7/7 Zion Beach - North Wind

[zer0]

The 'Where to Ride' page lists Zion as good for a North wind.

Anyone going to Zion Saturday or Sunday. I haven't kited there yet.

http://windalert.com/spot/72570

[Dutchkiteboarder]

Before you head out check the Buoys on NOAA. North on websites isn't always the north that the compass give you. If the weather permits I might go this weekend. Or end up in Michigan. Lets see how the weather will be

[West]

I do believe that Zion will be the call Sat afternoon. Bear in mind that it is A Summertime Saturday and it will be warm before the front rolls in so expect alot of beach goers. DO NOT rig in the area of the sunbathers and swimmers and never walk your kite through them..........don't ride in the swimming zone, and go well past beachgoers if coming in downwind, there is plenty of space below the hotel to land a kite SAFELY, and walk back up!!

As the wind picks up later in the afternoon, the beach should clear out and there will be more open space for kiters. Be patient and wait for the wind to "fill in".......If the beach is TOO CROWDED then go to Waukegan and walk up towards the power plant to launch your kite. In other words, use discretion and above all KITE SAFELY!!!!!!!!

Sunday should be quite cooler and windy all day so it probably will not be as much of an issue with people on the beach.

[Dutchkiteboarder]

West do you know if the $20 parking fee is a fact at Zion beach?

[t bagger bob]

I was at Zion last time it blew and there was no charge to get in.
Waukegan on the other hand, I believe does charge the $20 stick-em-up parking fee on the weekends.
West is right about the crowds at Zion, be careful. A few years back we had a mess with too many kites mixed in with too many beachgoers that don`t understand how much room we need to launch and land, and a few kiters making bad decisions/mistakes. Please, be on top of your game.
Although I have never done it, there is another place to launch at the nature area south of the hotel. Yeah it`s a longer walk (similar to Waukegan), but maybe less beachgoers setting up. If it looks too crowded at the regular spot, check it out.
Come on Mother Michigan, how bout some 20+ winds?

[Dutchkiteboarder]

Probably lots of people will go out Sunday, I was just kinda wondering is some one would be interested in doing a kite swap meeting and little kite testing this day? Bringing my Broboard (not the 2012 version) who is interested to try one feel free to give it a spin on Sunday. Will end up in the water with my GoPro as well to get some cool action shots going to send back to Holland Hope to see more out on sunday!

[WaWaZat]

Probably lots of people will go out Sunday, I was just kinda wondering is some one would be interested in doing a kite swap meeting and little kite testing this day? Bringing my Broboard (not the 2012 version) who is interested to try one feel free to give it a spin on Sunday. Will end up in the water with my GoPro as well to get some cool action shots going to send back to Holland Hope to see more out on sunday!

I'll put a couple avail used kites and a few kiteboarding basics in the Wind Wagon.

[West]

Absolutely good call on the south launch area at Zion Bob. That would be the right place for Saturday cause the beach is gonna be crowded. The South area parking is before you get to the hotel, the walk from the parking lot to the beach is shorter than walking to Waukegan Beach. DO NOT RIG AND LAUNCH in an area with beachgoers!!!!!!! And DO NOT walk your kite through others at the beach.......

We are very lucky to be able to kite at Zion at all, please make wise decisions in this matter......there are only a couple of windy days a year where there are many people on the beach where we kite, and this is gonna be one of them............As for all the experienced ZION kiters, make certain to be a good example and help police the beach. The kiters should not be spread out all along the beach, but should all rig and ride from the same area!!.....Saturday could be very dangerous if kiters are not aware of potential safety issues. We do not want to jeopardize our access for a few hours of kiting on Saturday. Sunday will probably not be problematic at all, due to the higher winds and lower temperatures throughout the day. Kite safely and be courteous to others, thanks in advance........

[Artem]

Its gonna be honking tomorrow. See all of you at zion maybe we can organize a downwinder?

[alarmclock71]

Definitely looking to join you guys tomorrow at Zion.

[FSP]

might hav 2 git me a lil cino if that wind go NE then N sunday. ooooooweee magic number is 8ft firecracker. joe might be a call too.

[V]

Looks like mid afternoon. Ohare calling for the front at 1pm arrival but it still 7am so we'll see if that gets updated

[Dutchkiteboarder]

Gusting 26 knots at Waukegan according to NOAA buoy!
Latest Observation
Updated: 6:45AM CST SAT JUL 7 2012
Winds: 10 knots NNE (20 deg true)
Gusts: 26 knots
Pressure: 29.97 in

For all who go out today have fun!!!

[gbleck]

Bah.... I'm out of town for the weekend. Careful when landing south of the hotel. The beach is narrow and the grass is razor sharp. Also you can't go south of the dead river mouth. That area is a nature preserve and of limits to humans. If you find yourself drifting on shore in that area do your best plodding plover impersination.

[V]

Looks like NE winds 20kts through midnight. Tomorrow the same. Should be good. Plan on leaving in an hour once the wife gets home from her pedicure!

[Big wave John]

Looks like a solo session for me at casino

[Kevin]

Heading to Casino. Sounds like a good call to avoid the crowds

[xwindsurf]

Heading to Casino. Sounds like a good call to avoid the crowds

Was anything happening at the casino today? Didn't look like it from nearby meters - but of course they sometimes lie.

[West]

Dwndr with the bros in 9m conditions Sat afternoon, quite a gooooood one I might add..............nice to see all the kites below the hotel in Zion on our way down the coast to Keegs. Awesome to get a strong N in the middle of summer.

[WaWaZat]

Dwndr with the bros in 9m conditions Sat afternoon, quite a gooooood one I might add..............nice to see all the kites below the hotel in Zion on our way down the coast to Keegs. Awesome to get a strong N in the middle of summer.

Was only 1 other kite out on the water with me early evening when I heard whistles, faint yells & somewhat of a commotion from behind. I turned to look and thought, where the hell did all these kites come from?! Was a good time to take a break so I made my way over to the beach, sat down with my kite and watched as the pack of kiters aggressively, yet gracefully passed down the beach like a roving street gang! Vi with that cool hat and the dynamic style in which those guys were navigating the waves was almost thug-like. Encore bruthas!!