VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Hey,

I grew up in Vic but I havent kitted there, only nitnat last year. Ill be around for the last week of April and I just got a new board with boots I would like to try

I was interested in riding in Vic but I wanted to know the wind conditions typically are for April?
Average wind/days a week over 15knots. I'm debating if its worth bringing my gear over from Toronto. Also Will a 4/3 wetsuit work at this time of the year?

I could also go up to Naniamo since looking at http://www.bigwavedave.ca/forecasts.php it looks to be windier than Vic from what I have monitored over the past few weeks.

Thanks

1. More neoprene required: 5\4 with a hood 2. Thermal season is here: Sunny days yield possible afternoon West winds. (Nitinat as well) 3. Those S.E. winds @ C.B./Comox are fickle. Study the wiki, forecasts, latest reports & web cams before choosing the days location

JL - I'm in my 4/3 now, with a 1mm short-sleeve top underneath to buffer against flow in thru the back zipper. Helmet only, no hood necessary. (And I'm a skinny one at 145 pounds and 5-10) Was great in the couple Westerlies this past week at Clover, probably just a little light for Gordon's where the air seems a little colder!!!

Sounds like I may need to rent a wet suit which shouldnt be a problem but will there be wind?? ;) My main question is if I should even bother bringing my gear from Toronto with me as I'm only there for a week.

How often do you guys have ride-able wind around Victoria for April, how many knots is it?

Im debating on which size to bring 14, 12, or 9m.

Thanks

Check the sailing log stats from 2005-2013, anywhere from 11-21 days in April:
http://bigwavedave.ca/phpBB2/sailinglog_stats.php

As you can see the numbers are fairly low so far for 2014.

Also check the wind archive for sites like Ogden Point (Cook Street), Gordons Beach/Sheringham and Columbia Beach/BallenasIsland (Parksville):
http://www.bigwavedave.ca/archive.php

http://www.bigwavedave.ca/wiki/index.php/Cook_Street
http://www.bigwavedave.ca/wiki/index.php/Gordons_Beach
http://www.bigwavedave.ca/wiki/index.php/Columbia_Beach

I would think a 4/3 would be okay as long as you have booties and a hood and you are a warm person...5/4 would be better. For a 7 day trip, based on the stats, I would think you would get at least 2 kiteable days as long as you don't mind driving, but it's the weather so it's obviously not predictable this far out. Maybe you will luck out with a cycle of good Gordon's days...

My 2 cents. I travel for work regularly and if I have at least a 50/50 shot at a kite session, I would always bring my gear. You have well over that...early May is the start of our windy season. Good chance of at least 1 or 2 days of 8m/10m wind. If you have a 12m kite, you could potentially get 5 or 6 days kiteable of 7 if we get into a good thermal flow. (and especially if willing to drive ... Parksville for SE, Nitinat for thermal westerly)

For wetsuits, agree with BWD, a good quality 4/3 would be doable...as long as you have booties & hood. Or you can rent a good quality 5/4 here:
http://www.sportsrentbc.com/surfing.html

For other gear, Ocean Rodeo has outlet store in Vic: http://store.oceanrodeo.com/

By the way, not sure how experienced you are, but so you know... the local spots vary in how beginner friendly they are. Bad launches, ocean currents, sketchy winds....this is not a sandy wide open beach kinda place.

Hey thanks for the details Bigwavedave and others.

I was just talking to Todd from OR and looking at your stats from last April it looks like ill be bringing my 9m, it is usually good from about 18-20+ knots onward. What is the typical wind for "ridedable" days when the wind is on in Victoria or Sooke?

I would prefer to only bring one kite 12m or 9m but I may be able to swing them both. Normally I bring one as my "personal backpack" on my flights and have no issues.

Hopefully I'll get to finally ride on the west coast It will be a big temperature change from the 2 months I just had in Boracay for the winter.

Not sure if Ill actually get a chance to try out the boots at Cook Street on my new board so Ill bring along some straps but maybe at Gordons ill be able to finally try boots.

Looking forward to meeting some people out there that ride as well

Aaron

Expect 15-20 knot wind

Hey guys just another question, typically which size boots/gloves do you guys wear in the winter?

I'm assuming 5mm boots but what about gloves? Patagonia has a sale on this weekend and I was thinking of updating my gloves/boots.

Thanks,

Aaron

smokedvw wrote:Hey guys just another question, typically which size boots/gloves do you guys wear in the winter?

I'm assuming 5mm boots but what about gloves? Patagonia has a sale on this weekend and I was thinking of updating my gloves/boots.

Thanks,

Aaron

You don't need gloves in April IMHO. Some do still wear them, but it isn't numbing cold.

Winter, 5mm or even 7mm booties. Gloves 3mm, find 5mm too restrictive. I bought some 3mm patagonia gloves recently, they are very good.

Hey guys, I'm in Victoria now but it doesnt look like there is any wind on the forecast for the next few days?

Ill be around for Tues-Thurs anyone know if there is something I am missing looking at the forecast on the site?

Thanks

Aaron

EnV. Canada: "Juan de Fuca Strait.
Thursday..Wind east 15 to 25 knots increasing to west 25 to 35 late
in the day.
Friday..Wind west 25 to 35 knots.
Saturday..Wind west 15 to 25 knots diminishing to west 5 to 15."

I am no Nitinat pro, but there seems to be some strong belief that Thurs/Fri will be the first solid thermal of the year up there.

april 13 i believe was the first... could be wrong! apparently last year was eariler

blew pretty hard in Lake Cow today, inflow. Warm. With the weather forecast I'd say three days of Nat upcoming we shall see....btw the paving job is not that great and this thread is pretty suspect