NEW KEYS EVENT? was ... Islamorada Invitational

[C. Moore]

I am trying to find out if this event is going to happen this year. Rick have you heard anything yet?

Thanks
-Chris

[ricki]

I am trying to find out if this event is going to happen this year. Rick have you heard anything yet?

Thanks
-Chris

Brad has been out of town and just returned today I understand. I have yet to talk with him unfortunately. Per two people who should know currently Brad is not planning on holding the event for the first year in five sad to say. I heard tonight that another party MAY work to put the event on this year.

Fingers crossed,

[C. Moore]

Thanks Rick... This is what I have heard too. I am sure Islamorada will feel the effects of this in thier pockets since the event is canceled.

[ricki]

It's official, Brad has pulled the plug on this year's Islamorada Invitational. Whether someone else will step in or if it will be held next year, time will tell.

[kiteflix]

That is a shame but I can understand. It seems like a lot of work, little money and mostly a thanksless job to throw an event. But it will be missed. Is anyone else stepping in to fill the void?

[Neil 1]

Not sure yet but would like to do a Boarder X. Maybe at Bahia Honda State park and camp there for the weekend, anyone interested? Neil

[Eagle]

Neil,

Bahia Honda is the spot for sure.
Kitestock..
Lets do it !

E

[waterboards]

sound like a good play to me, plan it so people will have time to get a place to stay. that would just be a blast, week end kite camp party.

[ricki]

Not sure yet but would like to do a Boarder X. Maybe at Bahia Honda State park and camp there for the weekend, anyone interested? Neil

Hey Neil,

Bahia Honda would be a great venue for riders and spectators. I have also heard that the State campgrounds in the Keys book out about 4 months ahead. I just called and apparently it is now booked out about 11 months! Does anyone have an in that could get us in there sooner?

As a possible alternate that we could try to pull off this season, I was thinking that you see all these small mom and pop hotels on the Straits side of the Keys. Many of these have nearshore shallows and sandbars. We could try to take one of those over with bookings for a weekend in the near future and have the event off their property?

Also, there are sections of vacant property bordered by resorts/bars in places. We might be able to setup off the vacant area to try to avoid hassles and have the spectators at the adjoining developed area.

Other ideas out there? It would be great to pull this off this season. You are doing an incredible job of organizing these boardercross races Neil!

[Neil 1]

Thanks Rick, If we can not stay at BH, not quite sure where we can do it. We need a location where we can stay, launch easily from shore, enough room for 30 kites at least on beach, spectators to watch and hopefully somewhere to get a bite to eat and a drink.
I know this sounds like a lot but I am sure irs out there somewhere. If anyone has any cotacts or any ideas please post them here or let me know directly.
It does not for sure have to be in the Keys, even though we need something there. Lets all come up with some cool venues for Boarder X's and I will work on the rest. Will have the event website up next week hopefully.
Cheers all for your support, I could NOT do it without you. Neil

[ricki]

I just did a quick search for campgrounds and the first one I checked out looks interesting. It is by the Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon, FL. The guy said they have "plenty" of camping space available on weekends in March.

http://www.keysdirectory.com/knightskeycampground/images/aerial.jpg

The guy said we should call Michele tomorrow to see if she would be up with the concept. He told me they have a 100 ft. wide beach on the Atlantic side!

#1 Knights Key Blvd.
(Mile Marker 47)
PO Box 500525
Marathon, Florida 33050-0525
Toll Free: (800) 348-2267
Phone: (305) 743-4343
Fax: (305) 743-2907
E-mail: knightskey@aol.com


WHOOPS just looked at this on Googleearh.com. It looks like we would have clean wind only from the S to W as there is an island to the SE and E. This makes it a poor prospect for this time of year.

I will keep looking.

[Neil 1]

Rick, check out this link, http://www.skypic.com/flkeys/10-9108.jpg , this what I have used in the past to find new launches. think we could have a problem with the downwind area on a NE. Neil

[ricki]

Rick, check out this link, http://www.skypic.com/flkeys/10-9108.jpg , this what I have used in the past to find new launches. think we could have a problem with the downwind area on a NE. Neil

I agree. I looked up the site on googleearth just after I put up the post. I put a note in above about this. I think it would be clear only for S to W winds. It is a poor risk for this time of year. There are a lot of campgrounds in the Keys though perhaps most may be on the Gulf side. Keep looking I guess. I will give Paul Menta a call and Brad too to see if they have any ideas.

You can have googleearth show campgrounds in the Sat. image through "Find Business." I have been looking, no joy yet however.

[ricki]

This may be a long shot but it could be a nice venue, if we could get permission, transport, etc.. There is camping and it looks good for wind from most directions. Kent has been talking about doing something around the island for years. It doesn't seem to have beaches on the Atlantic side, perhaps seawalls and shallows to go with. Does anyone know?

http://www.skypic.com/flkeys/11-9068.jpg

Boca Chita Key

http://www.skypic.com/flkeys/4-9069.jpg

http://www.cruisingguide.com/flkphotoalbum/bocachitakeyharbor2_4896.jpg

http://gallery.kiteforum.com/albums/albur63/Biscayne.jpg

More info at:
http://www.key-biscayne.com/kb/keys/bocachita/
http://www.biscayne.national-park.com/camping.htm
http://www.nps.gov/bisc/visit/camping.htm

[Neil 1]

Yep that place looks amazing but it would be hard to get everyone there and they would be very strict on rules regulations and insurance. N

[ricki]

Yes, regs and insurance may be significant issues at many venues sad to say at any Park, Boca Chita, Bahia Honda, etc.. Anyway, here are some more ideas.

http://www.hometownlocator.com/DisplayCountyFeatures.cfm?FeatureType=beach&SCFIPS=12087

Cocoplum Beach and Sombrero Beach in Marathon. I found this cruising down the Keys via Googleearth.com. It looks like they might open up from ENE to E to SW. Not great if a strong NE front comes through but it is just one more idea.

These beaches are a few miles to the north of the campground described a couple of posts above this.


Still more about beaches in the Keys appears at:
Click for map - http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches/MonroeBeaches.gif

http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches/keysbeaches.shtml

1 FT ZACHARY TAYLOR STATE PARK
2 SIMONTON STREET BEACH
3 SOUTH BEACH
4 HIGGS BEACH
5 SMATHERS BEACH
6 BAHIA HONDA OCEANSIDE
7 BAHIA HONDA BAYSIDE
8 BAHIA HONDA SANDSPUR
9 VETERAN'S BEACH
10 SOMBRERO BEACH
11 COCO PLUM BEACH
12 CURRY HAMMOCK STATE PARK
13 ANNE'S BEACH
14 ISLAMORADA LIBRARY BEACH
15 FOUNDER'S PARK BEACH
16 HARRY HARRIS COUNTY PARK
17 JOHN PENNEKAMP STATE PARK

Something that may help you in finding venues for other races in various parts of the state is:

http://www.satelliteviews.net/cgi-bin/g.cgi?sdb=Go&state=FL&county=&ftype=beach
http://www.hometownlocator.com/State/DisplayStateFeatures.cfm?FeatureType=beach&StateCode=FL

It seems to show beaches all over the state.

[C. Moore]

Count me in guys. That would be great to have a Border X event down there.

-Chris

[slingshot05]

Count me in guys. That would be great to have a Border X event down there.

-Chrissounds awesome, i'm in depending on how school is going at the time.

[BigR]

If you guys could sort out the logistics , an event would be great down there.

Not too many beaches close to places to stay tho',

Adams key and Boca chica key are 40 miles from land so you have to be well stocked with supplies :o

[ricki]

If you guys could sort out the logistics , an event would be great down there.

Not too many beaches close to places to stay tho',

Adams key and Boca chica key are 40 miles from land so you have to be well stocked with supplies :o

"Boca Chita is a small island that is located approximately 12 miles south of the Cape Florida lighthouse on Key Biscayne, and Boca Chita Key is located approximately 9 miles from Convoy Point. "
http://www.key-biscayne.com/kb/keys/bocachita/

Still a permit would probably be required as may be the case at any other public launch (i.e. park). Transport would be a major issue as well.

I think our best bet might be to contact some of the small mom and pop hotels along the Straits side of the Keys. I am trying to remember the names of some of them up keys from the Pelican Cove in Islamorada. One small place hosted an outrigger event there a month or so ago. It would be good to get in touch with them for starters.

[ricki]

I just found an incredible mapping site for the Keys that lists hotels at:
http://maps.mapnetwork.com/floridakeys/tdc/index.asp

This site describes a bunch of the hotels and includes layout photos
http://islamoradachamber.com/

Between these sites and googleearth.com it should be possible to narrow down prospects.

The outrigger deal was called the Islamorada Outrigger Challenge. No one seems to list what hotel they had it at so I hope to find that out tomorrow.


Hey Neil, get this ...


http://www.kanaluimiami.com/images/bimini_hoe_flier.JPG

They are planning an outrigger RACE TO BIMINI in early June! Maybe we should set them up with some kites for a little assist. It is called the Bimini Hoe. More about this at: http://sflora.org/

http://www.wetasschronicles.com/KiteCanoe.jpg
Why not add a kite?

[ricki]

Hey Neil,

Here is the other prospect that we spoke about on the phone:

Harbor Lights Motel
Address:
84951 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036

Phone:
(305)664-3611
Ask for Scott

[kabo123]

hey guys new to the group, but well help out as much as i can if people want to come down here to the keys. There are some great flats to rip across.

knights key camp ground is a good bet there are alot of cancelations at the state parks though and there are some small keys you could camp on (money/ molasis)

any questions just shoot me an email

kevin
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