00pm during the summer), you'll want to dive into one of the local
hotspots in the quaint town of Hood River. Check it out; you'll definitely be
back time and time again.
Speaking of Oregon, another one of my favorites is the Oregon coast. There
are numerous spots to enjoy on the beautiful Pacific coast--so many it's
impossible for me to name them, and many more that are getting discovered as
we speak - Astoria, Manzanita, Florence just to name a few. You have to have
open ears and eyes to the weather to hit it good at the coast, but when it's
good, it's good. Just make sure you bring a thick wetsuit, some booties, and
possibly a hood. Although the air temperature may be warm, don't let it fool
you. That Oregon coast is pretty darn cold! You may cringe just thinking
about getting in a 5ml wetsuit, but you'll be glad you have it, and
remember - the cold water is part of what keeps the crowds down on the coast,
so enjoy the natural crowd control. Just make sure you know what you're
doing; don't go out farther than you're willing to swim back with ice cream
headache if anything goes wrong.
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