Kiting on Lake Burley Griffin

[Magoo]

Does it go?

I remember seeing a few guys out in East Basin ages back, but haven't seen any out for a while. Not sure if that's just because of the algae, if the authorities have been making it difficult, or if the wind is just too unreliable.

Have any of you guys been kiting on the lake?

 

I saw on the NCA website that the man eating blue green algae has moved on and the lake has been reopened to swimming

http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index ... Itemid=317

so I'm wondering if there is anyone out there keen for spin?

 

Cheers,

Nathan

[skinduptruk]

hopefully a few of the guys here have pm'ed you about the risks.

i've never kitesurfed the lake but have windsurfed. my advice is don't try in winter. strong gusty westerlies and cold water aren't worth it. in summer you might get an easterly, but be careful as there is some turbulence at the best of times. the lake bed can be rocky in places, there is the wall to deal with and setting up areas are limited. we've all seen the massive thermal lofting on youtube. the 2nd highest lofting i've seen was a guy in about 2002 being lofted in a 25kt easterly on the lake. probably an old C kite tho

if we are really lucky the kingston foreshore development will give us some sort of area to setup and launch for a quick kitesurf in the long summer evenings luckier still, the will take out the powerlines, and smooth out the dairy farm at that eastern end and we'll have a sweet kitepark for land and water! http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=-35.309091,149.158709&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=-35.308857,149.158502&sspn=0.025355,0.066047&ie=UTF8&ll=-35.309049,149.158716&spn=0.012678,0.033023&t=h&z=16

compared to all this hassle, you could wake up a few hours early and drive down to broulee which has a great flat water spot down at the southern end.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=-35.855,150.183&sll=-35.852535,150.185122&sspn=0.025184,0.066047&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=-35.855422,150.18302&spn=0.025183,0.066047&z=15&iwloc=A

[Steve]

Listen to skinduptruk's advice, and just don't do it!

Look at the lake look at whats downwind, imagine what will happen if there are any lulls and/or you drop you kite and cannot relaunch?

Its not a good spot, even in an easterly, IMO.

[SoutherlyBuster]

we've all seen the massive thermal lofting on youtube. the 2nd highest lofting i've seen was a guy in about 2002 being lofted in a 25kt easterly on the lake. probably an old C kite tho

Is that the lofting shot in the USA, California I think, the one with the fella on the beach talking away with a weird hat on and then the CAM pans over to the lofting? Or is this a vid of a Canberra lofting?

I did hear about the thermal lofting on the dry lake in Canberra, I believe Goshen was there and pulled his safety.

Regards,

Norman.

[techno]

OK i am one of the guys that kite surf on the lakes in Canberra.

Lake Burley Griffin in an north west is great setup at the boathouse restaurant all year

winter can get a bit cold LOL very F**KEN cold but with the right wetsuit lots of fun as for the algae i was out kiting in the lakes

the hol time the signs were up and i was fine.

Lake Ginninderra in an easterly is great setup next to the old water police shack off beissel st in Belconnen

most of the guys that once kite surfed here Canberra have moved so i think it only me and two others now

So with any luck i mite see you out on the lakes here in Canberra

Happy Days

Ben

[Magoo]

Thanks for the replies guys.

imagine what will happen if there are any lulls and/or you drop you kite and cannot relaunch?

I'm not sure what you're driving at here Steve. How is it any different than if the wind packs it in at the coast, or do you just think that it's more likely? I wasn't thinking of going any where near the dam wall end of the lake, if that's what you mean. That's way to scary for this chump.

the 2nd highest lofting i've seen was a guy in about 2002 being lofted in a 25kt easterly on the lake.

Do you think the lake contributed to this, or is it likely that the guy had more kite up to keep going in the lulls? Unless the lake is likely to throw off more thermals than other kite surfing spots, I don't understand why the risk of getting lofted here would be any greater.

Cheers,

Nathan

[skinduptruk]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm not sure what you're driving at here Steve. How is it any different than if the wind packs it in at the coast, or do you just think that it's more likely? I wasn't thinking of going any where near the dam wall end of the lake, if that's what you mean. That's way to scary for this chump.

Do you think the lake contributed to this, or is it likely that the guy had more kite up to keep going in the lulls? Unless the lake is likely to throw off more thermals than other kite surfing spots, I don't understand why the risk of getting lofted here would be any greater.

Cheers,

Nathan

re-reading this due to it being linked. to answer about lofting, this is my theory (only a theory):

the 25kt easterly has to come under commonwealth bridge, and over some hills near the CYC, plus some hills along the southern lake edge generally. I think this leads to turbulence up above the normal windsurfing level, so this dude got picked up into those.

I think any inland waterspot will have more potential for turbulence vs. the coast.

[Magoo]

25kt easterly has to come under commonwealth bridge

I was more thinking out from the boat house in the nor wester, but then the same principal applies to the Kings av bridge.

I think any inland waterspot will have more potential for turbulence vs. the coast.

Agreed, and given the choice between the coast and the lake I'd choose the coast, but I've got a bad track record picking when to go to the coast (more time surfing than kite surfing) and the coast is out of the question for a lunchtime / after work session.

That aside, surely the wind instability -> risk of being lofted is just as bad or worse for any of the local land kitting sites. I don't understand why it would be worse on the lake with more room for the air to clear than on the ovals around town.

Happy to be corrected, just want to understand before I keep sitting in my office when I could be on the lake.

[Andyfly]

That aside, surely the wind instability -> risk of being lofted is just as bad or worse for any of the local land kitting sites.

From my experience flying the ovals in Canberra using a buggy..... it's best to pick a size kite that suits the highest gust/wind speed and be prepared to sit un-powered through the lulls....that way when the gusts come through your not as likely to get lofted..

But it does mean you can be riding un-powered or underpowered a lot of the time.

But sitting in Canberra lakes waiting for the next gust with all the pollution and the dead bodies that occasionally get washed out of the local cemetery ..... ...... also your co-workers may not enjoy the smell much....

Flying a kite big enough to get you powered through the lulls means you will be way overpowered when the gusts do come through. The size of the lakes here and the close proximity of the hills/mountains/buildings, the wind does not get a chance to smooth out any more than on the ovals.....so there is a good chance you will get pounded...

I think flying Canberra lakes would take a kite with huge depower and very easy relaunch...and wouldn't be a great place for learners or those without a lot of hours behind them......

Hope this helps

Good luck with it...be very careful

Andy....

[Magoo]

mmmmmm. Sounds fair.

I might just have to get a Mtn board / Buggy and join you guys at the oval after work instead.

[skinduptruk]

I was more thinking out from the boat house in the nor wester, but then the same principal applies to the Kings av bridge.

Agreed, and given the choice between the coast and the lake I'd choose the coast, but I've got a bad track record picking when to go to the coast (more time surfing than kite surfing) and the coast is out of the question for a lunchtime / after work session.

That aside, surely the wind instability -> risk of being lofted is just as bad or worse for any of the local land kitting sites. I don't understand why it would be worse on the lake with more room for the air to clear than on the ovals around town.

Happy to be corrected, just want to understand before I keep sitting in my office when I could be on the lake.

hi magoo,

i have a good half a dozen places to try kiting on the coast, most of them i've tried out, some are only in theory but look good. happy to meet up sometime and have a chat, or whenever we meet up at amaroo...

all the best.

PS. with all this rain there are some unusual lakes that are re-appearing. obviously lake george but there others that are filling. however to take these on would require experience, ideal conditions, and a buddy would be must, maybe trailing on a windsurfer, if not full powerboat support. high risk but would be possibly a once in 10 year experience?!

[SoutherlyBuster]

Also fence posts submerged just below the surface including barbed wire, would also be a concern.

[Sarge]

Interesting thread guys. I've just bought my first water kiting package, after flying foils for a while. Had some lessons in Safety Bay in WA. I'm moving there one day!!

I was wondering about kite boarding on the lake. I used to sailboard on Griffin and Tuggeranong. I reckon tuggers would be a safe place in the right wind, providing you had good depower. It doesn't seem to get as nasty as Griffin in the gusts. I'm going for a 12m Naish. These days the depower is much better. I have an old 8m C kite and it scares me to death!!!

Can't wait til the Naish gets here!!

[skinduptruk]

Interesting thread guys. I've just bought my first water kiting package, after flying foils for a while. Had some lessons in Safety Bay in WA. I'm moving there one day!!

I was wondering about kite boarding on the lake. I used to sailboard on Griffin and Tuggeranong. I reckon tuggers would be a safe place in the right wind, providing you had good depower. It doesn't seem to get as nasty as Griffin in the gusts. I'm going for a 12m Naish. These days the depower is much better. I have an old 8m C kite and it scares me to death!!!

Can't wait til the Naish gets here!!

hi sarge,

there are a few variables such as wind direction and number of trees along the shore edge that would make either place better than the other i suppose.

there was a steady little NW breeze a few months ago and it made me wonder about the run from the GG's house up the rowing course on a big Flysurfer 15m... but there is literally a nursery of trees about 100m downwind!

anyway, hopefully will see you around the canberra (amaroo) landkite scene or on the water sometime down the coast... i've been to husky, lake tabourie (wario beach), broulee, lake coila, or in between somewhere! lake george would be legendary but as above v hazardous. maybe one day.

a few months ago i would have said 12m too big but i think the 30 kt winds have dropped...

[Sarge]

skinduptruk,

Once I master this sport, if I ever do, I'll try the lake. Drove past the rowing course yesterday. Lots of logs!!

I wouldn't mind a trip to Broullee some time with an experienced kiter. I'm just learning. Let me know hwne you are going down and we can meet up.

Cheers,

Sarge

[skinduptruk]

skinduptruk,

Once I master this sport, if I ever do, I'll try the lake. Drove past the rowing course yesterday. Lots of logs!!

I wouldn't mind a trip to Broullee some time with an experienced kiter. I'm just learning. Let me know hwne you are going down and we can meet up.

Cheers,

Sarge

sure no worries, i will keep an eye on the wind i have another buddy that joins me often too, so maybe the three of us can meet up. husky is magic too.

[Sarge]

Yeh, been there and flown my 8m C kite. Mum lives down that way so it's really handy. Do you go to Moona Creek?

[ricksta]

HI,, its been a longtime sence i kited on burley griffin. I kited near the boat house [ russel office ] with a north. or north west wind. it does get gusty at time so hang on. I was going for a kite a few weeks ago there but the trees are stil in the water, from the floodings waaaaaa. your welcome to contact me if u like,, rickylong968@msn.com cheers

rick

[G*Love]

Hey I was driving past the boat house and they are finally removing the horizontal forrest.

Next windy day I will be down there.