CABRILLO BEACH
Kiteboarding | Expert
Experts only. Banned weekends*. Banned always on the flat
water bay side of the beach. Big, jagged rocks downwind**,
until you're out past the jetty, where the wind is side-offshore,
so you absolutely have to stay upwind. The few local
riders all use board leashes.
We very strongly recommend the 15-minute drive to Belmont
Shore, unless you're an expert, there's no wind anywhere
else, and it's SSW, which is a slightly less gusty direction
here. Above all, avoid incidents that could jeopardize
county-wide access for yourself and the rest of us.
The allowed launching/landing area is small, crowded with
bystanders, & barely-buried rocks. 100-foot cliffs directly
upwind create extremely gusty, shifty winds, with strong downdrafts
& updrafts at kite-height, so lofting is common. Avoid
flying overhead. Solo-landed kites rarely stay nose-down,
& kite-catchers are rare, so be prepared to release your
safety, with a full line-length of clear space downwind. Watch
out for pedestrians, waders & windsurfers. Whenever your
kite is airborne,
its leash must be attached to your body
(no "grab" leashes).
|
It's open ocean, with wind-driven chop, & often large,
unrideable shorebreak that makes deep holes or troughs in
the bottom. It’s best to drag out through the
surf & then another line-length before getting in the
straps, so your kite won’t crash in the surf.
It's often best to drag the last line-length in to land too.
* Memorial Day through Labor Day.
** You're not allowed to land on the narrow beach that's
close downwind, but below the jetty, surrounded
by the big, jagged rocks, is a tiny fishing beach, for emergency
self-rescues.
Local riders, lifeguards and the SoCal KiteBoarding
Association cooperated in establishing the following regulations:
|
