ajdesq
A Force-of-Nature *  
F-O-N Champion 2003
Member #: 6 Posts 214
Registered: 24-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Living to kitesurf :-)
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| posted on 14-3-2006 at 13:55 |
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Anyone been to Perth/WA?
Hi folks,
Off on the road again in October, and fancy taking in Perth for a week. From what I read it's a bit crowded and attitudey. I'll prob be
taking a kite and board, and/or hire a surf board but I'm still on big soft boards.
Any advice on where to go, where to base ourselves etc?
Ta v much!
Andrew
There's more to life than KITESURFING!
Let me know when you find it.
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Jonny
A Force-of-Nature ** 
Member #: 394 Posts 308
Registered: 6-10-2003 Location: North West Member Is Offline Mood: waitin for the next blow!
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| posted on 14-3-2006 at 17:51 |
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I was in Perth for a week at the start of November last year. I intended to live and work there for 2 months so I could go windsurfing
every weekend but the plan fell apart when I met some friends who I met in NZ so we did a motorbike trip instead. Average temperature
for the week when I was there was around 20C and we had a fair few days of rain. No sure what Octobers meant to be like
weatherwise.
I met a few kitesurfing locals there and they were saying everythings territorial bewteen the windsurfers & kitesurfers with the
rivalry. I even heard of a kitesurfer having his tyres let down cos he was at a designated windsurfing location but thats the pathetic
extremes some people will go to.
I didn't actually sail there myself as I was busy looking for a bike and partying every night but I was told to head up to the coast
to Lancelin. Better still 4 hours North of Perth to Geraldton which always has pleanty of wind. Theres good consistent wind from
November to the end of summer in March in WA.
You dont want to base yourself in Perth city itself as its pretty quiet and boring. The best place is Freemantle which is 20k south.
Its a lot more lively and is only a few k's from Cottesloe beach where you can go kiting.
Hope this helps
Jonny
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ajdesq
A Force-of-Nature *
F-O-N Champion 2003
Member #: 6 Posts 214
Registered: 24-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Living to kitesurf :-)
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| posted on 15-3-2006 at 15:56 |
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Cheers Jonny (LOVE your Avatar, has me in stitches every time!  )
Funnily enough I checked out a local WA forum, and straight away there was a post aimed at (admittedly inconsiderate) 'Euros' spouting
off at how awful we all are (because of one stupid person who sailed in the wrong area) and that we're all dreadful, will be ruining
life for the natives etc etc. I also picked up on the 'polers v teabaggers' rivalry too, which makes my life interesting as I do
both.
I forgot to add that our idea of a wild, wreckless, exciting night is to have a chocolate hob-nob with our mug of Horlicks at 10.
So far the Lancelin Lodge an hour up the coast is looking good. I like the look of Lancelin.
Cheers.
There's more to life than KITESURFING!
Let me know when you find it.
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Jonny
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 394 Posts 308
Registered: 6-10-2003 Location: North West Member Is Offline Mood: waitin for the next blow!
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| posted on 15-3-2006 at 17:15 |
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Yeah the Avatars my pride and joy!
Lancelin probably will be your best bet. I think the winds a bit more consistent there as well with the sea breeze kicking in every
afternoon. Wish I went there myself now but theres too much to see and do in Australia! I'm planning on heading back to Perth one day
so I'l do it all when im next there. Im sure you'l have a great time there. The rivalry thing between the 'polers & teabaggers' is
probably overhyped as well.
Enjoy
Jonny
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mNeil
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| posted on 15-3-2006 at 18:38 |
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perth my idea of heaven!!!! had a mate who lived on north beach but prefer his previous place in freemantle.
have you had a look up the coast to kalbari; stayed there and it has a fantastic beach and estuary with great crayfish !!!!
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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kiteboy1978
Grommet
Member #: 1782 Posts 5
Registered: 13-3-2006 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 16-3-2006 at 23:10 |
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Perth WA
I lived in perth for close to 6months in 2004. This place has some awesome places to kitesurf. I never had any problems from other
windsurfers and i shared a few spots with them.
The best spots are way out of the city like Lancelin, geraldton and up towards Carnarvon where Gnarloo is which has one of the best
breaks in the world and then up towards cape range national park.
If you've only got a week you'd be pushed to get that far north. So stick to Windy Geraldton or very laid back lancelin. Perth is
just as good though if you don't fancy doing heaps of driving.
Depending on your level of kitesurfing you can try Pelican point which is out by the University. Lots of beginners here, but when its
windy you get some kick ass riders sailing here.
Then there's Cottesloe (Cott) i lived here. Best place to sail is just down the road towards fremantle at peppermint grove/mosman
park. A bit further down towards fremantle is leighton beach where the Gravity Games H2O kitesurf comp was held.
To the North is Scarborough beach, although there is a huge rip running here. And to the south is the awesome Woodmans Point
(woody's). This place rocks. Alot of the local pro riders sail here.
Bit further south is rockingham. With Penguin island and safety bay another awesome spot.
The list can go on and on.... and all within an hour of the city.
Im hoping to get residency soon and go back to live for good. 
Hope this helps, im very envious of you.
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shem
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| posted on 17-3-2006 at 07:59 |
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I spent 4 months in WA a few years back, and Id personally recomend heading straight for margret river area, a few hours south. Car or
van hire essential, and get a good surf guide. Wind and perfect surf every day!!
Watch out for big surf and bigger sharks, heehee, just kidding!!
Kite & SUP wales
Caravan decking wales
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jaimie072
Grommet
Member #: 2017 Posts 5
Registered: 19-6-2006 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 19-6-2006 at 14:04 |
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I live in Perth, but am currently working in London. Go back to Perth in october. Crowds aren't a problem in Perth, u just have to know
where to go. Most of the Euros head to Lancelin where main break can get crowded. I like main break, but to be honest the euros really
f*ck off us locals because they have no idea about how to sail in waves and about windsurfing etiquette. Just downwind of main break is
south passage which is a bit harder to sail so euros tend to stay away from there so u can still get a good sail in Lancelin. In Perth
itself there are few waveriding breaks, mostly good for jumping. Cott. is ok, Scarborough and seal island near Hillarys marina. It's
2kms out to sea however, but u can get some decent waves although it's backhand waveriding. Good for big back and forward loops. South
of Perth is mandurah which has an excellent left hander and on a big day is a great wave to ride and again no euros as it's a bit
harder to sail. If you drive 11 hours north of perth you have gnaraloo which is one of the best surfing and windsurfing spots in the
world. The wave lasts for about 150 - 200m and you can get up to 20 bottom turns off it. On a big day it can get pretty scary with the
reef sucking dry and it's a powerful wave. There's been a few occasions where there have only been 2/3 guys out with 30 on the rocks
watching! And again few Euros (well the kook ones) make it up this far. 3 hours south of Perth is Margaret river which again has some
excellent waves, it's not for the beginner/intermediate wave rider and is a powerful wave. The locals there can be a pain in the a*ss
not only to Euros, but to us from Perth as well, so u need to be careful, but it's more of a problem with the surfers.
[Edited on 19-6-2006 by jaimie072]
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ajdesq
A Force-of-Nature *
F-O-N Champion 2003
Member #: 6 Posts 214
Registered: 24-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Living to kitesurf :-)
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| posted on 22-6-2006 at 22:23 |
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Errr... like you assume I'm any good at windy-boarding! Can do
little waves, but can't even carve gybe yet!
Perth/WA is now off the agenda for 2006 due to the fact that my OH and I cannot use my travel trade concessions to travel on Malaysian
Airlines because we're not married. Hey ho... So plans are afoot to go it alone in 2007, as I don't like UK Novembers!
It's a shame about the behaviour of 'euros' causing localism. I know what Jaimie means, you see it in Tarifa. I guess I'm biased, but
it's hard to distance being a decent Brit from being a 'euro', if you get my drift!
There's more to life than KITESURFING!
Let me know when you find it.
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