Sunday Downwinder
 

Hey all,
I usually ride the ocean on Hatteras and I'm down visiting over on the east coast at Melbourne. Sunday looks like it might be good winds in the Tampa/St Pete area and I'm thinking about making the drive over. I'd really like to grab a downwinder on the gulf. I've ridden DeSoto on a NW and its great but can anyone suggest a good downwinder on the gulf or is anyone going to "downwind" it that day? I've got my girlfriend with me to pick me up when its over so I'm covered as to a ride back.
Thanx

I am planning on doing a DW Sunday with a few others.
Your girlfriend doesn't really have to pick you up.
The trolley stops every quarter mile and can take us back upwind for a buck fifty. Or, we can drop one vehicle at the Undertow and then go North.

Should be a great DW day. :p
Keep in touch on here and we will figure it out as the time nears and give directions, etc.
Last time (a couple weekends ago) we went from John's Pass to the Undertow and it was great. We took lunch/drink break after the DW and then rode in front of the 'Tow for a couple more hours after the break.

Just make sure you wear booties and a rash guard or something... you need a shirt and shoes to get on the trolley. John's pass to undertoe (beach just before the big pink castle where the volleyball nets are) is a good ride. T.I. to undertoe is great too since there is free parking at T.I.

I was thinking about doing one too.

Scott,
How long did that take you guys to go from John's Pass to Undertow? I suppose it could be as slow or fast as you want, but just curious how much time it would typically take if you're not too worried about staying up wind and just jumping and slashing the whole way.

Thanks,
Adam

I like to "milk" but not worry to make it last awhile.
What I do is ride waves, jump etc. real hard for ten minutes, then relax while going back upwind a ways and do "a third" of the same spot again. So, I could easily make it last 2.5 hours.

But, 1.5 hours easy for the average approach (of just slowly going downwind and never backtracking) or if you wanted to surf everything in sight and always go downwind and jump and go insane, 50 minutes. You could always start more north and stretch it that way, too.

Roberto and I rode from Sand Key to the Undertow 2 years ago.
I took my approach (bad idea) and after 3 hours we stopped short pretty tired (overpowered on C-kites and the edging upwind killed us... dumb).

That's a huge advantage of the trolley is that it doesn't matter where you stop. The trolley doesn't care what your original plan was. A girlfriend does, should you not ever get there and she is just waiting. Stuff breaks, and sometimes you have to stop short.

yesterday we went from sand key/belaire beach to undertow.
took about 3 hours.
make sure you bring quarters for the trolly!
they dont take bills.
peace

Thanx.
Where exactly is the Undertow? My girlfriend will prolly hang out there or on the beach waiting.
Booties might be an issue for me tho'. Dont have any. Guess I could hit a beach shop and get a cheapo area.
I'll check in later. I'll be driving over early Sun AM so I might not be able to access the internet unless there's a wi-fi near the "starting point"
Dennis

Undertow Beach Bar
 

3850 Gulf Blvd (Cross Street: East Mariatana Drive)
St Pete Beach, FL 33706-3933
7273689000

Map: http://maps.citysearch.com/map/view/2692916

booties
 

Sun Coast Surf Shop in Treasure Island has a great selection and decent pricing on booties...and some great deals on wetsuits right now.

Have a great DW ride in the waves! Wish I was there (I'm on the flats for now )

I am just gonna' cram some flip flops in my wetsuit. Anything on your feet will work.
As of now, I think we are meeting at the Undertow at 9:30 am and then driving North.
We will leave a vehicle or two at the 'Tow. If anyone shows up, you can come up with us.
If along the way someone breaks down, well... trolley time.
Otherwise we will finish the DW at the 'tow, take a lunch break, ride a little more in front of the UT, and then go back up North probably around 2pm.

Sounds good.
I'm leaving the east coast in enuff time I think to make it at 9;30 to the Undertow. If i miss it (9:30), I'll have my gf drop me off at sand key and I'll catch up with who's ever riding either on the Gulf or at the Undertow. I'll prolly do 2 anyway, a morning and an afternooner. we pricelined a room at the Sirata on the Gulf. I'll carry some flip flops in my boardshorts and quarters. I take it the trolley runs north and south on the gulf. You guys have it easy. On Hatteras we usually just hitch back up wind. We sometimes drop off cars but it takes time away from the water so we're lazy and just rig and go. I'll be on North Vegas and a Jimmy Lewis surf and hopefully rippin
Dennis

oh yeah, my cell is 518, 265, 6228 if anyone wants to give me a head's up if the "plan" changes

I tried hitchin' once here years ago. It might've been before they started the trolley service. From what I've seen and heard, people hitch when they're snowboarding back country and it's no problem getting picked up. I didn't get that kind of warm reception that I had hoped for out on the beach. Everyone just looked at me weird.

I've been wanting to try the trolley for a while now. I've heard you can even just throw some socks on your feet to board the thing.

I'll probably show at the Tow. I'll check this site and weather before leaving in the AM.

Man I am glad we have not been on the water the last two times these fronts have come through! This morning at about 5am it went to over 45 here. My worst "beating" was associated with it going from the low teens to 50 in a heartbeat on a NW front. I was on a 12m Fuel ('02). Ouchiiee.


The leading edge is through now, it's downwinder time (for the 8 of us doing it and not in the Keys) :D

The forecast got upgraded to 25 to 30 (smart, since it is already doing it) and also got upgraded to much bluer skies. Great day to have 6 quarters.

I think the gameplan is to meet at the tow at 9:30. I might go ride now for an hour or so first. See you guys there.

I guess it was pretty windy today. Especially when we first started.
Hard to tell anymore on the newer kites.

Sure was fun, thanks guys and gal. Adam gets the hero award today. :D

Thanks Adam
 

THanks Adam for picking up my board that was definetly a long ride with an extra board for you.

I gotta a mental block at St. Johns pass 2 downwinders for me in the gulf and both times lost my board there and couldn't body drag back to it. Last time Antonio picked it up but that time I was in the water so made it the rest of the way. Need to get one of those board floats. And thanks to the kiters who picked me up on the road as well cuz I didn't have a pocket for quarters and no shoes the form must not sink in with me but I will figure something out next time!

But I had a blast from undertow to north beach so glad I stuck with it. I will get these downwinders yet! Can't wait to do it again!


Lori

Yeah,

On days like today the Go-Jo is a great idea. Bayflite might have some. Definitely a great day out there. Maybe next Sunday again?
Sundays seem to be good lately.

You're welcome Lori. I just did what I hope someone else would've done in the same situation. I was going to post it on here if it wasn't yours or Raul's.

I too, have someone to thank. That would be Tom. It would've been ugly landing that kite where I was with no kiters around.

Yep. Hero number 2 for sure. Tom sprinted down the beach at least 100 yards as fast as he could to reach you. (Or was the wind just blowing him?!)

I remember hoping that non-kiter didn't mess you up by trying to grab your kite.
I was very relieved to see Tom get to you.

np A. I was so tired (and cold) from the long sprint and walk back I convinced myself not to go to T.I and rig! Man what a wimp (me). Sheesh I am outta shape.

:(