New spot I found today!!!
 

Well at least to me. Many of you know of the 3-rooker sand bar near Tarpon Springs. Awesome place to ride.

Just north of 3-rooker is a familiar island called Anclote Key. I used to go up there and fish many moons ago. Sooooooo, there is a massive....massive sand bar on the south end of the island. It is absolutely huge and all sand bottom. Waste deep or less forever and ever. It is a straight shot over from Howard Park. I have never heard of anyone speak of this place and after spending a whole season at 3-rooker last year, I am shocked that this epic place is only another 10 minutes north of 3-rooker. Never thought to look as in my memory, the sand bar was never there. Looking forward to spending some serious time there this winter. Works on all directions.

Hope everyone had a great day!!!!

Sounds like a perfect place to do lessons too.

That's just it......it will be a perfect place for teaching. As most of you all know, I don't teach much around the Skyway and Ft. Desoto area for safety reasons. This place is where I will be alot. I don't think you can beat Skyway/Ft. Desoto for East winds though, especially when it is marginal at best.

I will be curious to see what this place looks like on different tides and strong cold front winds.

Yea its unfortunate kiting is banned there. It would be a great kite spot with lots of space to roam. However, the park supervisor, is close friends to a small windsurfing group, of which they dont want kiters launching their since its their home spot. In addition, a kiter endangered some patrons on the beach 5 years ago, since then its been banned. There are no signs saying kiteboarding isnt allowed, but there are signs saying recreational area on the North,South and East sides of the island. There is a small chance in about a year and a half it may be open to kiters, thats when the head supervisor of the park retires, of which the kiting band is kind of his rule. You still have to deal with the local windsurfers. We'll see what happens.

I'm heading out to 3 rooker today, not sure how it is on easterly winds though.

yep
 

...

LOL! That's somebody else's claim! I'm sure he'll bring it up next time he sees you Steve-O.

See you guys out there!

I actually remember "the day" we got locked out of Fred Howard Park.
It was 6, maybe 7 years ago. Jeff Weiss was going to have a free kite demo at the park that particular Saturday. When he showed up, he was told he could not enter. Thing is, the day before, a kiter pissed off a lot of windsurfers (is the story I heard from Jeff). I know the kiter, but it doesn't really matter. He was yelling at the windsurfers (out of panic) to get out of the way of his fallen kite because he was concerned for their safety. Then, he used basically zero tact with the windsurfers and the park supervisor, is what I heard. That incident was all it took.

I have only kited the general area once (about a month ago) and have never tried to enter, rig and ride Fred Howard (has anyone else tried?).

The day I rigged at Sunset, I rode over to FHP about ten times and was riding with the windsurfer in the FHP vicinity for about a half hour. They didn't seem to care, I actually got the impression they were having fun racing with me, because they ended up following me all the way back to Sunset and then talking with me about kiting for about an hour.

Is there definite animosity between the kiters and windsurfers in that area?
Is it imagined? Again, I was only there once, so those are sincere questions, but it seemed like the windsurfers got along and actually knew the other two kiters there that day (Sean and John) and acted like they hung out together all the time.

Is it just the park ranger at FHP?
If so, hopefully that guy will opt for early retirement :)

There's no animosity between the windsurfers and kiters in that area. It's no different than being at EB and sharing the stoke with other kiters. We all get along well and talk about each other's sport. Good vibe IMO

I personally have found that ALL of the area windsurfers, surfers, etc. are more than cool with us riding near them. It blows my mind that this topic keeps surfacing as some of these people (windsurfers, surfers, jetskiers, etc.) seem like some of the coolest people I have ever met. Why do the area kiters always seem to choose the path of "drama" and label a group of people (windsurfers) instead of just chilling out and getting along with everyone?

So I guess my question is why do we, as kiters feel such a strong desire to worry about what others are doing and not so much tend to our own business? If you see someone blatantly doing something stupid, bring it to light. Otherwise, enjoy your sport for what it is and let others do the same...happy kiting, see you guys out on the water!!! :)

That's what I thought. I will admit, in the earlier days of kiting, there was some pretty strong friction for a few seasons. It was based on two things, imo:
1) Windsurfers' fears of us possibly hurting them (not unwarranted, btw)
2) Some (not all) kiters acting too-cool-for-school toward windsurfers. (that windsurfing has been canceled sticker was a real vibe for some at one point).

In the last 3 years though, I haven't personally witnessed any friction. Quite the opposite. All I know is the next time I launch at Sunset, I plan on riding FHP again, if the wind direction allows me to get there. :)
One of the windsurfers was actually egging me on to jump over him and his mast last time, it was pretty fun. :D

There's not a big anomosity at all. But there's still a good half-dozen windsurfers that wouldnt want kiters there. I know because I know them all, I used to windsurf for 5 years there as a home spot. A couple months ago I went their to tune up my kiteboards, wasnt gonig to kite at all and immediately I got approached by one of the windsurfers saying it was banned their. But you got to remember there's a good 30-40 windsurfers that go there on a good day and maybe 5 would complain. But we'll see what happens.
There is a ranger there everyday, and the park supervisor lives on site.

Drama??? Do you mean the original incident at Fred Howard? If so, I agree... but I'm not sure what you mean by label.. is windsurfer a slur? lol

Thank you for proving my point Tom.

Keep it positive Toby, no more drama plz. ;)

I can say that in the Gorge the drama still exists and people have no problems talking about it.

My mom was out at the Hood River sandbar area sitting on the grassy slope (where the windsurfers launch from) and asking about the area and just inquiring about the stuff that goes on.. and people there were basically putting down kiters as dumbasses w/o the skill to windsurf.

After I was done she said "wow.. they dont like the kiters around here"

but again, windsurfing has a major history in the Gorge and kiting is still seen as the kid sport (skiing vs snowboarding)..

i dont think its anything of an issue with our area.. might be a few hold some grudges for whatever reason.. but i would hope that just a couple individuals.

of course when my nephew said "i want to do that" while pointing to the windsurfers i told him "no.. thats a dumb sport.. you should get a kite"..

heheh...

I hear you, I know I'll be keeping MY daughter off the pole! (It's a joke).

Re gorge poleboarders and kiters
 

spent 3 days in Hood River in early August and used the grassy windsurfers launch to drop my extra gear., as did a number of other kiters. no hassles at all - and the wind just blows and blows!

i am sure there are a lot that have no issues with the "other" sport..

just as i know there are the purists that think they own the air that blows.

cool that you did not encounter any issues..

and Chris Rock is so damn quotable.. I vote him for president of the united states.

windsurfing and kiting
 

I still do both and I can tell you there are still quite a few windsurfers who do not like kiters AT ALL

Here's my 2 cents - stop putting "windsurfing has been cancelled" stickers everywhere (and never, never, never on their vehicles)

Stop telling them to "come over to the dark side" or "get with the program man - kiting is so much more awesome"

Just treat 'em well and give 'em a beer (or two) and ask 'em if they had a great day

OS/Sarasota

Very good points.

Yeah we are certainly just kidding... the truth is, I've tried both and wind surfing is a LOT harder and more physically demanding than kiteboarding.

I agree about not putting the stickers on their car.

Scott finally discovered his and removed it. I thought he'd get mad but I guess he just accepted that his windsurfing days were over. After all, he's not in the shape he used to be... he's getting old and all and gaining weight like crazy.

I've rode at that sandbar area once a while back... wind was dying though. Got there Via boat.

AMEN my friend. Nicely put.