Kitesurfing Holiday in Florida

[Craigkites]

So looking at photos, beaches few spot reports etc Im thinking a kitesurfing trip to Fl is in order. Would really appreciate some advice on spots and timings so im safe and get the most out of it.

Time of year - times to avoid - know you guys have some fairly scary weather sqaull patterns etc. when can these be most easily avoided?

Locations - recommendations - im not a fan of the riding near power lines that seems to be a running theme in these forums!!!!

Ive been kiting for around 2 and a half years and am a reasonable level.

Lastly - bring my own gear or rent - any contacts / recommendations?

Any help greatly appreciated!

[ricki]

Simple question Craig, tricky answer. Florida is larger than 60% of the countries on earth, it is a big place with varied conditions. Any preference on where in the state you would like to go? Traditionally wind conditions vary dramatically with the time of year. Normal weather patterns have been elusive this year, lots of westerly wind, cooler temperatures and little normal clocking of winds with frontal passage. Typically our best winds come through between December and March perhaps April in some years. This year, in the SE anyway, not so much unfortunately.

You should look over the three stickies on kiting in Florida for some more ideas and background at:
http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=89

As a rule, it is hard to find more than a kiteboard to rent in Florida unless you sign up for a class or sea taxi run with some providers. Best to bring your own gear if you can.

Regarding squalls, they really are fairly easily avoided, but we have to think a little bit and try. Some ideas along those lines appear at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=69

[Craigkites]

Sorry, I could and should have been a lot more specific - forget the scale of the place! - Am primarily looking at your area I guess - south east with high likelihood of a trip down to key west!
Again, your help and comments greatly appreciated! - PArticular thanks to rickI for coming back so quickly!

[Stein]

Key West is good for Drunks, but if you want to kite you will need a boat. Smathers Beach sucks - it is full of nasty shitty slime with lots of rocks, channel markers, narrow beach with lots of people. the keys in general are only good if you have a boat. then they rock.

[michalswarm]

Kitesurfing in Florida is really a great fun.Most kitesurfing takes place along ocean shores, usually off beaches, but it can also be practiced on large lakes and inlets and occasionally on rivers.A kitesurfing holiday is ideal for you to explore the new extreme sport that's taking the world by storm you can also go there in Florida and book a kitesurfing course it is also very good and fun filled.

[greg meintjes]

Stein,( are you the Stein that was here about 10 years ago with the broken foot or ankle) I do not know when you were last in Key West or if you had a drinking problem when you were last here , but it does not "suck" as you say, at Smathers a lot has changed , there are no rocks in the riding area except for a few stones right as you enter the water, no one even uses booties for this, also, where we launch at Smathers it is mostly kiters occupying the beach , another thing that happened is that last year the city gave us permission to remove the pole that was in the riding area which has opened up a larger kiting area for us . On certain days we do get sea grass which washes up on the beach and does not look to pleasant, but this slime as you call it helps to keep the general public away as they do not like it, however this is only along the shore and not really in the water. As for Key West only being for drunks, well myself and some of the other kiters enjoy a beer now and then especially after a good session , so if this is what constitutes being a drunk ,well ????.

I suggesst anyone that wants to come down here just google key west in general and kiteboarding in key west and see for themselves what we are all about, and if you do not like what you see try the rest of the Keys, Islamorada is also a great place to kite .

Greg http://keywestkiteboarding.com/index.html

[ricki]

Greg is right, Key West is an interesting place. We like it and I quit drinking a long while back. More to life than just suds and juniper. Checkout some of these old write ups on the Island.

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=3670
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=468

There are things you need to know to ride at Smathers, more at:
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=5813

and quite a few more on Islamorada at:

http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=58
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=8081

there are still more shots from various Keys in Photos of the Day, at:
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=6089

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Greg_launches.sized.jpg
Greg heads out off Smathers.