Kitesurfing Augusta, Parry Beach and Albany in South West WA - trip summary

We booked flights, vehicles and accommodation at Geraldton for a kitesurfing trip. Six people came from Victoria (Dan, Mike, Garry, Tony, Anthony, Lee, Taz and myself) are three were WA locals (Gaz, Adam, Neil).

The out-of-season heatwave with very strong hot easterly winds over Perth and up as far as Geraldton (our planned destination) resulted in a very poor wind forecast for Geraldton so we changed our location to South West WA where the wind forecast was much better.

Day 1. Kitesurfing Augusta WA in surf and flatwater

We drove to Augusta, arriving mid afternoon and setup for kiting.  The wind was a bit soft but the location was great - good waves and flatwater.

Day 2. Parry Beach kitesurfing with good wind and surf

Two excellent kitesurfing sessions today Parry Beach.  There is ramp down to the beach so we drove on onto the beach and parked near the inlet mouth. The wind and waves were good. I was a bit overpowered on my 8m kite and was wishing I had brought my 6.

The section of off rock and reef in places added some interest!

Day 3. Parry Beach kitesurf in bigger waves and blue water

We scoped out Ocean Beach an Hillier Beach but decided that Parry Beach would be the best location. Bigger surf was more challenging.

Gaz cooked a super lunch on the beach.

I finished the day with a short downwinder back to the beach entry ramp.

Day 4. Albany - Shoal Bay kitesurfing flatwater speed runs and boosting

The wind direction changed to have some North in it so we headed to Albany to check out some better locations for kitesurfing.

Middleton Beach and Goode Beach both had 30+ knots onshore and dumping waves. Christian from Kitebud was in the area and advised that Albany Shoal Bay Kite Spot was worth a go.

He was right - the flatwater kiting was superb.

As a bonus he checked out my bar and tuned it - adjusting the front lines and the safety line.  I hadn't done that for a while so it was great to get it sorted.

After a solid day we drove back to Denmark and had a good dinner in the Denmark Tavern.

The next day we did the 4.5 hour drive back to Perth Airport, passing through only one town on the way.

Overall, an epic trip.  

Next time for WA we will leave bookings to the last few days so we can go where the wind is.

Locations

Albany - Shoal Bay kitesurfing flatwater #575 & 576

Session 575, 576A &B.  The wind was stronger at 30+ knots and with some North in it so we headed to Albany to check out suitable locations.

Albany Shoal Bay flatwater kite spot

First stop was Middleton Beach. The wind was over 30 knots and onshore with waves closing out. Nobody was keen.

Middleton Beach SLSC

Middleton Beach 

Second stop was Vancouver Beach. It was a hike out over sand flats and the wind direction was not good either.

 

Vancouver Beach

Third stop was Goode Beach with similar conditions to Middleton Beach.  Too much wind!

Goode Beach

Goode Beach

Christian from Kitebud was in the area and tipped us off about the Albany Shoal Bay Kite spot so we headed there.  The wind was good and the water was flat so we rigged up on the narrow sand beach and headed out.

Albany Shoal Bay flatwater kite spot

It was great kitesurfing. Good speed, long runs and great boosting. The water was shallow with weed close to the surface.  I tacked out looking for deeper water but I didn't find any.  

I caught my fins a few times in the weed and fell off.  Coming back in I header over to the butter smooth water where a couple of wind surfers were.  There was weed there too. I asked one how they could manage the weed with their big fins - they are using special smaller weed fins.

Gaz was doing some great boosts!

Christian he checked out my bar and tuned it - adjusting the front lines and the safety line.  I hadn't done that for a while so it was great to get it sorted.

He also lent me a demo kite - the Airush Lift 9m.  It has 5 struts and was nice to fly. Its designed for big air, boosting and kiteloops.

We drove back to Denmark and had a good final dinner in the Denmark Tavern. 

Albany Shoal Bay flatwater kite spot

Albany Shoal Bay flatwater kite spot

Albany Shoal Bay flatwater kite spot

The crew - Albany Shoal Bay flatwater kite spot

First session - Union 10m #575

Second session - Airush Lift #576A

Third session - Airush Lift  #576B

For a trip summary and map of see Kitesurfing Augusta, Parry Beach and Albany in South West WA - trip summary