New Orleans Kiteboard Report 

2/7/10: Go Saints! Its a good thing there is no wind Sunday. Monday looks like a maybe at Henderson. Tuesday shows more wind with a rainy front moving through. Tuesday may be ok if you beat the rain.

Stuckey is working on plans for a Leukemia Cup Fundraiser. More info to come.

New tee shirts are in. I have plenty of S, M, and XL but I am running out of L. Don't miss out, this design will be a classic.

Put all your stuff in your car and lock it at West End. If you see some non-kiter with a Cabrinha pump...it was stolen.

Since the other Gulf Coast Forum is messed up, we started a new Cat 5 Forum

Bonnabel is closed due to levee work until SPRING.

Pontchartrain Beach may be closed due to levee work starting.

• BWYC           Waveland and Henderson

• Gulfport Pier   Gulfport

• Waveland Pier Waveland on the Sound
  

• WEST END     Bonnabel, West End, and UNO.

• LUMCON         Fountainbleu.

• MID LAKE       Causeway (check time and date)

•  SYC               Webcam at West End (check time and date)
  

 Support LPBF. They are helping us with water access at Bonnabel  http://www.saveourlake.org.

 Support the Friendsofwestend. Hopefully we can get better access at West End.

Gulfport Board Sports has expanded their inventory. Give them a call and pick up your new gear on the same day! Tell them you ride with Cat 5. Check it out:  www.gulfportboardsports.com

Winter is here.

1. If it blows...go. Good riding in Winter around here, but "the best days are never on the weekend".
2. Buy some rubber. You need at least a 3/4 suit. If you want to be comfortable, get a hat and gloves.
3. Get a 9 or 11m kite.  You're going to need something smaller for the cold fronts.
   
4. Plan a trip South. If you plan a kite trip, it will almost certainly be windy exactly when you plan to travel. At least those of us staying behind will get a great ride.    

CAT ISLAND INVASION IS HISTORY    Anyone ready for another Cat Island trip?

Kiting at West End... Check the wind, drink a beer, check the wind, drink a beer...repeat. If you wait long enough you either get drunk or get to ride, Robbie's video at West End

 Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

 Henderson Point Jan 5, 2008

Silver Slipper Beach (good on any wind without any West in it)

• Lots of new guys, and gals, have been showing up. At present, there are about 30 riders in the New Orleans area and maybe 15 around Lafayette. We would like to add everyone to the Riders page. Please get a picture to us.
• Get on our email blast list for the latest info on where the group is setting up to ride:EMAIL BLAST   
  
• Disclaimer:  This report is only an opinion of C5K based on the observations of multiple weather forecasting websites.  This is only to give you an idea of what the weather might be around the area.  If you want truly accurate weather...talk to the wind gods or go out and see if you can kite it yourself (then call everyone else)!
  

  The Weather

It's not Maui here. Forget trying to ride your 12m every day. You need to plan to RIG-BIG. The most important thing to understand about the weather on the Northern Gulf Coast is the wind is best between late September and May. Early Fall and into Winter you get either SE or N depending on cold fronts. Spring brings more flow from the S and SE. June through mid-September it's light. There is some possibility to ride during the summer, but the flow is less. Sometimes low pressure systems bring spectacular winds in Summer.

 Weather map: This wind meter only gives you an idea of the wind direction and it is completely wrong for the speed

 Trick Tips  

• Boardgrabs
• Kitefilm.com: Tricks with Shinn
  

 "It is gonna take something a little stronger than a little hurricane to keep us from kiting here!"