Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: River
Water type: Chop, Small wave
Water hazards: Ships
Water quality: Cloudy
Infos: Chop and small waves.
Beach type & size: Sand - Small
Infos: Very long, sandy beach, about 120ft wide. Look out for driftwood.
Identified hazards: Concrete, Other
Beachgoer: None
Weather specificities: Warm water from late May until September/October. Full wetsuit 3-4mm from October to late May. Shorties in the summer months. Possible all year.
Wind type: Thermal
Best months: May, June, July, August, September
Access description: by Car - From Portland drive northwest on 30 towards Saint Helens. Turn off to Sauvie Island. By a pass if you have none. After you crossed the bridge the street curves left, after the curve turn left onto NW Gillihan Road and follow the street for a while. Once the street ends and you can go only left or right, turn right. This is the NW Reeder Road. Follow it for about 6 miles. Then you will find a parking to the left. Park here, and walk to the beach.
Accommodations: Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: River
Water type: Flat, Chop
Water hazards: Currents, Ships, Stakes
Water quality: Cloudy
Infos: Columbia River. Pretty flat on the sides, big chop in the middle. Watch for shipping traffic (lots of it through here.) Current pushes you upwind on dominant wind direction (NW). River runs SE to NW. Trojan nuclear reactor (shutdown now) is about 2 miles up river. Flat and choppy. Not too much swell or big chop.
Beach type & size: Sand - Small
Infos: Half mile of sandy beach, few obstacles. Not very wide. Watch for fisherman/kids playing. Parking right next to beach. Sand is less dusty/dirty than Jones, and no vehicles on the beach.
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: July, August
Weather specificities: Usually not as warm as Portland, but not as cold as the coast either. Check St. Helens temps.
Wind type: Thermal
Wind specificities: This spot benefits from some of the strong west winds that Jones Beach gets, but its a little closer to Portland than Jones (by about a half hour). It also benefits from the North wind that Sauvies Island gets, in the afternoons in the summer this is what fills in and makes the place solid. The winds are stronger than Sauvies, but also gustier. I've been powered on a 12m here when Sauvies was still flat. Good any time NW wind is blowing. Check NW Weather forecast for Jones. You can also check the Scappoose sensor to see how strong the North wind is. The wind usually starts at 3pm and goes till 8 or 9pm. You can usually count on wind if there is a 10 temp difference between Astoria and Portland.
Best months: May, June, July, August, September
Access description: by Car - On highway 30, about 1 hour west of Portland. Look for sign that says Prescott Beach (will be on the right if coming from Portland.) From Portland go down Highway 30 past St Helens and Goble, you will see the Trojan reactor, that means your getting close.
Specific rules: Fees
Extra: $2.00 day use fee. Don't upset the fisherman, they were here before us! The guy who runs the place is real nice and we'd like to keep him happy with the kiter crowd.
Accommodations: Toilet, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop, Small wave
Water hazards: Shells
Water quality: Clean
Infos: Excellent flat water.
Beach type & size: Grass, Sand - Medium
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: May, June, July, August, September, October
Wind type: Thermal, Frontal
Wind specificities: The wind blows a bit stronger here due to a channel effect.
Best months: May, June, July, August, September, October
Access description: by Car - Drive onto Ile Lameque and follow signs to Petite-Lameque.
Specific rules: None
Accommodations: Rooms, Camping, School, Shop, Repair, Rental, Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Small wave, Medium wave
Water hazards: Swimmers, Currents
Beach type & size: Rocks - Big
Identified hazards: Rocks
Beachgoer: June, July, August, September, October
Weather specificities: The water temperature is around 4-6C in the mid-summer.
Wind type: Frontal
Wind specificities: Do not ride here with offshore winds.
Best months: June, July, August, September, October
Access description: by Car -
Specific rules: None
Nightlife: Go to Rimouski and you will have all what you need.
Accommodations: Rooms, Camping, Rescue, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Lake
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop, Small wave
Infos: On N, NW winds the water is choppy and smooth on NE, ENE and E winds.
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Infos: It is a fairly big beach length and width wise. The sandy beach has some broken glass so care should be taken for your gear and feet.
Identified hazards: Other
Beachgoer: July, August
Weather specificities: Water temp. in summer is around 65F and fall season (October and November) is around 50F.
Wind type: Thermal
Wind specificities: The beach is good for wind directions that are: N, NW, NE, ENE and SE winds. The Chicago winds are lake effect thermal winds which are more difficult to predict vs. trade winds. They are also gustier and change direction instantaneously. Kiters and windsurfers will normally be out when the winds are blowing 10-20 knots. Chicago winds are also more dense making them stronger then warm winds. Summer is generally offshore due to SW/W winds. Fall/spring is generally on/sideonshore and winds are 10-20 knots in average. About 2-3 riding days every 10 days.
Best months: March, April, May, September, October, November
Access description: by Car - Head towards downtown Chicago. Head east towards the lake. The Lake side highway is called Lake Shore drive (LSD). Head towards the north side of the city using LSD and exit Montrose Ave. Head east until you hit the beach. There will be a big flag pole which will give you and idea of the wind direction. Approx. just under 20 miles from both airports.
Specific rules: License
Extra: New rules for kitesurfers (test phase): 1. Only PASA or IKO Level II (Intermediate) Certified Kiteboarders will be allowed to kite at Montrose Beach. This prohibits teaching kiteboarding or flying `traction` kites with students on Montrose Beach. 2. All Kiteboarders will follow generally accepted Kiteboarding Safety Practices and use attached Kite Safety Leashes. (No grab handles) 100 Foot Safety Zone from Occupied Beaches, Piers, and other Facilities while riding. 3. Kiteboarding allowed when bathing areas are closed. 4. Kiteboarding may be allowed by the Captain of the Guards at other times. This will apply if the Test Plan is approved.
Accommodations: Shower, Toilet, Food
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Lake
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water quality: Cloudy
Beach type & size: Grass, Rocks - Small
Identified hazards: Rocks, Stones, Trees, Road
Wind type: Frontal
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Access description: by Car -
Specific rules: Zones
Extra: .
Accommodations: Shop, Repair
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Medium wave
Water hazards: Animals
Water quality: Clean
Beach type & size: Sand - Small
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: None
Wind type: Thermal
Best months: May, June, July, August, September
Access description: by Car -
Specific rules: None
Accommodations: Toilet, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Lake
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water hazards: Swimmers, Ships
Water quality: Clean
Beach type & size: Sand - Small
Identified hazards: Bystanders
Beachgoer: June, July, August
Wind type: Frontal
Access description: by Car -
Accommodations: Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water hazards: Buoys, Stones, Shells
Water quality: Clean
Infos: Tide, choppy water, can also be flat behind the dam.
Beach type & size: Pebbles, Stones - Medium
Infos: Stones, logs, when the tide is out, lots of seaweed, but once you're on the water, it's excellent. Old logs on the beach.
Identified hazards: Shells, Other
Beachgoer: None
Weather specificities: Mostly sunny from April to October. Shorty suit good June thru August. In winter a dry or heavy wetsuit is a must. Winter temps range 5-12C. Wetsuit needed all year-round.
Wind type: Thermal
Wind specificities: Depending on the wind, kites can be from 8 to 20 sqm. There is a road dividing the N and S, which acts as a wind break for the waves. Lots of wind higher up where the kite is, reasonably flat water where you're riding.
Access description: by Car - From Vancouver, drive towards the Tsawassen ferry terminals, and turn off the side road at the last set of lights before the terminal. The beach is just south of the dam.
Specific rules: Other
Extra: No fire and no camping.
Nightlife: Lots of nightlife in Vancouver.
Accommodations: Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: River
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water hazards: Currents, Ships
Water quality: Cloudy
Infos: Calm, flat water. Some current if you go out too far.
Beach type & size: Grass, Sand - Small
Infos: In the middle of a major industrial area. Trains and trucks and hug piles of stones. The beach is a great little hidden spot. There are a lot of windsurfers in summer, so kiters be careful. The place is great to ride the ice in winter.
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: None
Weather specificities: Nice from spring to fall, wetsuit neccessary. Winter snowkiting.
Wind specificities: Only good in NE and E winds.
Access description: by Car - Off 440 heading east out of Quebec. Exit on Boulevard Henri-Bourassa, drive to its end and turn left when you see water or the end of the street. Follow the road up north and you will see a small round-about. Park to the right.
Specific rules: Other
Extra: Parking can be restricted in summer but it is legal.
Nightlife: Old Quebec!
Accommodations: School, Rental, Rescue, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water hazards: Swimmers, Currents, Ships, Jetskis
Water quality: Crystal clear
Beach type & size: Sand - Tidal
Beachgoer: May, June, July, August, September
View spot