Other Launches this year

[Weston Youd]

All,

I'm taking a few days off and hope to do a bit of kiting. I was hoping to head down to some of the other launches on this site, but looking at the wind logs, it seems to me that only Utah Lake and a few entries on Deer Creek are the only places that are currently being used. Is there a reason for this? My first thought is that with fuel prices high, a trip to Yuba or Mona just isn't in the cards. Or is it that these launch sites aren't as good as ULLB or DC?
Having grown up in the area, I remember Yuba having a vast stretch of sandy beach which would be great for launching, and remember Yuba is always windy. I'm not as familiar with Mona, but think that it would be a good place with it's position for wind.

So I guess my question is, are these launch sites good options and aren't seeing alot of use due to fuel prices, or are they just not as good?

thanks,
"Stoney"

[Rick McClain]

This is just the type of question that our UWA maps, located at the "Local Sites" link at the top of this page should answer; if only our members would take the few minutes to share their knowledge. Come on guys, there's no wind out there to sail for the next few days, so how about it. Several people have recently added some great info to the maps, but we need more. In desperate need of updating with good info are: Yuba Lake, Grantsville, Desperation Flats, Strawberry Reservoir (for Sailboarders), Willard Bay, Pineview, Bear Lake and several others. Everyone knows something new that could be added. Some of you kiters need to add some safety information about each site to the maps; Safe or Unsafe and a reason. This information can help people avoid getting skunked, save gas, or maybe even save lives.
Lets get more info on these maps. For info on how to add the info, see the post called, "Please Help Us with Our Launch Site Maps!!!
Thanks, Rick McClain

[MikE mAy]

Yuba, from my observations is only good wind in the morning. like 6-9 or 10 AM. perhaps someone else can help with the wind patterns here, but that is my recolection here. i've been dropped there and had to swim. i've also had a mild kitemare there with a gust. its a fluky place, thats why nobody wants to waste gas on a questionable session.

mona usually only works on a good south frontal push.

DC is great mid afternoon when there is a south flow aloft and a high thermal gradient between heber and the provo valley. that's why its so good this time of year. the utah lake sessions we got were flukes in my opinion. you usually don't see those in July.

my observations here is that depending on the weather pattern, there is one or two good spots to be for any given day/weather pattern. we have perhaps a dozen different spots, but only becuase they work on all the different weather patterns. if there is wind, we have a spot- its sometimes just only one spot though.


hope my ramblings make sense to you. i'll try to post as i go out more so you can get a sense of where to be what day and why.

[Marty Lowe]

Personaly, I concider the summer in Utah as the off season.
The lack of predictable wind just isn't there.
Get some thick rubber,
and get ready for the fall/winter/spring winds.
Snowkiting is very predictable in Utah.

People ask, "Where is the best place to kite/windsurf in Utah in the summer"

My answer is "Da Gorge" (Oregon)


Seems like we use to get wind in the summer,
must be the climate change.

-Marty

[Rick McClain]

Well,
I think it still blows almost everyday in Utah, at Rush Lake, but somebody sucked it dry. We used to rush out to Rush a lot, but now it's gone. What a shame!! We all forget how great it was; North or South, it blew. The wind is still there, it's just that it is blowing on a mud puddle. Maybe we'll make so much money on the upcoming UWA board rentals/sailing instruction that we can buy water to fill Rush Lake again!!!

[mike loeser]

Or you could try landboarding at Burmies! The wind is still blowing there and you won't need any water. Just don't try any one footers.
Here's today's wind log:
17:30 82.3 55.1 39 14 16 NE OK 13.12
17:15 83.9 55.2 38 14 18 NE OK 13.12
17:00 83.0 54.9 38 14 19 NE OK 13.13
16:45 82.8 57.4 42 14 19 NE OK 13.12
16:30 82.6 56.8 41 13 18 NE OK 13.11
16:15 84.2 53.7 35 16 19 NE OK 13.11
16:00 83.6 53.9 36 15 16 NNE OK 13.11
15:45 83.3 53.5 36 14 17 ENE OK 13.11
15:30 83.2 53.3 36 12 15 NE OK 13.12
15:15 84.2 53.3 35 13 14 NE OK 13.14
15:00 82.2 51.4 35 14 15 ENE OK 13.14
14:45 82.7 53.1 36 10 14 NE OK 13.14
14:30 81.5 52.1 36 14 14 NE OK 13.15
Mike L.