Headed to SPI end of April

[backcountry]

I am headed to SPI the end of April. I have 14, 12, 9, and 6m kites. Which ones could I leave home and have the best chance of not getting skunked. Don't want to have to pay for extra bags...

Thanks BC

[rogue_kiteboarder]

Leave The 6, possibly the 14, depending on how big you are and what size board you use.

[backcountry]

Thanks. I am 175 and have a 150 mako. I have a mako duke as well, but not sure I want to fly with it.

[Jollydriver]

I am headed to SPI the end of April. I have 14, 12, 9, and 6m kites. Which ones could I leave home...
Thanks BC

A little more information about your weight, boards/style would be helpful. For instance, if your 75kg, riding only directional boards on the surf side, then I'm not sure if I'd leave the 6m at home. On the other hand, if your 95kg, riding twin-tips only, mostly looking for flat water/freestyle conditions, then the decision would be different.

Here is a good website with historical wind averages for SPI:
http://www.airpadrekiteboarding.com/wea ... peeds.html

History says you have a 63% chance of 15 mph or greater winds. May is even better with an 85% chance of 15 mph or greater winds. They both indicate a 40% chance for 20 mph or greater winds.

Hope you have a great trip.

JD

[backcountry]

Thanks JD. I am 80KG and am probably going to bring 150 mako. I have used it to play in the surf a little bit on the Oregon coast, so may consider some wave action when I get there. My wife is going to try and take some lessons, so we may spend more time on the flat side. Might bring my directional as well, all depends on how much money I want to give the airlines

[jakemoore]

There are light days and nuclear days. I would bring the 6 and the 9 certainly. Consider to leave either the 12 or the 14 behind. Although the 12 would be the sweeter size, I would probably bring the 14 if you felt like you could step from 9 to 14.

If you are coming to kite surf, I would pay to bring the 4 kites. If you wouldn't mind doing a fishing trip or going to Schlitterbahn on the light wind days, leave the big kite behind.

There are also cold and warm days. So bring a steamer and a wet suit jacket.

[jakemoore]

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... =graphical

These NOAA hourly graphs are reasonably accurate 5 days out so you will have a better idea.

[backcountry]

Thank you for the info. Will make the call a couple of days prior to leaving after looking at forecast.

[irwe]

I would take all your kites if you can. The fist one I would drop is the 6 m unless you plan on letting your wife practice with it.
Rent a surfboard from AirPadre if you don't plan on using one every day.
Make sure your wife brings at least a shorty wetsuit as you can still get some colder NorEasters in April.
If you have a trainer kite bring that as well for your wife as there is a wide open sand flat (North Flats) where she can practice.
I think SPI is one of the best places to learn to kite in North America.

[backcountry]

Thanks for the info. My wife took lessons in the Dominican years ago. My go to place in the summer is hood river and it can get kind of crazy on the spit, which has not been the best for trying to get her going again. She is ready for flat shallow warm water. Been snow kiting several times in new idaho, so I am ready for warm as well.

I bought a mako duke directional last summer and have only been on it a couple of times. Am thinking I might leave the tt's home and use the flats to learn how to jibe. It is 18 degrees here as I post this. Am ready for warm...