SPI Foiling

[chibern]

In that case you won't mind me calling you "a fucking retard"

as long as you say it correctly...

[chibern]

I would like to hear from SPI foilers about conditions Dec-April if we can get this thread back on point? Looking for an alternative to Baja.

Thanks

Sorry! back to the regular programming...

[caps]

I've been to SPI maybe a dozen times, foiling there the last 5 years with a 76 cm mast in the bay. Every year I go, I have great plans to kite the gulf side but end up going to the bay since the wind was so much stronger there. Southerly gulf side winds have disappointed. But if a northerly blows through, game on in the gulf! Foiling the bay side has saved many lightwind days with the shorter mast. But your longer mast on the bayside would be a waste of time. Gulf side with your mast would easily work. My typical week there would include 1 day kiting the gulf with a surfboard on a downwinder- great fun. Other days usually started with a morning foil in the bay followed by a twin tip boost session if the wind picked up. Otherwise, I'd just keep foiling the bay.

Now LV is hands down the best spot for foiling if you compare the two. But for pure variety, SPI is tough to beat if the wind/weather cooperates.

Cheers!

[StillLovinIt]

I looked up the wind history for the "South Padre Island" sensor for November on iKitesurf (I have a subscription) and one of the main wind directions is NNW which means it's slightly offshore, see image below. I don't think I would kite on the ocean side on those days, definitely not alone.

iKitesurf SPI wind sensor all tme history for November.png (59.81 KiB) Viewed 682 times

In the map image below the SPI sensor is marked with yellow and reading 5 knots when I took the screen shot:

[chibern]

Yeah, I'll definitely pick and choose my days on the Gulf.

Just trying to weigh the pros and cons for the potential light wind days. Do I just bring a big kite and use a TT/SB or skip the big kite and pack the foil and board? More gear to schlep for foiling than just adding a big kite but it is more fun in light wind to foil than mow the lawn on a TT/SB.

I'm not that excited to foil in the LM since I basically foil flat water at home. I'm a relative beginner foiler and I have a hang-up about dropping back down to my 60cm mast too

The Wind Direction plot looks like the # of days are pretty evenly split between NW/SE but the SE direction (favorable for riding on the Gulf-side) tend to be lighter.

[foilfun]

I love SPI foiling in the gulf. November and December are not reliable for SE winds, though (the best direction for the Jetty). The temperature is also hard to anticipate that time of the year. I've been in a shorty for Christmas kiting, but I've also been there for the only two times they've had measurable snow. Brrr However, I keep going back because it's fun and the people there during that time are wonderful.

I've had some incredible waves days on the gulf side foiling (my prefered form of kiting). I've foiled everything from a 3.5m & 590 wing to a 12m & surf wing. All fun. I'm not a bay fan, but the wind usually blows better on that side. So, better than nothing. A 24" or 30" will work if it's high tide, but I've also used a 13" that barely cleared during low tide.

Every year is different, so it's hard to guarantee wind or waves in SPI during winter.