Kitesurfing Kicks off at Lyle Sandbar

Pictured: Grant Mayo spent 6 hours on the water practicing his jumps and catching serious air.

The spring winds pack a punch in the Gorge.

With temperatures still a bit on the cool side and gusts that can go from 18-40 mph in a split second you’ve got to be at the top of your game if you want to sail across the water without flying away or biting it bad.

But that didn’t discourage local thrill seekers from shaking the sand out of their kites on May 1st to hit the Lyle Sandbar for some wind and waves. Although most kitersurfers were seen flying smaller kites in the 6ft-8ft range to stay on the safe side of ‘punchy’ winds.

The beach was busy with adventurous beginners looking to get their sea legs, expert aerialists who just can’t help themselves from smiling the moment the wind picks them up and launches them 10-30 ft into the sky, and everyone in between.

And while this sport might not be everyone’s idea of fun. The ones that love it said that they just can’t get enough. And lucky for them Kitesurfing season is just getting started at Lyle Sandbar. The season generally runs from March-October. With the spring and summer months being the height of the season.

Pictured: Erinc Akture (right) poses with fellow kitesurfer Allison (the wind was so loud the reporter couldn’t hear her last name). Allison says she tries to get out on the water every day that she can.

Check out the video below to see Grant Mayo land some intensely high 30-80 ft jumps!