Forums > Kitesurfing   New South Wales

Canberra Kiting

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Created by Kitebaby89 > 9 months ago, 18 Jan 2016
Kitebaby89
ACT, 13 posts
18 Jan 2016 11:12PM
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Hello,
does anyone go kiting on Lake Burley Griffin? I'm a new liter in Camberra and am wondering where the good spots are.

FreewaY
NSW, 59 posts
19 Jan 2016 8:02AM
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I've sailed on LBG and rarely seen a kiter out there. I would have thought launching and landing locations difficult to find - but see what the other says. If only Lake George had water

sidtinney
NSW, 12 posts
19 Jan 2016 1:27PM
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This guy is probably the best person to ask:
https://www.facebook.com/canberrakiteboardingI texted him a while back and he was super helpful. But the general gist of his text was that no, I shouldn't go.For reference - I'm brand new to kiting (first season, maybe 7 sessions, only just starting to get the hang of consistently going upwind). I live in Sydney for uni but my family lives in Canberra so I come down here every now and then.

In general, LBG (apparently) sucks for kiting. Wind is super gusty, lots of obstacles, tree-lined shore, very few launch and landing spots make it quite hairy if you get into trouble. If you were going to go, the best spot to take off would be the beach next to the 'Boat House by the Lake' and then have a rip around east basin - I've actually been there before, and was about to go out but got shut down by a storm.

The 'beach' is just gravel/rocks, so you'll need to water launch or have a mate to help you take off. Standard self launch = busted kite.

Parliament house flag is a good indication of what the wind is doing, and I'd recommend watching it because the wind can, and will change suddenly.

I went to Wetspot out in Fyshwick (watersports store, they don't stock kite gear but can get it in if you ask) and asked a kiter who worked there about it. He said he's been in Canberra for about 15yrs, kited LBG once at the start and hasn't been back because it was so crap. He said most Canberra kiters just head to Broulee/south coast on weekends.
In short - if you know what you're doing and you're really desperate, go for LBG. I'm still keen to give it a go when I'm more comfortable on the board but for now I'll stick to safer, more predictable coastal spots!

More Seabreeze threads - most quite old but still some useful info if you want to give it a go.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/does-anyone-kite-any-one-the-lakes-around-Canberra/
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Kiting-in-Canberra/
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Kiting-Lake-Burley-Griffin-Canberra/
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Canberra-kiting-on-Lake-Burley-Griffin/
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/General-Discussion/Chat/Canberra-kitesurfing/

FreewaY
NSW, 59 posts
19 Jan 2016 1:57PM
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Nice write up, man.

Kitebaby89
ACT, 13 posts
19 Jan 2016 9:47PM
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Hi, thanks you've been really helpful!

Kitebaby89
ACT, 13 posts
24 Jan 2016 12:04AM
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Hey!
I couldn't respond properly earlier this week but just wanted to say thank you for your post! Also being brand new to kiting this season means I'm super keen and am looking for ways I can kite anywhere. I live in Kingston and during a jog I saw a kiter on the Foreshore Side of the bridge just flying across the lake. I have time to stop and wait to see where he launched from, but it made me think that he must've water launched.

Im in Victoria this long weekend and am kiting at Inverloch which is an excellent place for beginners. I was out there for 5 hours today in next to no wind (6knots) just practicing flying my kite and launching. It was great practice.

ill check your links and see if I can figure out a way to launch from lake burley griffin. I'm super keen so...I will make it work.

if anyone wants to kite at LBG with me sometime, hit me up. 0426207303. Eternity :)

Thanks again,



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Forums > Kitesurfing   New South Wales


"Canberra Kiting" started by Kitebaby89