No
lessons in St. Pete June thru Sept.
Tampa Bay & St.
Petersburg, Florida
One of the most windless places on the
planet!
St. Pete is my home and I love it, but the wind is very inconsistent.
The windy season is November to May. and Typically June thru Sept
averages around 5 mph each day.
Lessons are not taught during
the summer months for this reason.
Use this time to practice with a
trainer kite and work on your wakeboarding skills.
The windy season is November to May. (the wind you see during the
off-season is
most likely generated by thunderheads or tropical depressions, both Dangerous)
Photos: Treasure Island Beach.
This page:
Local Tampa bay info: weather,
launch sites, restaurants, hotels, and
alternate activities.
Central Florida is a phenomenal
location for the growing sport of
Kiteboarding with its warm
temperatures, beautiful beaches, spectacular
sunsets, & large variety
of launch sites.
The Best time to visit is Late October through June. July-Sept are
normally
hot, with inconsistent winds with a high chance of
thunderstorms. With the
exception of passing tropical storms and hurricanes.
Lessons are available 12 months of the year.
St.Petersburg, FL .
At the southern tip of the St.
Petersburg peninsula on Florida's gulf
coast,
and among some of the states most beautiful
beaches.
*30 min from the Tampa International Airport.
*90 min from Walt Disney World
Orlando
*3 Hrs from Florida's East Coast: Daytona Beach / Cocoa Beach.
Moderate to warm temperatures, flat, choppy, or waves, and multiple
launch
sites suitable for any wind direction.
St. Pete has it all (except for consistent wind)
Tampa / St. Pete
Weather Sources
Current wind and tides by phone: 866-827-6787
opt 3 for current
wind speeds.
ikitesurf
Current
Conditions ( Ports )
Marine
Forecast ( weather Underground)
Marine
Forecast ( Accuweather )
Tides
( select a location and the dates)
The winter months bring in the cold fronts that produce the
areas wind. Normally any
West wind, NW, W, SW, blow better in the mid to
late afternoon. The Easterlies blow
early and die out early.
6-10 Am is a good bet on sunny days.Overcast cooler days allow
the winds to hang around a bit longer. The
Skyway windmeter tends to read high.....
3-5 mph+ in my experience.
3-2-1
Kite
school
(click
for details on lesson)
For Lessons in St.Petersburg, and South Padre Tx
Contact: 877-829-0015
The aerial photo show the SW section of St. Pete.
with Ft Desoto park shown at
the bottom, and Tierra
Verde just above. One of the few place in the world
where beautiful beaches can be kited in any wind
direction.
St.Pete Beach
Pass-a-grill Bch ( The southwestern tip of St. Pete Beach)
Tierra Verde - The last stop on the road to Ft.
Desoto Park
Ft. Desoto Park ( at the bottom, shaped a bit like a sea
anchor
)
The skyway bridge is at the bottom. right of the photo
The St. Pete area is blessed with beautiful beaches, friendly locals, and
freedom to
ride almost everywhere. Unlike Miami where several ego driven
riders with bad attitudes
provoke regular Ban issues for the area. We're a lucky group to live and ride here. As a
local or a visitor, a bit
of common sense, and respect for the other beach users goes a long
way to
preserving Kiteboarding in St. Pete. Welcome to the neighborhood.
Where To Ride:
Huge variety on weekdays. Weekends on the other hand are a
challenge due
to the large number of people on the beach.
Skyway Bridge- "North side" (North Fishing Pier exit)
Very flat and shallow inside the sand bar, choppy and deep on the outside.
Excellent on NE. decent size beach. The highway is a
safe distance from the
launch "if" you have you kite leash attached and have it rigged
properly. Not wearing a kite leash is just pure stupidity and a self
centered attitude by putting our launch sites at risk. During severe
low tides, this place still has deep water at the north end of the launch
area. From St. Pete, head south on I-275 (skyway). pay the $1 toll,
and take the 1st exit
"north fishing pier", go left, pass under the highway, left at
the water onto the sevice road,
and then right onto the dirt-sand road to the launch.
Skyway Bridge - " South Side". (South Fishing Pier exit)
Good spot for beginners (only at very low tides)
This is a good place a very low tides when the slack water creates a huge
wide
sand and muck flat. At mid to high tide, the beach disappears!
Can be ridden on NW, N, NE
Treasure Island - The Original Tampa / St. Pete "Kite-beach".
Kite
flyers & buggiers have been using this beach for years. A massive
wide beach ideal
for all kite sports. kiteboarding on water or landboarding on the sometimes, hard packed sand. Avoid riding in the swimming area
marked by bouys. Water gets deep fast
minimal sandbar.
Obstacles: Crab traps, swimming area
North Beach Ft.
Desoto
Map of Desoto: (click for larger image) Please
not the Red "NO - Kite Area"
"East Tip" (of east beach) Ft. Desoto: Once in the park, take a left at
the "T"
and go all the way to the end of road. ***This is one of the most popular
riding
spots in the area for NE, E, SE, & S
winds. Best at Mid to high-tide. At low tide
you'll be riding in 3" of
water or on a dry bed of grass and muck.
Beginner to advanced. The beach is narrow, cars tend to park close
to the
water, obstacles: trees, and metal signs.
Big Beach - Ft. Desoto: Take a right at the "T" go 1.5 to 2 miles, park on the
left (west side),
and take of the many foot paths over the sand dune. Stay on the path, and wear shoes,
so you don't get
splintered with those nasty sand-spurs.
Best on NW & SW. winds. HUGE, wide beach. The photo below
only shows 1/2 the
width of the beach. This area is just north of the snackbar,
at the middle to upper end of the cove, and approx 1-2 miles south of North
Beach.
Tends to get choppy and disorganized on SW winds. The north end near
the point is shallow. The south end closer to the pier is deeper with
strong currents. The middle of the cove is great. Stay away from the pier. No need to get mistaken as
fish bait.
Beginner to advanced.
North Beach - Ft. Desoto: Intermediate
to Advanced
Note: Kiteboarders are only allowed to ride in the Area "North"
of the swim
are marked by swim buoys. NW winds are common here and that means
if your kite goes down you'll need to be able to relaunch it quickly or risk
getting blown downwind into the swim area.
Bottom line: Ride well upwind of the swim area and don't throw moves that
risk putting your or your kite near the swim area.
Tierra Verde Flats-(East
side of Road) Intermediate to advanced riders.
*** You must be able to relaunch quickly and have excellent upwind riding
skills.
This is NOT a place for beginners unless accompanied by an instructor with
a chase vessel.
Can be excellent
on S & SE winds. very
shallow, small sandbar for launching. Can be over crowded with waverunners on
the weekends. The shore is lined with trees and
phone lines and the nearby Bayway.
Not a good place to lose a kite. Actually.... no place is good to lose a kite!
This spot is very popular with the windsurfing crowd. Give them
room. Pass
downwind of them when possible. Keep your
kite high ( 11:00 or 1:00 position) if
a windsurfing in downwind of
you. Check to sure the area is clear downwind before
jumping. Strong currents
near the bridge.
******* Note, the beaches in the St. Pete area can get really crowed
with
sunbathers and swimmers during the spring and summer months.
Avoid Mid-day on sunny weekends. After 5 pm
the crowds are mostly gone.
Downtown St. Pete (North of "the pier") North Shore Park -
Intermediate to advanced riders.
Just north of the pier at 10th ave north- Good on N.E. & S.E. winds.
Best at
Low tide, when the beach is big. At high tide, the kite
eating palm trees are really
close to the water. 10th Ave NE... look for the tennis courts and pool, medium size,
bay-side beach. Keep clear of the palm trees, concrete, and pier.
Not a good place for unsupervised beginners due to the concrete sea wall
and concrete obstruction sticking out on the beach.
Shell Island- you need a boat to get there, but its worth the trip!
Imagine a HUGE white
sand "sandbar/Island" just a few minute boat ride
from Ft. Desoto surrounded by mostly
waist deep beautiful turquoise water.
Once there, you can ride in any wind direction. A
wide variety of
conditions depend on Wind direction and tides. The place is right
next to
the inlet (bunces pass). Lots of boat traffic the weekends,
and all inlets are know to be frequented by sharks.
Pass-a-grill Beach - Just south of St. Pete Beach. Narrow Beach.
Best on an outgoing tide with a NW wind.
Intermediate to Adv riders. Little to no room for
mistakes due to the narrow beach and large number of sun worshippers and
swimmers.
Its best to park at the north end of the public parking area and then walk north
100 yards
or more behind the private homes, to get away from the crowds.
Upham Beach
-
North end of St. Pete Beach. known for have the best waves on the coast.
If its
breaking, it said to be breaking better at Upham. Watch out for submerged concrete
that was placed there to slow down beach erosion. And keep out of the way
of surfers.
Sunset Beach - Just north of the Blind-pass inlet, short rock jetty,
similar to Upham beach.
St.Pete Beach - Kiteboarding with the added advantage of numerous beach
bars, hot women,
and dolphins playing in the small surf. Avoid
Weekends and holidays. Use the widest section of beach just south of the
Undertow bar infront of the long Key hotel. Or try one of the public
parking lots. Parking and crowds present the biggest challenge. You can always ride the beach shuttle to anywhere on the beach.
Avoid the undertow parking lot, unless you planning to drop some cash at the
bar. This is a very popular beach bar, with a very tiny parking lot.
The mgt understandably wants the parking for the patrons buying drinks and
tipping.
Other: This list is still incomplete. There are
still a lot of un-kited launch site to be found.
Local Riders
Say Hello to the many friendly Local Kiters
Colin, Patrick, Hannah and Olli, Mara, Gordon, Brian M,
Nancy,
Ken, Tom, Alex K, Alex F., Paul, and at least 100 others.
The majority of the local riders are good people and friendly,
but like any big city
the you'll also find idiots that put our beach access and human life at risk.
And other who think they rule the world ( mafia, redneck "possie", or gang
mentality)
Luckily these people are the exception and not the rule.
The sport is growing very fast, and there are now more beginners on the water
than
experienced riders. Keep your eyes open, the kite line of
another, can cut the same
way as your own kite lines. Be smart, get a lesson, and learn
the proper safety precautions
and procedures.
Weather:
DO NOT ride in the winds of an approaching thunderhead, or squall line.
These type of winds are VERY DANGEROUS and not worth the risk.
Kites
The current trend is the use of "flat" kites because of their
wider wind range.
Good and Bad!
Good.. because you the kites are able to spill off more power.
Bad... because you the kites are able to spill off more power! Some
not-very-bright
people think this means that you can continue riding even with an approaching
squall.
Are there Sharks in St.
Petersburg?
Here is an email I just
received from a local kiteboarder, fisherman & friend
(wednesday 8-13-03) Yes, this is reliable.
Sharks - You know that bridge just north of the spot we kitesurf
near the skyway bridge? I just found out
that's the shark
fisherman's favorite spot for catching bull sharks (the
most aggressive sharks) they have
been catching 10 ft'ers at
that spot almost daily. I was kayak fishing last night and
encountered approx a
10-12 ft bull shark on the south side of the skyway
on the edge of miguel bay channel, the thing freaked
me out, I was even
scared. I moved to shallow water asap after that (spooky) -one big fish-
thing was
thrashing next to me while sitting in the kayak and it's body
was out of the water about one foot from me
and at almost eye level. Were
talking really scared, you ever almost get in a bad car accident? - you know
that feeling - yikes). But I still kept fishing - yea
baby!! - Alex
Directions
to Ft. Desoto
Take I-4
west to 275 south, exit (Pinellas Bayway/ 682) go west, Pass the toll booth (.50 cents) ,
Turn left at the second light onto
"679" heading south toward fort Desoto. You will
have another
Toll (.35 cents) at the entrance to the Park.
*East-Tip of east Beach:
Take a left at the "T" and go to the end of the Road.
*Big Beach: Take a Right turn at the "T" , proceed 1-1/2 to 2 miles, and
park on the left.
Follow one of the many trails through the dunes. Watch out for sand
spurs.
Alternate
Ft. Desoto Activities:
Bike, hike, canoe, kayak, windsurf,
rollerblade, run, or just explore the beautiful
park.
Windsurfing: North Beach Windsurfing School
Contact:
Britt (727) 656-6569
Hobie Cats, Water-bikes, Windsurfing, Cabanas:
Call Mark at
M&M beach services. Locations: Behind the Don Cesar Beach House
and behind the Holiday Inn, both on St. Pete Beach
Kayaking: Sweetwater
Kayak Locate next in Tierra Verde offers KAYAK Instruction,
rentals,
& tours. Backwater, bay or gulf paddling just down the road at Ft.
Desoto.
Canoeing: Canoe
Outpost: Canoes, and Bike rentals located inside Ft. Desoto Park.
Eat:
Tierra Verde:
After a long session of riding at Desoto, these 1st 3 places are just outside
the park on the left side of the road. (hwy 679)
Jo Jo's Restaurant: excellent pizza. My favorite is the vegetarian. 1130 Pinellas Bayway
Wong Lee Chinese: Huge portions, tasty, and dirt cheap. Try the Szechwan
chicken
combo special. 1110 Pinellas Bayway. on the road
to ft desoto.
The Sand Bar. Located at the marina on the south side of Tierra Verde
bridge.
Great food and service.
The Wharf (in Pass-a-grill) Inexpensive to moderate, I really love the
blackened
grilled fish sandwich with red beans & rice. Fun place, casual atmosphere.
Treasure Island:
VIP Club & Authentic Mexican Grill.
The best
Mexican food and margaritas in town.
Located on Gulf Blvd across from the Bilmar hotel on Treasure Island, just
south
of Central Ave. (aka Treasure Island Causeway)
Sleep:
Any place on St.Pete Beach or Pass-a-grill is convenient to
all the best local launch sites.
The Don Ceasar Beautiful
Resort and Spa - upper price range
The
Don Ceasar Beach House, More casual but nice, and located next to the
"Undertow bar" with some of the best scenery on the beach. My favorite pick for a
hotel
on the beach.
Holiday Inn, Another nice hotel. Say hi to Shannon at the onsite
Beach Bar.
Best Western
Camping at Ft. Desoto
Nightlife/Other
things to do.
BayWalk: Downtown St.
Pete entertainment complex. Restaurants, bars, shops, and theater.
Approx 15 min from st. Pete Bch. 275 north, exit onto 375 going
east.
Channel Side
Hyde Park
Bush Gardens
Ybor City
Local Rider: Rob Hassel , photo/artwork by Scott Fears
3-2-1
KITE School
Ready to learn Kiteboarding??? go to... the "start
here" page.
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