Unfortunately I have left it till the end of Summer to learn.

Should I be concerned that Winter is approaching and I'll have to wait until next Summer?

Just curious if this sport is still popular in the colder months?

Bugga, how about Autumn? Only got a week or so left of Summer!

Hey Monkeykiter,

Sydney is a bugger in winter, apart from the cold and the wind chill, the sou' westers are cold and very gusty. The westerlies are even gustier sometimes going from 10-35knots and back within seconds, it makes for some pretty unpleasant and potentially dangerous kiting.

kurnell is one of the only places you can kite in Winter in Sydney, also Boat Harbour/Merries reeefs and maybe also Pittwater on the North side. None of these places are very secure or safe for learners so if you do persist as you probably will, take enormous care in the westerlies and make sure you know how to activate your safety system.

I was almost killed twice at Kurnell in Westerlies, once on land with a massive lofting in a big gust (luckily wasn't hooked in and just jarred my back upon return to earth) and the other time kiting in Quibray Bay behind Kurnells Bonna Point. (Got yanked hard in a gust and flew approx 40 feet downwind. I missed an oyster encrusted pole by 3 feet. My kite luffed and fell onto a rock covered in oysters and was destroyed. I was actually returning to the beach to pack up after a few earlier scares when it happened)

Know your limitations, check the forecast and ask the locals what they think before venturing out. Or just go to Port Douglas!

Good Luck

Darren Marshall
Australian Kiteboarding School

Damn. I just read your profile & noticed you are on the other side of the country. No wonder I hadn't heard about you!

Hey Monkeykiter,

The Australian Kiteboarding School was the first kite school in Sydney which unofficially started in around March 2000 with it's first paying customer. Back then I did lessons for about 4 different shops.

It stayed open for three years (and 2 winters in Hawaii), then turned into a promotion company as we toured Australias coast a year and a bit ago in a smallish motorhome promoting my sponsors for near on 12 months.

Ended up in Perth due to a certain lady and spent the last 8 months with a "real" job earning cash, getting engaged and starting a family. Started up the school again in Perth recently, same school, different location. Timing is everything, right before a Perth winter

Used to have a website, but had no further use for it and decided to conserve on cash, so shut it down. I'll build another site sooner or later. I'll let you know when I do.

Hey Jeff,
Heard you may have been "Bumped" by a shark in Quibray.
Is that right?
If so, that explains the brown slick floating in the bay.

Glenn also saw a shark off Wanda last week then promptly fell off his board nearly landing on its tail!

Better practice my relaunch technique again.

Hi Monkeykiter,
You seemed surprised! It's the ocean, it's Australia, that's where they live.

Regarding the sighting I spoke to the guy myself and he's not one to make up stories. He unknowingly kited right up to it swimming on the surface then fell in. Just remember next time you are being trawled along its just checking out what type of kite you have...they're fussy eaters.

Hmmmmm........paranoia!

Hey girls, just don't fall in the piss and you'll be cool.