Sunday
 

I am thinking about driving to Tampa from Orlando tomorrow. I have had three lessons two of them being in the water, what would be a good spot for a beginner to go? I have yet to self launch so I do need help launching and landing the kite.

-Tim

East beach, Fort DeSoto. plunty of room and always other riders. great for beginners. goodluck

East Beach won't work for you with Northern winds.

One of the best places to hit on a North wind is Indian Rocks Beach all the way up to Clearwater. Not very beginner friendly however due to beach goers and chop in the water. Also not guaranteed to find another kiter.

North Clearwater Beach is pretty quiet however and may give you the room you are looking for.

Any of the inland spots really won't work tomorrow with just a 10knot wind on the forecast.

I would suggest waiting for a better day of wind and a better wind direction.

Northeast wind at East Beach Ft. Desoto is the ticket as mentioned by Adam earlier.

Good luck,
Steve-O
WSW

ps. Feel free to check out www.Tritonkiteboarding.com for launch areas and locations

Sounds like I will be waiting this one out then. Oh well hopefully next weekend I will be able to hit the water.

-Tim

Might get a reasonable sea breeze tomorrow up around IRB.

Today was pretty good out there, starting around noon or so.
Bob and I did a downwinder from CLW to IRB. I was on a 9m kite. It was probably just under solid 20 knots.
We ran into a couple riders on the beach at the end of our run, then a couple more on the trolley. The trolley wouldn't stop where we wanted though :(, and drove past our spot by about a mile.
Oh well. Nice day out, made for a nice walk.

It looked like it was pretty solid out there today. Wish I could have made it, but I got tied up with the Family. Hope we see some wind with this cold coming next week!

Scott,

My friends and I did the downwinder from IRD to Indian Shores and I think you guys where on the trolly with us. I have yet to meet you but i'm pretty sure you were waiting at the stop with John, anyway, great day of kiting!

Funny seeing that many kiters on the trolley, especially since there weren't all that many riding.

I met John at Blue Flag last year (I think) and then saw him again today.
After you guys got off the trolley, the guy wouldn't stop at our spot!
I guess there are no stops along Bellaire Bluffs (?) I will have to keep that in mind next time.

north beach was good from 2:00 till 4:30.
birds r done doin their thing.
JW says we're good2go out there again.
don't 4get2 stay up by the dunes.
peace

Was rideable at T.I. from noon to 4 P.M. today.
Good session on 15 and a Glide.
Tenacious B.-Thanx 4 the update on Ft.Desoto. Call me

Trolley rides
 

The trolley drivers never give you any crap about dragging your sandy kite on the trolley? I've never attempted yet as I'm a newb and not quite ready for a good dw'er, but wanted to know for that day when I do get a chance to ride at IRB. There's been plenty of afternoons after work I've wanted to give it a try. The other thing that's stopped me is the fact that I'd likely have to self launch and land. Also, do you always fully deflate the LE and struts or have you tried hopping on board with the struts still inflated
Richard

Blue Flag was pretty good today as well.
It was best from about 2 pm til 4, and started up around 12:30.
Right at 4 it got pretty lame, mainly cuz it switched from NW to N and the wind got blocked off.

Whenever I hop on the trolley, I make a point of trying to get as much sand off of me and my equipment as possible. Usually I am bone dry, as well. With small kites, I deflate the LE and keep the struts inflated, with the kite rolled up like a cigar. Then I put my harness around one end and my leash around the other to maintain it tight.
I have only been denied access once. It was because I had no footwear. We wore wet (that dried by the time we got on) socks yesterday. That is the ticket! :), because you can put them in your wetsuit (or shorts ... yikes).
I think Bayflite had that idea.

Toby has been wearing a sock in his shorts for years....REALLY impresses the ladies!
Scott-Same deal here with the wind, was better than watching fools-ball. Good ride, with a few moments of power for a some turista pleezin' jumps.

I wonder if it is more windy around PaG area than TI on a sea breeze.
That's always been my take on sea breezes (not North winds, like cold fronts though).

Hey, assuming it was the same, what was the wind speed up there?
I am guessing we had solid 15, but some were saying more (most thought about 15, though)

I am guessing 13-16 where I was, although my wind meter was covered by a sock and a pair of boardies;)

That's what I was thinking for Blue Flag, about. Thanks.