Monthly Archives: November 2012

Where can we Kiteboard when the west winds blow?

Posted by Shaun Jackson on

Wiggins Pass, Naples Fl.

 

Tiger Tail Park, Marko Island Fl.

If you love Kiteboarding the way we do, and you live on the East Coast of Florida, you will sooner or later be faced with the problem of having plenty of wind, but it will be blowing from the wrong direction. West winds, on East facing beaches are offshore, and off-limits! The weather culprit seems to be low pressure systems to our North, rotating counter-clockwise, with a tight pressure gradient. As was the case with Hurricane Sandy, with a wind field 1,000 miles across, we were under her influence for some time. I usually get more than a few calls asking the same question,”Where can we ride?” Since the East facing beaches are out of the question, the second choice is usually the Intracoastal Waterway, Indian River, etc. I guess the first question that needs answering is…”what quality of wind are you looking for?” When it comes to wind quality, the key determining factor is “Fetch”. This is the distance that wind travels over the open water before it reaches your kite. If you choose a location where there is only a quarter-mile between you and the windward shore, with its homes, condos, trees, water towers, the quality is not going to be very…Satisfying. If you can find a place where the wind has maybe a mile or so, then you will start to feel wind that is at least…adequit. But for my money, I’ll pack up the car with small kites, fill the tank with some 87 octane, refresh the Sun Pass, and head for the West Coast! let me tell you, when it blows on the West Coast of Florida, it is “All Time, EPIC, Nuc’n!” It’s usually N.W. ,so if you are regular footed…Bonus! And here’s another thing, the Left Coast has variety. Bays, points, lagoons. Did I mention River Mouths? Sure they have Bull Sharks, but the waters so murky you’ll never know they’re there!

So here’s the skinny, quick, and simple.  Scale 1 to 10

Lake Mangonia, West Palm Bch. – Don’t you Gonia!-Very Dangorous, Kitemare last year! Don’t be a fool!   -2

Munion Island, Singer Island  – Short fetch, big holes.   3

Saint Lucie Inlet Sand bar – Still gusty, need boat to access.    4

West Point, Miami – OK in S.W. , N.W. not so much. Access by boat.   4

Sebastian Inlet, S.West Point – good fetch, nice butter slicks! Study the tides.    7.5

Wiggins Pass, Naples – Great down winders, sick flat water on ebbing tide. Good waves outside.   8

Venice – Probably the best wave spot on the Gulf. Watch the Crab Pots.    8

Bobby’s secret spot, you wouldn’t like it there any way. Rare I’m told.   8.5

Tiger Tail Park, Marco Island – Truly World Class! Make the pilgrimage at least once!   10