WouterHolland wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2018 9:39 pm
Hi all,
Thanks for the info provided thus far to Erwin’s questions. Very helpful.
Just like him I’m going to New Zealand, but in my case to live there for 2 years with my family. My wife (a GP) will be working, and I’ll have the luxery to spent my time kiting and taking care of the kids when they’re not at school. Key question is: where to live to? Obviously, it all depends on available vacancies, but we would need some guidelines in terms of location for the agancy that helps us finding the right practice. In any case, we’relooking into cities with a hospital and around 50k population size (to assure my wife will also have a pleasant time!).
So far, I think the following places are interesting candidates:
- Tauranga (area) (enough wind?)
- Nelson
- New Plymouth
- Napier (enough wind?)
- Raglan
(Auckland area will not work: foreign GPs are not comminly placed there.)
Do you guys have any further info that could be of help in making our decicion where to aim for?
Much appreciated!
Cheers,
Wouter
Prevailing wind is westerly. West coast beaches typically are windier and the surf is gnarlier. If you like waves then raglan/new plymouth.
Raglan:-Theres a reason the ozone design crew set up in Raglan. It has 300 kitable days per year Awesome waves and the estuary and "magic carpet" tidal flow allow for kiting in lighter winds than what is normally possible.
New Plymouth and the Taranaki region: Waves, waves and more waves. kitable in 300 Deg wind angle due to curving coastline. If you want a consistant wind and wave machine nothing else in nz beats it. But its gnarly particularly in winter and the further round the coast you go. Not for the faint hearted. Also not for someone who wants flat water. There's zero flat in the naki about from inbetween the sets when the surf is pumping.
Tauranga,I dont think i've ever kited in tauranga, So want call this spot. I can say that when the Tauranga guys want to ride big waves the come to Taranaki!
Nelson: light wind, sheltered from the prevailing westerly. Big kites and possibly foil boards would be the go. no surf to speak off. But it is a funky as town which would be cool to live in. I would not choose to live there for the kiting thats for sure. If you also mountain bike, ski and snowboard it might be worth a look for multiple sport options.
Napier, Shitty light wind, shitty beaches typically with onshore crud. I wouldnt choose napier as a primary kiting spot. Though foiling would be sweet as there. The beach typically goes deep fast and there a lot of 12 knot days.
I also agreee that you should put wellington and the kapiti coast on your list. Wellington is the windiest city in the world! Launch sites are marginal and when it blow it blow hard. The storm chaser would love Wellington. Dudes that want light wind need not apply.