kiting at Wiarton , ont.

[JaZone]

can anyone tell me what it's like there?
wind conditions , temp , is there lodging nearby?
how many kiters are usually there?
Someone recommended this place and said it was worth the drive from Toronto.

[Laughingman]

I could be wrong but, I have never heard of anyone kiting in Wiarton, last time I was there I remember seeing rocky shores etc. If you are going that far you may as well go to Wasaga or Sauble or Oli

http://www.localkitespots.com/kitesurfing/Ontario

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/weatherCond ... onID=45143

there is lodging...

was this someone who recommended Wiarton... a kiter?

[shawn13]

100% they meant near Wiarton.

You have many spots within 30 minutes to kite depending on wind direction.
:
Sauble Beach (15 minutes)
North Oliphant (10 Minutes)
South Oliphant (10 Minutes)
Singing Sands (30 Minutes)
Dunks Bay (30 Minutes)

Sauble is the home of Best Team Rider Sam Medysky. Personally North Oliphant is my favorite place to ride, good winds and flat blue green waters.

I have been there when Ive riden 18 knots at singing sands and then drove down to oliphant and they had 4 knots. The wind can be very different even with the short distances there.

Worth the drive forsure!

[JaZone]

thanks for the info guys.

Laughingman, yes the guy is a kiter. He did send me the GPS co-ordinates, and when I checked, it was west of Wiarton.

Shawn ,

is North Oliphant a good spot for beginners?
I'm not a complete newbie , but I still can't go upwind, I'm just starting to learn how to go upwind.

If I go there by myself , will there be other kiters there for sure? I don't want to go to a spot where it's too crowded. On the other hand , I don't want to go to a spot where I'm the only one there either.

[irwe]

Some other kite sites that offer shallow water close to Toronto are on Lake Simcoe

1. Holmes Pt Park (NW, N, NE)
2. 9th Concession (SW, W)
3. Lagoon City (SW, W, NW)

See www.localkitespots.com for more details.

All of these spots will have kiters on good days.

[JaZone]

I'm planning to go to Oliphant, is there usually kiters there during the weekdays?

The person from the campground said there's a few staying there , but they're leaving today , and he wasn't expecting more 'til the weekend.

I'll probably be going alone , and would need assistance for launch/landing.

[shawn13]

Ive only ever gone on weekends. If its windy, there should be some locals there.

North Oliphant is the best spot for beginners, south is very small.

[KiteCulture]

I had some great lessons this past weekend there. Both up and riding. Oli is an amazing spot, and perfect for new riders. During the week there will be locals there, weekends can be congested. localkitespots.com has a good description of the area. Above all, please be respectful of the space and people. Each spot is sensitive to bad publicity. Be kind and we look forward to seeing you there.
brian

[JaZone]

I had some great lessons this past weekend there. Both up and riding. Oli is an amazing spot, and perfect for new riders. During the week there will be locals there, weekends can be congested. localkitespots.com has a good description of the area. Above all, please be respectful of the space and people. Each spot is sensitive to bad publicity. Be kind and we look forward to seeing you there.
brian

I'm going to be back in Canada in a couple of weeks, and from reading prior responses , the wind is much better for this time of the year than the last time I was there in june.

Were you teaching at north Oli, or South?
what kind of wind speed ?
What size kite were you using?

I'm planning to try Holmes point again , and might also stay for a week at South Oli. if the winds are there.

[finnkc]

I ride from a cottage just 500m west of Holmes and as it is shallow and warm most of the time. The chop (wind swell) can be a pain to learning in.

If the wind has lots of west, it will be gusty probably. Also the wind tends to drop by a few knots once you get offshore and the shore line is all trees and cottages so be careful launching and landing.

In the summer the boaters like to come down and anchor all along the shoreline. By afternoon on a busy weekend you can find over 50+ boats bobbing in the shallows. Finding room to squeak out beyond them can sometimes be tricky if you are learning. Also the beach can get crowded as it isn't that big and the swimmers like to walk way out so keep your eyes peeled for them.

Once Sept hits the crowds start to die down and by Oct they are just about gone. The wind is good then, so most of the time it is just kiters and other wind junkies.