Waves at Juno

[jespin4845]

Today at Juno I was on a 12m in what windfinder says 18-20 knots, im still a beginner but started getting upwind last session but it was pretty flat and easy, well today the waves were just kicking my butt...

I saw alot of people on 10’s-8’s, i was possibly overpowered and just getting blown downwind and should have been on a 9?

but anyways what is the best way to get upwind in the large waves in Juno on a twin tip? Just go out perpendicular and on the way back in drive back upwind or what?

While i basically got my butt kicked for about 45 min and prob drank a gallon of salt water body dragging to my board today, i got a couple of good tacks, but overall was pretty exhausted and bummed with the session

[Danimal8199]

While i basically got my butt kicked for about 45 min and prob drank a gallon of salt water body dragging to my board today, i got a couple of good tacks, but overall was pretty exhausted and bummed with the session

I basically learned how to kiteboard in the gulf here in Tampa. Much comes into play when trying to stay up wind such as currents and tides. Here in Clearwater area there is a killer south current parallel to the beach which sometimes makes it hard to body drag.

However your session went don't be bummed, its not always about how much riding you get in. Kiteboarding is full of other things to practice such as body dragging. Think of your session as a great session because you got to work on those other skills.

Danny

[ricki]

Good points, I would like to add, you're really not in starting out or beginner conditions. Experienced kiters that do fine in their home waters have been badly spanked by the wave break at Juno. True story. If you are just starting to work on getting upwind the last place you want to be is in big waves. It can incredibly frustrating and tiring. Beyond that there are some dangers involved. If you get rolled in your lines by a breaking wave (checkout http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=543) or just get knocked off balance and violently downloop your kite you could end up smashing into sand. Sand contrary to some viewpoints can be plenty hard enough to do serious harm if you hit it at speed. Some very experienced kiters have been knocked out and suffered spinal injury, temporary loss of vision, coma, etc.. Stuff to avoid.

So, even though it is blowing, you would be smart not to go out in the big waves yet and maybe not for a while either. It takes time. Alternatives would be to go up to the ICW where it is wider, Hutchenson is possible but has some technical shoreside launching characteristics, Sebastian on the ICW is better. Or, head south. With each inlet you pass, the waves drop in height. Even going to Delray would improve things but you might do better in Pompano. It is a distance but it should be more gratifying and less dangerous too.