6 posts
Hi All,
Heading away for 2 weeks to Apollo Bay, as a newbie (can't go upwind yet!) should I bring my gear? Is apollo bay suitable for newbies
Cheers
VIC
960 posts
Hey Dilly,
Firstly, there is no shame in walking, every kiter has had to do it, some (me!) for longer than others.
From memory, I'd say Apollo bay isn't great for the 'Walk to Origin' as I called it... on a high tide it's fairly narrow, and there are various snags/bushes/etc. if the wind drops and your kite falls out the sky whilst you're doing your walk. It's also quite busy. There are beaches around the corner (next to the golf course on the West side) which have a bit more space and less popular.
Good luck with it. And remember, (s)he who conquers, first conquers themselves.
VIC
5127 posts
The locals go to Marengo which is across the river to the south of Apollo Bay. It looks like quite a large beach. It's ocean so it might have a shore break.
There are sections up the north end near Wild Dog Road that you could walk on but there's also pine trees and beach fisherman and ****. It's certainly not newbie heaven.
6 posts
Cheers Mate
Around the corner sounds great, got my kite struck in a tree at Rosebud today......!!! (I massive thanks to the bloke that helped me)... So I think the more space the better when it comes to my skills at the moment.
I look at the walk of shame as just good exercise
Kitesurfing WILL not beat me, but my wife will give I wreck my kite or hurt myself!
VIC
960 posts
There's a carpark here (and I think there are loos also), check Google maps at the below (it's the B100 as you leave Apollo Bay).
-38.766808, 143.666627
VIC
123 posts
Apollo Bay is quite challenging for a beginner not able to stay up wind.
You will need to be confident in surf and know what to do with your kite when being dumped by waves (keep it flying at all costs and to seaward to keep tension on lines)
In many wind directions the wind can be a bit dirty due to hills and other upwind obstacles.
Last 3 times I was there the wind was directly onshore and fairly light making getting out a challenge (impossible if you can't go upwind)
Beach is narrow at high tide, but plenty of room at low tide
As a beginner don't go out alone and talk to others / locals before you go.
VIC
2 posts
Pilots go a bit nuts sometimes at Marengo. Their flight path is over that beach.
