Blue Water Bay, Port Elizabeth

January 17, 2005

{8 comments}

We hooked up with Kurt Schmeltzer in Port Elizabeth, a 15 year old kitegrom who is one of the hottest riders in PE.

Port Elizabeth has plenty wind year round, warm waters (no wetsuits required), and no crowded beaches!

On a perfect kiting day it is pretty normal to go to the beach and only find 2 or 3 kiters out - this in the middle of peak season!

We are currently touring PE and surroundings and are writing a travel feature. We are staying on a friends yacht and go sailing twice a week. Yesterday, before our session at Blue Water Bay we managed to go out and get a glimpse of what the wind is doing out on the ocean and where it's blowing strongest.

Here is the first pictures taken at Blue Water Bay.

Here's some pictures of Kurt Schmeltzer in action :


8 Comments
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1 William Tyson 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

PE ROCKS. Great article on Kurt and his dad. No doubt about it Kurt cooks. the main take out here though is the dedication of his old man, Neville. It is so great to see commitment that Neville puts in.

During December he had an awesome downwinder from Cape Reccife lighthouse down to Millers. There where ten of us and it was GREAT. I love kiteing PE is there is no politics and all the guys get on, no matter what kite are in the air.

2 redfox_ys 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

why is it that we all sit inthe UK and drewl over the nice spots back home it sucks doesn it.I am going to the Jbay PE area in may for a week hope to see some wind if not just the sea hopefulyy Il see some kitesr down there cant wait

3 Julian 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM


Howzit All,

Thank you for a most informative article.

I'm from PE, but living in UK.

How does Bluewater Bay compare with Blouberg area in Cape Town?

What other spots in PE work?

Is there a kite shop in PE - tel number?

Cheers

Julian

4 adrian 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

Finally, some news on PE. I am currently living in the UK and just got my first kitesurfing setup. I grew up waveskiing there and for the past two years been playing with the idea of switching/complementing my choice of watersport. Well I have done it.

PE is a hidden gem as you can kite all year round any day of the week regardless of wind direction and you do get waves most of the time. I cannot wait to get back there this summer.

Hopefully will see more coverage soon.

5 Quinton 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

Go KURT GO!!!! for those locked away in uk like me ...seeing the pics makes me really home sick for some good surfing in Blue water bay.

Keep killing it !!!

it can't rain all the time .....can it

6 Patrick 1/18/2008 3:10:34 AM

Hi,

sounds good. Are there no sharks to worry about though?

7 Patrick 1/18/2008 3:13:24 AM

Also, is there a web site which gives the wond conditions and prediction for PE?

I might go there from PAris for business but would like to know if it's worth lugging my gear over?

cheers,

8 Patrick 1/18/2008 3:20:38 AM

Found it:

http://www.windfinder.com/report/port_elizabeth

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