4-28 SSB (Lost board and observations of a full lake)

[DeanDavis]

The noticeable wind in the valley was just too much to take so when Willy called early I jumped in the car. Since this was my first time out at SSB I have the following observations.

1. As much as it is tempting to drive down to the beach, that mud puddle is big and there is just (barely) not enough room to get by it on the side (even for a small car like mine and definitely not for a large pickup like Willy or Jason).
2. There is more beach than I would have thought. The puddle that we used to drive by just before parking (on the left) is now full but that is about where the water ends.
3. There is room to lay out 30m lines perpendicular to the wind but only room for maybe two sets at a time.
4. The launch was fine (although Willy launched me), thanks Willy.
5. The water is deeper than you would think (drops off fast). By the time you walk out past where we used to park it is waist deep. I lost my board while out in the open water upwind of what used to be the flat water run. The swells were huge (for Utah lake) about 3-4' faces and I quickly lost my board in the swell. Since I couldn't touch and couldn't see over the swell I decided to drag in and stand up. I dragged through the reeds (that used to be the block on the flat water) and still couldn't touch and kept dragging up to the downwind side of the flat water run before I could touch (thank God I really didn't want to be dragged any further). So the flat water run area is now about 5' deep. At that point it seemed obvious that it was going to be pretty difficult to find my board from that vantage point so I headed in and grabbed a smaller kite and my big board. I spent 1.5 hours running back and forth through the flat water area (which is now no longer very flat) and further out. I couldn't believe I couldn't find it! It was broad daylight with a strong north so it seemed impossible that it wasn't right there in those reeds. At some point one has to give up (it is what it is) so I did. Willy came in about the same time.
6. Because it is so much deeper now you might consider wearing a leash. I will, but I really do hate that stupid thing bouncing around back there and getting tangled in my feet.
7. Willy caught my kite when I came in but dropping behind the reeds seems safe and easy (that is what Jason did).
8. While looking for my board I was riding over that barb wire fence. That is not the most comforting thought but I was okay. You guys know where it used to be and if you look onshore you can still see a post or two but just make note that it is still there. It seems like that farmer should be required to mount 10' flags on that stupid thing.
9. I think the swell is going to be bigger in higher winds with the deeper water. I'm not entirely sure why but maybe it is just that the underwater shoreline seems so much steeper than before which is funny because I didn't notice that before when it was dry.

Anyway not the fun-est session but I guess a bad day kiting is still better than a lot of things.

If you find my board (red top, white bottom, North Defender, 150cm) I would appreciate a post or a call. Thanks.

One more thought. If we fill (maybe gravel) that mud puddle (the one people are getting stuck in) we could drive down and park in that sandy area. There is plenty of parking in that area. That would save us from hiking our gear down from the road. The only problem I see with this plan is that our launch area is probably one of the only patches of beach left on that side of the lake and if we make that road passable then that spot will likely become Redneck party central and we will forever be launching over pallet bon fires. If we don't address the hole then there is a redneck trap. This all might be a mute point since someone else might fill it but anyway I would be interested on anyone else's thoughts on this.

[Kenny]

Dean,

Thanks for the detailed post! Sorry to hear that you lost your board.

Concerning the mud puddle, I say leave it as a redneck trap. My warning for everyone else. Wear mosquito repellent if you hike down from the road. The mosquitos at Utah Lake are like Kamikazi pilots.

Dean, have you tried Lincoln Beach yet. Derik seemed to think that it may be a viable alternative with more open space and a side-shore launch.

Kenny

[mike rossberg]

I say leave the puddle and hide tire rippers just under the surface. This would take care of the redneck with the 8" lift and 36" tires. That's standard issue if the redneck has a full time job.

We are spoiled in Utah in many ways. I Kited north of San Francisco on my way to China. I was at Stinton Beach and I had to park my car 4 blocks from beach.