If you're ever driving out along Route 5 (you know, the highway along our Outer Harbor that is still just as confusing as ever), or along Fuhrmann Boulevard (the other roadway that runs along the highway), and you see the kiteboarders out on the lake, be sure to pull over and watch the excitement. As much as I love to see these boarders in the summer time, I am even more fascinated by their winter showings. You might be surprised to hear that we have a legend among us when it comes to the sport - a guy who has been on the scene since the inception of kiteboarding (eight years ago), and who, to this day, contributes to the R&D and sales for world recognized Eclipse Kites.
His name is Bill Myers, owner of Myers Kitesurfing. Bill has been surfing, sailing and kiting the winds and waters of Lake Erie his entire life, and by doing so has helped to promote Buffalo in ways that we can only imagine. "What makes the winds here so perfect," Bill often reminds people." Is that the wind comes down Lake Erie and the lake narrows, which causes the winds to pick up speed. That's why those windmills that you see out there are blowing all the time. I've talked people all over the country who are jealous that our winds are so fast and consistent. It gives us the opportunity to enjoy the sport instead of waiting days for the wind to blow - and that's year 'round."
I'm a big fan of Bill's effort to promote Buffalo as a wind-sport paradise. Even though we don't have the sprawling beaches that are found in Hatteras, and our waters can be tricky for learning the sport in the summer, our waterfront offers two completely different kiteboarding seasons. It's the winter kiteboarding that turns people's heads - these guys can be seen racing along the harbor at some pretty incredible speeds. I spent some time out on the ice and snow with them the other day and it felt like we were on an expedition to the Antarctic... even though the HSBC Tower could still be seen in the distance. "Compared to snowboarding," Bill told me. "Kiteboarding can be better in many ways. You never have to wait in a line... you don't have to buy a ticket, you can ride the entire time without stopping, and there are a lot of other maneuvers that you can do since you can control the kite for faster or slower speeds - and you can jump whenever you want! Believe it or not it's a lot easier to learn how to do the sport in the winter since you don't have to contend with the water."
Bill's ultimate dream for the sport here in Buffalo would be to have a kite park at the Outer Harbor - a place where the hundreds of local kitefliers could go and not have to worry about telephone poles and trees... where the grass is laid flat and there are no rocks. The area where The Pier Restaurant once stood has potential, but in order to make it desirable, a kite expert (like Bill) would need to work with a landscape architect in order to identify the shortcomings. Did you know that the Great Lakes Kitefliers Society was forced to relocate from LaSalle Park to Niagara Falls because nobody would listen to them when obstructions were placed in the park, even though a compromise could have been made? Now the incredible kites fly high all summer long in NF, which is a remarkable sight to behold. The Outer Harbor has the potential to bring them back if it is designed with kitefliers in mind.
In the meantime there will be people like Bill who will continue to make the best of the winds and the weather all year 'round. If you're interested in learning more about kitesailing, surfing, boarding... whether it's purchasing equipment or taking a lesson, be sure to visit Bill's website. There you will find all that you need in order to get into an all-season sport that has a relatively low cost of entry (once you own the equipment it's free and if you own a snowboard you're already on your way). Kite sports will keep you in shape, provide plenty of fun, and they are a guaranteed way to make new friends who love both the sun and the snow!
*Look for Bill and his crew out perfroming at the mouth of the Erie Basin Marina during the weekend of the Buffalo Powder Keg Festival and the Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tournament - February 27th and 28th.
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His name is Bill Myers, owner of Myers Kitesurfing. Bill has been surfing, sailing and kiting the winds and waters of Lake Erie his entire life, and by doing so has helped to promote Buffalo in ways that we can only imagine. "What makes the winds here so perfect," Bill often reminds people." Is that the wind comes down Lake Erie and the lake narrows, which causes the winds to pick up speed. That's why those windmills that you see out there are blowing all the time. I've talked people all over the country who are jealous that our winds are so fast and consistent. It gives us the opportunity to enjoy the sport instead of waiting days for the wind to blow - and that's year 'round."
I'm a big fan of Bill's effort to promote Buffalo as a wind-sport paradise. Even though we don't have the sprawling beaches that are found in Hatteras, and our waters can be tricky for learning the sport in the summer, our waterfront offers two completely different kiteboarding seasons. It's the winter kiteboarding that turns people's heads - these guys can be seen racing along the harbor at some pretty incredible speeds. I spent some time out on the ice and snow with them the other day and it felt like we were on an expedition to the Antarctic... even though the HSBC Tower could still be seen in the distance. "Compared to snowboarding," Bill told me. "Kiteboarding can be better in many ways. You never have to wait in a line... you don't have to buy a ticket, you can ride the entire time without stopping, and there are a lot of other maneuvers that you can do since you can control the kite for faster or slower speeds - and you can jump whenever you want! Believe it or not it's a lot easier to learn how to do the sport in the winter since you don't have to contend with the water."
Bill's ultimate dream for the sport here in Buffalo would be to have a kite park at the Outer Harbor - a place where the hundreds of local kitefliers could go and not have to worry about telephone poles and trees... where the grass is laid flat and there are no rocks. The area where The Pier Restaurant once stood has potential, but in order to make it desirable, a kite expert (like Bill) would need to work with a landscape architect in order to identify the shortcomings. Did you know that the Great Lakes Kitefliers Society was forced to relocate from LaSalle Park to Niagara Falls because nobody would listen to them when obstructions were placed in the park, even though a compromise could have been made? Now the incredible kites fly high all summer long in NF, which is a remarkable sight to behold. The Outer Harbor has the potential to bring them back if it is designed with kitefliers in mind.
In the meantime there will be people like Bill who will continue to make the best of the winds and the weather all year 'round. If you're interested in learning more about kitesailing, surfing, boarding... whether it's purchasing equipment or taking a lesson, be sure to visit Bill's website. There you will find all that you need in order to get into an all-season sport that has a relatively low cost of entry (once you own the equipment it's free and if you own a snowboard you're already on your way). Kite sports will keep you in shape, provide plenty of fun, and they are a guaranteed way to make new friends who love both the sun and the snow!
*Look for Bill and his crew out perfroming at the mouth of the Erie Basin Marina during the weekend of the Buffalo Powder Keg Festival and the Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tournament - February 27th and 28th.
Bill is a great guy, and a great promoter of the sport, if you’re in the market please contact him he is a straight shooter. Also for kitesurfing area hot spots go to http://www.kitesurfingbuffalo.blogspot.com/