LAKAWA

Does anybody know the dates for the Winter Crossing for this winter? I only found it listed one place on the NAST site, but it was clearly wrong--it wasn't even a weekend!

I spoke with Lloyd today. Based on bruising and other circumstantial evidence, he believes that he had done a big jump, probably looped the kite on the way down and hit the water hard enough to knock off his helmet and render him unconscious. I think I'm going to take CPR, keep wearing helmets and r...

I will be arriving on Turkey Day! Looking forward to a good turkey day and good times aat the flats!!

Seth

I have only ridden there in the spring, but it's plenty shallow to do a good drift launch. I'm not sure that a beginner would want to ride there in gnarly conditions because you do have to get upwind pretty fast, but when the wind lines up just right it can be really good.

Did anybody else notice that Ozone doesn't have the Manta in the 2012 line-up? I guess it's true that the Frenzy was just that good. Looks like they have a light fabric version of it that might be better in ultra-light winds, ala the Flysurfer Silver Arrow Deluxe.

In general the approach I have taken for scouting spots is to use google earth when possible to find spots that might have sufficient shallows or a big enough beach to launch a kite. I also use the DNR website to look for their launches and use quite a few of those. A lot of the lakes have a depth c...

There is actually a dead end that is down the forest road from that loop. There are two breaks in the trees that you can walk a kite through and it is super shallow and awesome kiting for the right wind direction.

I was worried when I got there and it was cloudy and rainy and not windy...the drive paid off in the end. I just hope it was worth the extra drive as compared to Mille or Washington.

Well, if it was as windy on Miltona as it was on Ottertail, then I would venture a guess that you had a great day! I hate spending the money and time driving as much as the next kiter, but I bet the return on investment justifies it for Ottertail. Minneapolis needs to relocate 200 miles west.

I wish I still had the first love that convinced me it was worth driving for 3 hours to ride for an hour. Glad you guys got rides--still wanna try the Chinese place in Clear Lake. Just waiting for Rob and Heather to invite me!

I hear what everybody is saying and can appreciate all of the viewpoints. I understand not wanting anybody to tell me where I can and can't ride. I ride a lot of places that may not be the most kiter friendly, but can be ridden given enough skills and precautions. I also understand that some guideli...

We don't need those temps. We are Minnesota tough not like you Wisconsinites. Where are the good rides to be had. Thinking I'll get out but not sure where. Da Bear might be the best local option.

Had a great first session on Medicine today. Good wind, easy launch with a nice beach and a short drive! Great local spot for that wind direction, but it doesn't seem ideal for a lot of wind directions. I think NW is it for me. NW gets pretty darn good on the Wack too though. Regardless, thanks for ...

Depends on what spot you're headed to. I regularly did the drive in 6 hours or a tad less. Less than that to Upper Red Lake by an hour or so. Options in between here and there as well. It would make for a fun tour.

I wouldn't say it's untapped. I learned to ride up there and have at least half a dozen spots scoped out...OK, more than that but plenty to have options for any wind direction and lots of flat water or wave spots. I have a couple marked on localkitespots.com. Pretty sure Rocky Point is on there...I ...

Hey Nick, There aren't a lot of closed cell foil riders around here compared to tube kiters. I think some of it is for the same reason there aren't as many Naish kites as Slingshot kites, just historical reasons. However, it is easier to drift launch a tube kite compared to a foil kite. I haven't tr...

Not enough launch areas? This guy doesn't have that problem. I'm not saying I'm an expert, but it clearly can be done. Running 10 miles a day is probably another option...maybe not 10, but they probably wouldn't make 20m kites if we all weighed what Debbie weighs! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/wat...

Not to be a buzzkill, but we all know how often NOAA overforecasts the wind. I see weather.com, accuweather and windfinder all saying 10-12 and NOAA and iLiesurf saying decent wind. Anybody have any insight that would help differentiate between the two? I think I'm running at about 50% payoff on my ...

There was a Black and Decker leaf blower/kite pump at Reddy Creek on Friday morning. There wasn't one there Friday night. Did anybody out there happen to pick it up or move it?

Thanks, Seth

Friendly community? To some, especially if you fly the right kite or buy a kite one of the many used kites from the "team" riders that recycle their kites all the time or if you kiss up to the right people. Some of the community "leaders" are the last to offer a launch or grab a...