Southern Utah kiting inquiry

[DevinClarke]

My wife and I are taking a trip to Zions National Park this weekend. I noticed the Sand Hollow kiting location on the Google Map. Can anyone comment further on it? Any other nearby lakes down there or on the way that we should consider?

I'd also like to welcome any advice on "must see" spots at Zions (keeping in mind Heidi is now 6.5 months pregnant). It will be our first time down there.

[whit]

A friend of mine has kited at Sand Hollow. I checked it out when there was no wind. It has a lot of sand all around and no trees, so launching looks easy.
This weekend a south wind should make it kiteable. Let us know how it goes , if you get on the water.

For Zion, check out the Angels landing trail. 1500 vertical, 5miles RT. Incredible views. Probably too much for the wife. Also near Zion is Gooseberry Mesa, great mountain biking. Again, a little much for the mrs. Let us know if you kite.

[DevinClarke]

Thank you Whit, we did do Angels Landing but the funny thing is that I was the one backing down from the rest of the hike. Something about those steep cliffs with 30mph winds didn't sound too inviting. My wife wanted to go on but I chickened out.

Sand Hollows was great. Clean water, lots of beach access, and best of all, loads of wind. It is apparently a hot spot for OHV's. Sand dunes are found on much of the perimeter of the lake. I rode Saturday evening, lit up on a 12 Waroo (full wetsuit)for about 2.5 hours. We ended up camping on a peninsula which provided great rigging and launching space. The spectacle drew quite a crowd. Fishermen, wakeboarders and dirt bikers lined up to watch. I like to think they were admiring the riding, but in actuality they were probably snickering at my 1980's wetsuit. The lake is easy to get to. 15 minutes off of 15, very close to Hurricane. $10 day pass, $12 primitive camping, $2 showers.

[jason morton]

Devin-
Sounds like a great spot. How long of a drive from SLC?

[Dustin Judd]

It's about 3.5 to 4 hours from SLC. I wished I had been paying attention to the forums last week, I would have come out to Sand Hollow with you. If anyone else wants to head down to do some kiting ot mountain biking give me a shout.

Thanks, Dustin 435-313-1058

[DevinClarke]

Here are a few pictures of Sand Hollow. It is definitely a place we'd camp at again.

[Vaughn Montgomery]

I think we're (my family) the only ones that windsurf at sand hollow on a regular basis. As of last week, it's still wetsuit season but on the bright side, there's hardly any boats to contend with. It's an awesome lake with easy beach and launching access. During the summer, you can almost count on the 2 o'clock south wind to kick up, lasting until almost sunset.

I'd love to see more kiting down here so I can pick your brains. I'm itching to learn more about my next addiction.

[Leo Chan]

As of last week, it's still wetsuit season but on the bright side, there's hardly any boats to contend with. It's an awesome lake with easy beach and launching access. During the summer, you can almost count on the 2 o'clock south wind to kick up, lasting until almost sunset.

I am going to be a regular there too, if the afternoon wind is as predictable as you said. I might even bring a kiter with me the next time I come.

[Erik Holmgren]

how beginner- friendly is the area? I'm still figuring out how to stay upwind on a kite... so in other words, is the beach long enough to be walk of shame-able?

[Marty Lowe]

how beginner- friendly is the area? I'm still figuring out how to stay upwind on a kite... so in other words, is the beach long enough to be walk of shame-able?

North wind is onshore if you kite where we kited,
ON the south end of Sand Hollow.
Similar to our south launches at Utah Lake.

The windsurfers probably will go for side shore conditions.
If I was windsurfing,
I'd go to the middle of the lake,

Vaughn,,,,
Where do you launch from????
Also, please post every session,
we need the beta on Sand Hollow.

-Marty

[Dustin Judd]

The most prominant wind direction for Sand Hollow is West SouthWest, usually 230 to 260 deg. This usually dictates a side off shore wind from the south west side of the lake. The more west you are, the less conjested with ATV's and campers you will be however the dam on the west side tends to hand out some pretty good mechanical rotor so be careful there. On pre frontal days we can have a North factor which would tend to have less upwind turbulance and thermal effect but these are rare. Late afternoons are the best winds for kitesurfing or flying paragliders as the glass off from the days heating tends to smooth out the punchy thermals.

Hope this helps anyone coming down this way. Give me a heads up if you want some company, I am new to the water but have been land/snow kiting for 7 years and would love the company.

Dustin

[Vaughn Montgomery]

Where do you launch from????
Also, please post every session,
we need the beta on Sand Hollow

When you enter the park, go up the hill, park at the first place on the right by the big rocks and the info sign. The beach is a good launch point in a boat free zone, the wind is usually parallel the beach from the south, people seem very intrigued with the wind toys. On the downside, to take the rig apart it'll get sandy or road rash unless you have a good tarp.

The other Southern Utah spot is Quail Lake, we park off the boat ramp under the tree on the left and set up on the ramp. We surfed there yesterday for a couple hours. It was rather windy for my skill level(20-30) with the oncoming cold front. I'm just transitioning to a short 105ltr board and got a full body workout. The Mistral Equipe was an old school screamer with a 5.5 sail!

Hope to see others out someday, I could use some tips, I'm sure.