Continent |
North America |
Country |
Canada |
Next Big City |
Vancouver, Victoria |
Next Town |
Port Alberni |
Type: |
River |
Rider Ability: |
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Rooms, School, Rental, Rescue, Toilet, Food, Parking |
Type: |
Flat, Chop |
Hazards: |
Currents, Ships |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
Tide independent |
Location sits at the closed end of the Alberni Inlet.
Type: |
Grass, Stones |
Size: |
Medium |
Hazards: |
Other |
Beach Users: |
May, June, July, August, September |
Kite and windsurf park on the site of a former mill. Water access is from an industrial size pier by walkway down to a water level pontoon float for safe offshore kite launching. The actual shore presents many potential snags so shore launching is not recommended.
|
Spring:
|
Normal |
|
Summer:
|
Shorty, Normal |
|
Fall:
|
Normal |
|
Winter:
|
Thick |
Thermal winds in the afternoon Late June to mid September.
Best Months: |
May, June, July, August, September |
Wind Type: |
Thermal |
Best Direction: |
S, SSW, SW, WSW |
Main Direction: |
NE, SW |
Very reliable summer thermals with over 70% of August 2010 days registering over 20 knots. Location shows the same wind pattern as Nitinaht Lake but is basically in town, saving the brutal 1.5 hour logging road trek to the lake.
Transport |
Car |
|
Access
|
Short walk |
Take car to Port Alberni, follow signs to City Center down to 3rd Ave, follow 3rd Ave S to Plywood Rd., turn right, follow signs to the Watersports center.
Rules |
Other |
The access park is maintained by the Watersports center. A liability waiver needs to be signed before using the pier and pontoon. This is an absolutely gorgeous spot for kitesurfing, great scenery, close to town, reliable wind, and quite safe, too, since the inlet is closed so it's impossible to be swept out into open water. Jetski available in emergencies.
Port Alberni has bars, pubs and restaurants to suit most needs. There is also great fishing in the morning, or for the days without wind.