Kiting the Cook Island?? Any tips?

General discussions about kiting: equipment, setup tips, safety, where to go, where you should have been, lost and found
Post Reply
Nimpkish-Bill
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:08 pm

Kiting the Cook Island?? Any tips?

Post by Nimpkish-Bill »

anyone been to the Cook Islands, know anything about the best places to kite, when to go??

Thanks
User avatar
juandesooka
Website Donor
Website Donor
Posts: 704
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:44 pm
Location: Sooke
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Re: Kiting the Cook Island?? Any tips?

Post by juandesooka »

Nimpkish-Bill wrote:anyone been to the Cook Islands, know anything about the best places to kite, when to go??

Thanks
Was there in mid 90s, on a surf trip, before kiting. We were there as a stop on a "coral route" pass....hawaii, fiji, rarotonga, NZ, Aus. Didn't really intend to go there, but ended up extending our stay a few weeks extra.

There was some fun surfing, but generally not ideal for surf. The waves are quite a ways out from shore lagoons and it was nearly always windy. In other words, my recollection is that it would be epic for kiting! Amazing flat water sailing everywhere, and a few good kitesurfing spots.

Muri Lagoon on the south east shore was a good spot for swimming, suspect good for kiting. The south west corner was where biggest waves were, but wind was always strong onshore. Also surf spots just outside Avarua on north and north east shore.

I think the sister island Aitutaki is more of a kiting destination:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qyt4-Y6yLc[/youtube]

We were there in Fall, water was a little chilly, long snorkelling session you'd be cold. Could have worn a shortie. Surf season is our summer. Not sure when best wind season is.

Culture of the area was fun, Polynesian with an attitude, what Hawaii was probably like long ago. (plus mix in NZ influence and humour) Local drinking establishments would see the whole place dancing and singing along when a popular song they liked.

I'd go back for sure, intend to eventually!
User avatar
MartyD
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:39 am
Location: Cook St
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by MartyD »

Muri Lagoon on Rarotonga is fantastic. SE Trades blowing through our summer down there. You can kite pretty much anywhere on Aitutaki as it is flat and sandy. Some epic flat water spots and some reef breaks on the outside. Unreal snorkeling on both Islands too! Worth checking out!
Post Reply