Unlikely Kite Locations and Situations

[KYLakeKiter]

We are just getting started kiting again this year in Tennessee, so I thought it might be interesting to start a post to see how people are kiting in spots other than nice beaches and shallow waters. No hate here, I am envious of people who live in good kiting spots, but some of us do what we have to do to get wind where we can.

We mostly kite on Kentucky Lake (in Tennessee) across from Paris Landing. We almost always boat launch so we can get away from the turbulent winds next to the shores. In the fall we can sometimes find water shallow enough to stand in, but mostly it is a deep water operation. Last year we had great success improving our boat launch methods.

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Winds are never as forecast, so we usually take a couple of kites out. 2 to 4 kites and 3 or 4 boards can sure load down a boat.

Inflating the kite on the boat can always be an adventure, but a good D ring and a padded engine cover seem to work fine. Swimming the bar out and then putting the kite in the water for a drift launch is always the safest option, although sometimes we do float the kite first when the winds are light.

Kite fishing is sometimes part of the deal, but when you invest that much effort to get rigged and in the water, sometimes you have to wait to get launched (Tommy boy syndrome )

Eventually we get flying and life is good. The nice thing here is that when the wind blows, you usually have the whole lake to yourself.

I look forward to hearing about and seeing other interesting kiting locations and situations.

[Toby]

Are you attaching the lines on shore?

[KYLakeKiter]

No. We run the lines out on land and coil them in a bucket with the ends attached to a line manager (anything that keeps them in order) and then attach them to the kite once the kite is inflated on the boat. To be more specific, we usually attach the steering lines when about 2/3rds inflated so it is easier to pull the tips in, then we inflate the rest of the way.

[Kamikuza]

Props to you! I'll no longer get cranky at having walk a bit further down the beach when people hog all the space...!

[Balotelli]

Dear Lord

Fair play is right though. I would never kite if this was the efforts I had to go to

[KiteloopKip]

Man This really makes you feel lucky to be in a place where you can kite relatively easily.
Great Story Though!! And props to you.

[acctx]

This is a very small lake, 180 acres. There is an excellent rig/launch area, but the lake is tiny. They almost always kite in offshore conditions because the other shore is so close. The wind is gusty, often times a 15-20mph difference (like 5-25). On the plus side the water is very flat.

[KYLakeKiter]

That is a small lake and looks like a great spot. Do you guys kite Lake Travis there as well? I am originally from the Dallas area and want to kite Lake Ray Hubbard on a visit home soon. There is a peninsula with a park on it just south of I-30 that I used to go to that I think would be a great kiting spot.

[acctx]

That is a small lake and looks like a great spot. Do you guys kite Lake Travis there as well? I am originally from the Dallas area and want to kite Lake Ray Hubbard on a visit home soon. There is a peninsula with a park on it just south of I-30 that I used to go to that I think would be a great kiting spot.

I mostly kite lake travis now, but most of the austin kiters kite at lake pflugerville. The rigging area is great at pflugerville, but it is cramped with 6-8 kiters. Travis will have 3-4 people out, lake pflugerville will have 10-12

[KYLakeKiter]

That is a small lake and looks like a great spot. Do you guys kite Lake Travis there as well? I am originally from the Dallas area and want to kite Lake Ray Hubbard on a visit home soon. There is a peninsula with a park on it just south of I-30 that I used to go to that I think would be a great kiting spot.

I mostly kite lake travis now, but most of the austin kiters kite at lake pflugerville. The rigging area is great at pflugerville, but it is cramped with 6-8 kiters. Travis will have 3-4 people out, lake pflugerville will have 10-12

I guess a good launch spot will draw them in every time. That is a very interesting location and unique spot. Austin seems like a great area for kiters with a couple of good lakes, and the Gulf not too far away.