December 10, 2008

Ah yes, the good old days. But wait there is more.....

Here is the post from a couple weeks later:

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Keeps the Crowds Away

The wind has been great for at least ten days now. Strong wind and flat water - what more could a kiteboarder want? How about water that wasn't frigid? I'm not talking about Alaska frigid, but 54 degree water is still numbing cold. This is the coldest that I've seen the sea in the 13+ years that I have lived here. A lot of people are braving the cold to hang out at the Soggy Peso Bar on the beach where we kiteboard and all seem to enjoy the show we put on. Sometimes there are seven or eight kiters of all levels out on the water. Some of the spills have been spectacular.

Hmmmm..... 54 degree water. 

Wind is on the Way

The forecasts have been poor and the skies have been cloudy but the kiting has been okay. Looks like we'll have a few days off and then it says it's going to blow for the rest of the year. Yeah, the forecast says the wind will be too northerly but they've been wrong before.

Have A Great Weekend

WNW wind continues at Algodones Beach. Not real strong but enough, and more windy days than days without wind. I'm jealous because I'm in chilly Boston.

Friday was Nice

The wind took a while to arrive, but Friday turned out to be a nice day. Hoping for several more days as good or better.

SUNSET KITING

Wind is Coming

It seems like the refrain lately has been "wait till next week." The wind has been light but should start to pick up today and the forecast is very good for next week.

Declining Forecast

What was looking like a very good stretch of wind this week has turned into unsettled weather with not much wind. Back when we used to have a bunch of us windsurfing at La Manga we could always count on it blowing for Thanksgiving and also we could count on it being cold. It seems that we can't count on anything anymore.

You Never Know

We've had some good days of wind and a couple of disappointing days. The forecasts have been usually close to what we end up getting but sometimes being a little off makes a big difference.  We've had wind that's been too northerly at times but often we get more wind than expected. We no longer have a wind meter on line that is close enough to where we kite. The closest is "Residencial Cortes."

Most days this past week have been good and that may continue through the weekend. The start of next week looks weak but should pick up again starting Thursday.

Water is starting to get chilly - mid 70's and dropping.

Wind!

Forecast includes lots of wind. Sometimes a bit gusty and a bit from the north but there has been some good wind and more coming. The water was full of kites Saturday but almost empty Sunday.

Sunday kiting with the birds.

Season is Looking Good!

We just had a couple of good days at the beach and looking forward to another one today and several more next week. Good 20 to 25 knot winds for most of the afternoon. Water is still warm but the beach is cooling off quickly.

North Winds

The kiteboarding season has started but the wind has been spotty and sometimes from the north. Still great to be out on the water!

Not Much This Week

Unless the forecast changes, there won't be much wind this week. We had some wind this past week and it was nice with the water still warm. It will be getting cool real soon.

Just a Taste

I thought that last week was going to be the start of more regular wind. Tuesday and Wednesday were great and there were good possibilities in the forecast. It was mostly a tease. There are still a few days this week that could end up as kitable. I say that only because the wind direction will be good. Thursday has the best forecast but even that isn't much.

15 to 20

Expecting 15 to 20 knots or better for Tuesday and Wednesday and if we are lucky, for Thursday.

Looking Good!

Good forecast for today and tomorrow and another couple of days next week. Looks like the wind is shifting and the season is starting. Water temp is still in the upper 80's so let's enjoy. I am out of town the rest of this week but looking forward to getting back down there for the start of a new season.

Midweek Wind?

I'm not in town but it looks like tomorrow and Thursday may be very nice. Enjoy

Great Day!

Summer kiting. Today was hot but the wind was strong. We had a bit of variety. Started out nice, then it rained (not enough to stop us) then the wind completely shut off, and came back again. Blew until sunset. At times kites were flying everywhere on the water and at times the beach was criss crossed with lines. Had a few near mishaps on launchings. So, in general it was a great day!

NW Winds

Yesterday and today we are having good northwest winds. The beach has been remodeled and I love what has been done to it! Flat, clean sand. Steep slope to the water's edge. Deep water close to shore. Rocks are gone! As long as another storm doesn't come by and change everything.

Friday?

I just noticed that Windguru is calling for 20 knot WNW wind for Friday, the 11th of September. We'll have to wait and see if that prediction holds. It would be nice!

UPDATE: Friday's forecast has already been lowered, but Saturday's has increased. Not feeling very optimistic about this. Still hoping!  We'll see.

You Never Know!

Every once in a while a northwest day will sneak in here and give us a nice treat. Yesterday was a good day out on the water. No one on the beach. Good steady wind. Water almost too warm. No jelly fish seen. Just Jonathon, David and myself.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Enough wind Friday to get out on the water but pretty mild. The forecast has been lowered for today - but who knows? Thursday's forecast didn't call for much and it blew nicely. Beach was quiet. Too hot.

Friday's Looking Good!

Another rare NW day with hot weather and warm water. Gotta love it!

Summer Wind!

Monday looks like it should kick ass!

I'm in Massachusetts with very little wind - so, have fun without me!

The Season Continues?

We had a good week. First, Hurricane Blanca sent us some big waves and a little wind on Monday. This photo is Jorge surfing La Manga.

Then on Wednesday and Thursday we had 20+ knots of northwest wind and 80 degree water.

Incredible

Conditions were excellent on Sunday. Warm water, warm strong wind, and lots of good friends on the water. Sure it got crowded and a couple of kites got tangled but the day was fantastic. Hoping for a repeat Wednesday and especially Thursday. End of the season blowout special!

It doesn't get any better than this.

Thanks Rogelio for the foto

Here and There

It looks like we may still get a few good kite days here and there. Today's forecast is week but Sunday seems very promising. The next good day may be Thursday. Other days show promise of week westerly or northwesterly wind and may be enough with a larger kite.

( Forecasts change daily and have not been reliable,)

Little Puffs of Wind

The wind still tries once in a while with limited success. A few days this week have a chance to be 10 to 15 knot days. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Maybe it will blow more, at least it should be out of the right direction.

Wind For The Weekend?

Looks like wind for Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

Few and Far Between

We've been getting a couple of days of wind each week. Usually nothing very strong but worth the effort even if the forecast is discouraging. Water temperature is in the low 70's so most all days are good beach days. I'm flying out to Massachusetts tomorrow but it will be too cold for me out there - not even going to take my gear. I hope there will be some wind left in May when I get back.

Wind Guru

Windguru is calling for 25 to 30 knot winds Thursday and Friday. That can change but it sure looks good for now.

Windy Wednesday

We got the wind that was forecast and a whole lot more on Wednesday. It was blowing over 30 knots for awhile. A few years ago most of the kiters would wait for the wind to calm down but yesterday everyone was anxious get get out on the water and give it a try. Conditions were brutal but everyone handled it great. I used to dream of days like yesterday but I haven't been kiting much this year and I took it easy. Damn! I hate wasting a chance to go big. Even taking it easy I was getting big floaty jumps but the potential was there for massive jumps. Please wind - give me another chance!

Later the wind came down to the 20 to 25 knot range and stayed there all afternoon. It got crazy out there with a bunch of kiters all staying up close to the point and throwing down trick after trick, practically on top of each other. Almost as much fun to watch as to do.

I didn't have my camera with me so here are a couple of shots that I borrowed from Poulette's Facebook.

Wind?

Not much wind in the forecast. Maybe some next week - Wednesday and Thursday.

Semana Santa has had a surprising slow start but the party should kick into gear this afternoon. We'll see.

We Had Wind, Now......

We had some wind this weekend. Some days were very good. The forecast is looking pretty dismal for the next several days.

Spring Break

Spring is here and Spring Break is here. What we've been missing is good wind. Today should be good, maybe a 15 to 20 knot day. That's what I'm hoping. Tomorrow a little less. Then not much for a while.( Sigh.)

I just checked an old post to see what we used to get for water temperatures. On April 20, 2006 it was 67 degrees (19.5 C.) Right now the chart shows over 73 degrees (23C.) That's six degrees warmer at a month earlier! Crazy!

Not much kite action to take pictures of so I went in search of bikinis.

Maybe Next Weekend

Not much wind last week and even less predicted for this week. Maybe next weekend!

Another Nice Day

The weather has been nice. Maybe too nice. The beach is getting busy already. Lots of people walking past - at least they aren't in the water yet. La Manga is looking better as an option as we keep getting crowded out.

This Week's Wind

The wind for this week has started and may continue until Tuesday of next week! Wednesday was a mellow day but got up to 20 knots for a while. Here is a video of a couple minutes of the action.

We also had a reminder that wearing a board leash and jumping can be dangerous. Othon's younger son tried and ended up going for stitches to fix a gash in his head. Lots of blood. Ouch!

Strong, Nasty Wind

We had two days of strong but gusty winds this week. We used to get that kind of wind often in years past. It didn't stop kiters from getting out and enjoying the nastiness. Water temperature in the bay is around 70 degrees - crazy for this time of year. The wind might start as early as Tuesday of next week and continue for several days, with Thursday looking the strongest. Mellow winds for the weekend.

Cloudy, Rainy

The wind took a break recently to bring us clouds and some rain but the wind may come back on Tuesday and give us a good Wednesday and maybe Thursday. Then the next week is starting to look very good, although the predictions that far out will often change as we get closer to the date.

Back on the Board

I finally got back to kiting after a ten week forced break. That's the longest I've ever gone without kiting since I started doing the sport. It was a nice day. Prediction was for 10 to 15 but we got 15 to 20. Nice!

Several kiters on both side of the point.

Next Weekend

Good wind today and several days this week should be okay. The great news is that next weekend should be warm and reasonably windy. I'll be back on the water for the weekend and I am looking forward to getting out there with all of the great kiters that come out to enjoy one of the greatest sports in one of the greatest spots. I've missed it.

Blowing

Yesterday was predicted strong wind, and it was. Gusts over 30. A bit nasty in the kiddie pool - easier to handle out in La Manga Bay. Today was supposed to be light wind but the cold front that is moving through here is still bringing wind. Another day of gusts over 35 knots. It is trying to rain, but not much yet. Water temperature is rising already. Sixty six degrees in January! I don't think I have ever seen it so warm.

And, just like that - the wind stopped. Sometime around 4:30 the wind changed direction and died at the beach. That's what I meant about nasty. I hope everyone got off the water in time.

It's all good.

Blowing Past the Predictions

The wind has been good out at the kite areas, Algodones and La Manga. Sometimes the predictions say only 10 to 15 knots or less (today 6 to 8, tomorrow 7 to 9) but out at the beach it can be 15 to 20. As long as the prediction says NW or WNW there is a good chance of nice wind. And the low predictions discourage the out of town kiters from making the drive down here so it is not crowded at all.

Lots of times the view of the sea from in town will look almost calm, but just over the hill to the west it is blowing good. Luckily, we have a wind meter we can check online: Glenn's Meter. This meter is located on the coast of Algodones Bay across from where we kite and always measures a little less than what we get in our "sweet spot."

Over the holidays we had some really cold wind blowing but it has mellowed out lately. Normally the water temperature bottoms out at the end of December or first part of January. It has already climbed back up to 63 or 64 degrees.

The windiest part of the season is yet to come. Blow baby, blow.

Great Day at the Beach!

Yesterday was nice. Lots of talented kiters, old friends, new friends and good strong wind. I'm still reduced to being just a spectator but it was fun to be there on the beach. The wind was no where near as cold as it was a couple of weeks ago although the water is still a chilly 63 degrees.

Brrrrr....

Cold

Cold, gusty, strong. That about sums it up. Except one other thing - fun. I'm not able to get back on the water yet but everyone was having a good time. The holiday sessions are always good for seeing friends that haven't been to the beach in a while.

 Forecast for the next few days is for cold water and cold wind blowing too northerly at times. Good days to check out the waves on the La Manga side.