kiteing in a storm?

http://www.southdeltaleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=48
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Storm batters the Bay




Tyler Garnham photo

Kiteboarders took advantage of high surf and high winds at Boundary Bay Wednesday afternoon.
By Philip Raphael
South Delta Leader
praphael@southdeltaleader
Nov 17 2006

One person’s playground was another person’s worry Wednesday as the combination of gusting winds and a high tide brought out extreme sports enthusiasts and municipal officials to the shores of Tsawwassen’s Boundary Bay.

The stormy conditions were ideal for a trio of kiteboarders who took turns skimming the turbulent waters with waves reaching as high as seven feet.

“As far as conditions go, this is pretty extreme,” said Alex Noke-Smith, who was joined by fellow kiteboarders Don Armstrong and Colin Earnst.

“If it was a little less stormy you’d see 30 to 40 of us out here.”

The three belong to skypilotkitboarding.com, a web site for fans of the sport. The group even has a web camera perched on the chimney of a waterfront home at Boundary Bay so kiteboarders can check out conditions online.

“That’s what brought us out here,” Armstrong said, adding the fall and winter are the best seasons for kiteboarding Boundary Bay.

Also taking in the blustery day was Delta mayor Lois Jackson, who reinforced the call for the provincial and federal governments to provide adequate flood protection in the area.

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