Utah Windriders Association

I am a new kiter and have been trying to learn where the wind will be. Understanding that there is never really any certainty on exact readings, and that it can change instantly, I was wondering if someone could help me understand where the wind should come up. My friends and I have been down to Rush Lake a few times and had one great day and skunked four (Some of you may remember Chris and I from Friday, when the wind was pretty strong, we were sharing a 9 blue and black Best). With that said I also know that comes with nature of the sport as well. So if anyone would like to take me under there wing so to speak and explain how everything works I would appreciate it very much.

Yesterday for example we had hoped that rush would pick up a little and it never came up. Aparently SSB was going off though and there was a number of kiters rippin. That was what prompted this message, I just want to know where it will be good wind and not be at a lake that is light.

Stokes (you can reply here and I will check often or stokes@gmail.com)

He's pretty darn good at knowing what kind of wind is going to happen, when and where. Just read it here each morning, and you will have alot better chances, to find wind, than trying to figure it out your self.

If your hanging with the dark siders, just ask them where it's going to happen. They post here too, and seem to find plenty of wind. Good Luck, hope you find lot's of wind. GQ

Stokes,

It can be difficult to forecast. Craig does an excellent job, but even he blowes a forecast from time to time.

To answer your question - sometimes on a northwest wind, the wind is better at ULSSB than Rush. I find that if there is too much of a westerly direction to the wind, it gets blocked at Rush, while it comes in nice and smooth across the lake at ULSSB. If you are driving out to Rush along 21st south and all of the flags are flying in more of a westerly pattern instead of north or northwest, you may want to seriously consider going to Utah lake instead.

I always check the weather sites before I head out. That has saved me from some skunks, but I still get skunked from time to time just because I want it so bad.

Kenny

I appreciate very much kenny and Sara. Thanks, that should help!

Kenny wrote:Stokes,

It can be difficult to forecast. Craig does an excellent job, but even he blowes a forecast from time to time.

To answer your question - sometimes on a northwest wind, the wind is better at ULSSB than Rush. I find that if there is too much of a westerly direction to the wind, it gets blocked at Rush, while it comes in nice and smooth across the lake at ULSSB. If you are driving out to Rush along 21st south and all of the flags are flying in more of a westerly pattern instead of north or northwest, you may want to seriously consider going to Utah lake instead.

I always check the weather sites before I head out. That has saved me from some skunks, but I still get skunked from time to time just because I want it so bad.

Kenny

Oh baby, and I have missed some doozies this year, Like sending
Grant, Duane, and Dimitrije down to Mona for big wind only to get them
rained on with zero wind. I still feel bad about that.

Weather is chaotic, and ya takes your chances listening to me, but
around the SLC area North wind is favored for Kite Boarding, mostly
because it favors the better Kite Board launches, and because it is steadier.

What typically generates strong North wind around here is front passage.
If you're timing is good enough to be on the beach 1 to 3 hours after the front goes through, you're in for a treat. This naturally favors Rush,
and the UL North launches like RP (which isn't optimum for KB launching,
but doable) and SSB. As Kenny says a WNW cant at Rush causes the wind
to get gusty. You can mitigate this somewhat by Kiting down to the Southwest corner of the lake.

Fronts approaching from the West are best for generating North (and South)
winds.

Rush also develops a light steady North thermal (10 MPH) most sunny afternoons
during the mid Summer wind dearth.

The North end of UL develops a similar North thermal in late September and
October.

North winds are typically enhanced by a North flow jet stream right over the state, and by the clockwise rotation around a high pressure centered over
Nevada.

SSB is also good on the SW wind typically occurring before a front moves
through, and there's some strange thermal phenomena down there in the
early evening on typically windless high pressure days, but I don't yet
have enough experience to figure out what's up with that. You might
wanna ask Derik Sayers or Willy Sturgis about that.

That's a thumbnail surface scratch for wind prediction. If you want more (from me), you're
gonna have to buy me a beer ;*)

-Craig

Kenny wrote:Stokes,

It can be difficult to forecast. Craig does an excellent job, but even he blowes a forecast from time to time.

To answer your question - sometimes on a northwest wind, the wind is better at ULSSB than Rush. I find that if there is too much of a westerly direction to the wind, it gets blocked at Rush, while it comes in nice and smooth across the lake at ULSSB. If you are driving out to Rush along 21st south and all of the flags are flying in more of a westerly pattern instead of north or northwest, you may want to seriously consider going to Utah lake instead.

I always check the weather sites before I head out. That has saved me from some skunks, but I still get skunked from time to time just because I want it so bad.

Kenny

Stokes,

I rely primarily on Craig's forecast, but I will add a couple comments to what Craig has said already.

1. The north thermal at Rush usually happens earlier than SSB, but the wind is not quite as steady. I usually check the wind sites in the Tooele valley. I found that even if the wind is not blowing strong at Lakepoint, but is blowing pretty good at Flux or Burmester (salt ponds) that there is a good chance that it will be blowing at Rush. A big kite is mandatory for pure summer thermal days at Rush. It may not be the most exciting kiting, but it sure is a lot of fun.

2. Sometimes during the summer months we get days where the flow is out of the south and the north thermal is canceled out by the south. This kills the wind at both ULSSB and Rush. On those days, I have sometimes ridden at the salt ponds because they are located directly south of the GSL. The problem with the Salt ponds is that the salt content is much higher than the GSL, so it is very nasty if you fall in.

3. Take a look out the window. If you have a good breeze in the SLC valley, it may go off at ULSSB or Rush. I always check the Bluffdale site, if the wind reading is climbing all afternoon and reaches 10 mph, there is a good chance that there will be wind at ULSSB.

4. It gets more difficult to forecast the wind as the summer progresses due to thunderstorm activity. If you see storm clouds, stay home. If you check multiple sites near ULSSB or Rush and you see different wind directions from multiple locations and there are storm clouds, then the wind is probably being generated by a localized storm and the wind will be brief, gusty, and extremely dangerous. When I first started out, I used to chase this type of wind. I would see a 20 mph wind reading at Rush and by the time I got there it was either a full blown lightening storm or the wind was completely gone. Kites and lightening do not mix. Stay home and live to kite another day.

Kenny

Thank you very much Craig and Kenny, that is exactly the info I was looking to receive. I would also just like to extend one last request if you could be bothered. As the wind picks up and you are at Rush, SSB, etc., and know the wind will turn out really good for kiters, to give me a call or email a few times so I get the hang of it.

My number is 801.232.6717, email stokes@gmail.com

Again thank you for your time -

Stokes

I'm going back to windsurf until the beach at Utah Lake's SSB is back.

Lanuching at the Stick infested South NO Beach, (SiSNoB) sucks! Sticks, mud, cars, people, trash... all in the same area. It's not safe! I bet even this tiny launch site gets covered in the next couple weeks. When I flew over the mountains yesterday they looked like there was water melting everywhere. Skyline Drive above Fairview is still covered with snow.

How far has rush come up? It's got to be deeper than a couple feet? KSL's Mark Eubank has been comparing this year to 83 - when rush filled? I think it's time for me to take a trip to Rush.

Hey man,

Well, I wish that Rush had that potential this year. In looking at the history, yes this is the wettest Aug-April we've had in Utah since 1895, however,

http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/prelim/drought/state-reg-moisture-status.html

(click on UTAH) in 1983, well really it was ending 1983 the previous two years were pretty wet, so the ground was saturated already. Then 83 we got SUPER PLASTERED and it stayed cold even in the valley until all at once one day in may we warmed up big-time and the rest is history. Also, the next couple years were pretty wet so, it would be interesting to see an accurate graph of Rush's lake levels during that time... Hmmmm?

Anyway, this year is a shock to the system, the ground is soaking a ton of water up. Now if next year is even average barely above average, we'll get some deep water to Rush. But I do think Rush is going to still come up some more this year.. At least I'm really hoping!

rh.

I'll be in the Gorge for a week (or maybe more), so unless
I get somewhere near a computer, you're likely on your
own (and maybe better off) for wind predictions.

Anyway, here's a quick forecast:

Today, not much love. Grantsville AM for big gear planers.
Maybe a Kite board ride or 2 at Rush
on the North thermal PM. Take a 20 meter and a long Kite board.
8.5 potential for a few rides at Sulfur on PM west wind.

All the guesses below are in windsurf sails

5/28 Sulfur for 7.5 West wind
5/29 DC 8.5 on Soutwest wind
5/30 Sulfur 5.5 and DC gusty 6.5
5/31 RP, Rush, and SSB on a North switch late PM

See ya about the 10th,

-Craig

I was considering going out to rush today in the afternoon. Seems to be blowin' in the west part of the valley a bit. Does anyone have the same feelin' about that one....

Stokes

(I spoke with a friend of mine in Toole and he was saying that everyone in town is yakin about Rush, and the depth)

I was just looking over my favorite forcasting sites and there seems to be a concurence on North West wind 12 - 15 mph this evening and 15-20 mph Wednesday evening both evenings starting around 3pm. My bet is on SSB for the next 2 evenings. Hope this helps...

Westerly push, usually not the best forcast for Rush.
I wouldn't (and am not) taking a day off for this forcast at Rush.
ULSSB would be my choice also.

-Marty

It started out ok but a storm cloud made its way in to screw things up. Let hope for tomorrow.

So if I go out to SSB today, is there any beach left to launch at all??

Also does the weather look to hold out for today??

Thanks for yesterday as well Derik!

Stokes