Kitesurfing the Water Works in Angola

Fist published 5/28/07

The picture above is taken at "The Water Works", Bennett Beach in Angola, NY's Grand View Bay, about 35 minutes outside of Buffalo. This photo is of myself (Wardo) and was taken by my wife. This spot is clean and sandy with no hidden hazards. This is about a 15knot day waves were small breaking about 3 feet. On a 25 knot day this spot is epic and waves can break anywhere from 5 to 8 feet. Wind directions for this spot can be ridden from South to North, but is best at South West (port jump) and North West (starboard Jump).

On a North East wind you need to move down in front of Mickey Rats and Kaptain Kidds, Quite often this spot creates a thermal from the N.E. when the rest of this end of the Lake might be experiencing light East wind.

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WIND HOT LIST
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Now available to you. Join Western New York's only WIND HOT LIST and receive a daily morning wind report with updates from an experienced windologist. With over twenty years of experience and a special mojo, the Wind Wizard will send you the latest wind report for your local riding spots in the WNY area. As a member of the hot list you will be notified by e-mail in the morning of all up coming wind events. Including any special conditions you should be aware of. You will also get information on best locations to ride for the day and any of the secret spots that we have found that are off the beaten trail. With the WIND HOT LIST , you can increase your chances of having fun, successful riding and a awesome beach experience. Know what the local pros know and where to go. No more sitting on the beach waiting for wind or wondering if it is strong enough. You can now be informed on the latest wind news with just a click of your mouse. You will also receive the most up-to-date news on, air and water temps, sky conditions, wave heights, hottest beach word, new wind riding products, innovations, who should go, and best chance of fun. Give it a try - you won't be disappointed. The WIND HOT LIST will be running daily from May 1st to October 15th so sign up today!!!
The introductory cost of this unique service is only $40.00 per season and could save you hours of frustration and wasted time. Be prepared for the conditions before you go.

Sign up here http://www.myerskitesurfing.com/wind_hot_list.htm

Kitesurfing Lake Erie's North Coast (Canada eh)

Waverly Beach, Crescent Bay, Bertie Bay, Thunder Bay, Crystal Beach, Sherkston"s Pleasant Beach are all within 10 to 20 minutes of Buffalo. Investing in a map of the area is a good idea since the access roads are otherwise easily missed.

The prevailing winds are from the southwest, but often you'll find consistent wind from the south or west as well. All are sandy beaches. Each launch can have significant shore break and undertow; Waves are, as always, dependant on wind and are two to four feet on a 15 knot day, with five-to eight-foot swells in a 25 plus wind.

Waverly Beach is at the end of Thompson Road and is very scenic and is ideal for a photo shoot, the City of Buffalo is right there in the back ground. The Parking is free and the park has a nice grassy area, the beach is sandy but the shore has partially submerged shoals as well as old piers. These obstacles are easily avoidable, and can add an element of fun for expert riders but be sure to ask a local sailor or rider to point them out. This spot is not for the meek. Best wind direction West and South West

Crescent Beach, just 5 min. from the Peace Bridge and has free parking a port-o-potty has great sandy beach and has a sandy shallow bottom for quite a way out. Be aware of a shallow rocky point, but it is deep enough to ride over. Also there is a small shallow rock shoal in the middle of the bay about 400 yards out. Access at the end of Crescent Road. Best wind direction SW.

Bertie Bay can be accessed via Bertie Bay Road. This Beach has some boulders, these obstacles are easily avoidable, but be sure to ask a local sailor or rider to point them out. Bertie Bay has a wind shadow which is not good for kitesurfing in the west corner of the bay, this spot is better with a on a SSW wind.

Thunder Bay beach at the end of Bernard Road is the most popular spot for both beginners and experts. There is grassy rigging, plenty of parking, a port-o-potty (July and August) and a safe sandy beach. There are no obstacles in the water. The only drawbacks to this spot are the abundance of swimmers in July and August and when the wind is strong the shore break can be challenging. This spot is good for any southerly wind, with a small shadow on a west wind. There are usually upwards of 10 sailors/riders at this spot on any windy day.

Crystal Beach is crowded during the summer. Spring and fall is good there on a SSW and East wind. Access thru the Bay Beach entrance.

Sherkston is for experts only! It has some of the best wave riding conditions on the lake and can be accessed at the end of Pleasant Beach Road, free parking a concession stand and a port-o-potty. This shore has two miles of coastline which for you “rippers” it can be torn up all day long. No shadow on a West wind.

For any wind with North in it head to the US side of the lake.

Kitesurfing Burlington, Ontario

This is Beach Way Park at the West end of Lake Ontario, just off the QEW about a 45 minute ride from Buffalo.
However one draw back POWER LINES! If you can get your mind past that, "it's really not that bad" there is plenty of room, just do not jump near or on the beach.

On a ENEast to a ESEeast wind this spot kicks ass and offers great wave riding. I would suggest this is not a spot for beginners. The park has a lot of free parking, nice grassy rigging area, plus a concession stand and restrooms.

Kitesurfing Presque Isle PA

Although the Buffalo/Hamburg area has the highest probability of getting wind. Sometimes a little traveling is required to get your fix.

Presque Isle is located right off Route 5 in Erie PA. Its about 90 miles south of Buffalo and well worth the drive. Its a gorgeous sandy peninsula that seems to go for miles into Lake Erie.

From what we can tell, Presque Isle is only really good on North East and South West winds. There is a bay side with launch areas, and an open side with a sandy beach that goes for miles!

On a South West wind, head right to Beach 1 after you get on the isle. For North East winds, head what seems to be a few miles down. You will pass a small harbor inside the isle and the road will start to bend right. Start looking for beaches here.

Be aware that we are only allowed to ride the unguarded beaches so don't be a tool and ruin it for everyone else!

There are also some really cools rock pilings on the open (left) side of the isle. Their purpose is to keep the isle from eroding, but they're also really indiscriminate about eating, kites, boards, people, or whatever rolls into them.

The pilings generate some fabulous waves, and a nasty undertow. You'll find it harder to stay upwind inside of the rocks, once you get outside, the current gets more manageable.

Don't be afraid of downwinders, there is plenty of beach to self land kites, again, just don't pull up on a guarded section. The place is most desolate unless you hit it the last week of July when their big festival is going on.

Have fun, make the drive.

The last of the Ice cubes. Just ad WIND and Kitesurfing season is OPEN!

Saturday April 19th. click on image above, notice just a few ice cubes on the Canadian shore near Buffalo. With the warm weather this ice should be gone by the end of the week end.

Snow Kiteboarding VIDIO on Buffalo's Outer Harbor

Click here for Matt D's VID on youtube: http://youtube.com/user/domanows1
A word of note, even though the Ice is thick enough to venture out on (within the Harbor), there are some soft spots around the edges, so be careful. This being said, the Ice on Lake Erie is not safe and has many fissures, cracks and is shifting with the wind, do not venture out on that Ice. This photo was taken 3/3/08.

Check out satellite images of the Great Lakes at: http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/region_map.html

Ghetto Beach Now Open

The Wind Wizard, Matt D., My Old Man and myself opened Getto Beach for the Snow Kite Season. The Ice is about 8 inches thick, and it is about time. Read all about it at http://www.buffalorising.com/story/winter_kite_boarding_on_the_la#sca

Lake Erie may not FREEZE yet again.

For the 3rd year in a row Snowkiters may be forced to ride on open fields instead of gliding on the open tundra of an Ice & snow covered lake. Today January 9, 2008 the Lake Erie water temp is anywhere from 38 to 41 degrees. If the lake is not frozen by the 15th of January it is unlikely to freeze enough to be safe. We may get some shore ice or even large portions of surface Ice, like we did last year, but generally this Ice is not safe. The target date of the 15th has been observed and documented by my father who has lived on the lake year round for the past 40 years. Due to the fact that the sun is now getting higher in the sky, any ice cover from this date on can not get a substantial grip, and is not long lasting, case in point the last two seasons. However, all is not lost as the outer Harbor's Ghetto Beach (Cargill) may freeze over thick enough like it did three years ago.