SCKitesurfing

Summer has finally kicked in, delivering an endless supply of perfect learning conditions with smooth predictable wind five days a week, tons of small wave days, clean water (as always) and when you combine this with a nice long sandy beach, three extremely talented and personable kitesurfing instructors you have the best setup for learning in Northern California. We’re hoping to get the testimonial part of the website finished so our instructors can get the recognition the deserve for delivering fun, safety and the highest level of instructional skill and attentiveness. Call us, or send us an email if you have any questions.

It’s been a strange spring on the north coast of Santa Cruz. Typically, as we move through April we start seeing warmer weather and a number of windy streaks with really good waves for kitesurfing. This Spring, much like the spring of 2006, the weather pattern saw a number of repeated northern pacific storms hitting us well into the month of May, and with each storm our predictable wind pattern goes out the window. It wasn’t that it was terrible, because we scored a couple good weeks of wind here and there, but the storms kept coming and shutting everything down for a couple days. That said, summer is just around the corner with tons of high quality wind days, small waves and perfect learning conditions at Northern California’s best and safest beach for learning how to kitesurf.

This morning the temperature was in the 30’s with everything covered in white frost. Winter is in full force, and although the water temperature has seen very little change, the artic-like air temperatures has dwindled the number of kiters down to the hard core.  Although we have been averaging one or two kiteable days a week, the wind is typically gusty and the waves are large, making for challenging kitesurfing conditions for the average kiter.  Most Santa Cruz kiters put away their kites, bring out their skis or spend more time paddling out to the line-up.  But . . .  for beginner kiters this is a great time of year to get started with their first lesson. There are tons of great trainer kite days, and by getting a jump start on your kite flying skills that means you might be up and riding by the beginning of summer. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

After a really solid Spring, with a good amount of northwest swell, and a few early South swells, summer is just beginning to kick into full gear.  Summer on the north coast is characterized by small to flat waves,  steady thermal winds and tons of great kitesurfing days.  (Sorry surfers, face it - it’s time to learn how to kite)  The last two weeks have been strange with back to back low pressure systems, creating overhead clouds and lighter than usual conditions, but we have been getting some great instructional days in regardless.

For those surfers who are tired of surfing blown-out choppy waves, this is a great time to bite the bullet, take a lesson, get out there and make the most out of your time on the north coast. Get the best of both worlds; surfing in the morning, kiting in the afternoon and evening.  Check out the Caution team rider videos; it’s definitely not surfing but it’s a pretty good substitute!

Check out the Santa Cruz KitesurfingLesson Plan and send us an email if you have any questions.

The first signs of the windy spring season is kicking in with the welcomed arrival of Daylight Saving Time, and a nice stretch of warm and windy days up on the north coast of Santa Cruz.  Although another round of winter storms may be lurking around the corner, the writing is on the wall and the consistent wind season is set to begin. Typically, this time of year we will get a couple days here and there, but as we move into April and May, our predominant high pressure system kicks in and the north coast slowly slips back in to its five day a week wind pattern.

For those returning for their second or third kitesurfing season this is a great time to start thinking about what your goals will be for this summer, whether jumping on a twintip, gybing a directional or riding waves. If your goals are to get in the water and learn how to kitesurf for the first time, this is a great time to take the initial beach lesson and begin practicing your trainer kite drills, so that your kite control will be mastered when the season starts.   If you have any questions please contact us via email and we can get you started in learning how to kite the safe and responsible way.

Winter has finally arrived, it’s getting a bit colder on the North Coast, and with sizable surf and periodic frontal wind it makes for some fairly challenging kitesurfing. Rippers like Shallow Hal, H-Wood, the Schiebel brothers, and Cousin Brucee are out there killing it in big waves and our beginner and intermediate kiters have pretty much put away their kites, as they have begun to learn how unpredictable and challenging late fall and winter can be. The good news; if you are just getting started, this is a great time of year to take the first beach lesson. Spend some beach time working on your trainer kite flying skills, making sure you are ready to jump in the water when spring comes around, or better yet, a kitesurfing vacation to Baja. Send us an email if you have any questions.

This season has to be one of the windiest seasons on record.  With our local sensor down, no one would know, but the Santa Cruz locals have been getting steady kiting almost everyday since, well, who knows when.  We got shut down for a couple days due to fog early in July,  but other than that it’s been game on.   There hasn’t been a lot of swell this summer, but no complaints here because that’s great for the guys just getting started with their first body drags.

With an unreal June coming to an end, it’s safe to say that this season has potential to be one of the windiest seasons on record. The sand has filled in on the north reef, and the fog bank has been parked over Ano for weeks, so its a solid sign that summer has kicked in. There’s a lot of great instructional days with small waves and plenty of consistent wind on Waddell Beach and the team at SCK is soaking it in.

Things are shaping up on the north coast and the recent string of windy days are tempting evidence of a strong early season for Waddell. Everyone is excited to be back on the water, and if you’re planning to jump into kiting this summer, now is a GREAT time to get started with a trainer kite lesson, leaving the rest of the summer for ripping!

The new SCK website is finally online, giving our students better resources for learning to kite in the Santa Cruz area.  We will constantly be adding content to the website with updates in the various types of lessons we offer and add new entertaining and educational videos to the website.  Thanks for checking out the site and keep in mind that feedback is always appreciated!