St. Pete heads to the Keys 3/27-3/30
 

Hey fellas!

A couple of your northern neighbors are heading to Key West end of March. Before booking the hotel I thought I'd reach to you guys for info on the best places to stay nearest to launch sites.

Any info you could provide would be appreciated!


Thanks!

Bryan W.

Hello Bryan,

Smathers Beach is pretty much it for Key West for ready shoreside launches. I would get a hold of Central Reservations down there to see what digs you can find for a reasonable rate. http://www.keywestinfo.com/ The island is small, so as long as you are driving, it really isn't critical to be near the launch area unless you really want to be. You can even get around by bike, did that myself earlier in the year.
I used to stay at Fairfield Inn for not much but times have changed (went up about $200. per night, ouch!). Prices can get downright painful in season anymore. I've found good rates at small single story hotels within a few blocks of the south of Truman around Duval. See what the Florida KB Guide has to say about rideable wind directions at:

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=2278

The Kitehouse runs regular sea taxi out to the Key Flats rideable in winds from all directions. If you're going to drive all the way to KW, best to plan on time out in the Flats in all that butter, shallow warm water, no powerlines, smelly beach bottom, etc..

More at:

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=427
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=5358
http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=4846



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album326/Flats.jpg

st pete heads to the keys
 

Sorry can,t help you with hotels, but it is a small island and pretty easy to get around, give us a call when you guys are here and I will introduce you to some of the locals and hopefully get you guys some good kiting in.

Greg Meintjes

Hi Bryan,

If you are driving down, be sure to stop by Seven Kiteboarding and pick up your "Spring Break Keys Survival Kit" on the way. The survival kits will be given out for FREE throuought the month of March to traveling kiteboarders in the Keys! You can either go to the shop at mile marker 88 or vist us on the water at Whale Harbor Marina mile marker 83.8. (We just got done re-landscaping the place and it looks great! We moved 4, 30ft palm trees away from the launch:)

If you have the time, we'd love to catch a session with you. NE-SW you can launch right off the beach and get to the Islamorada Sandbar without a boat.

You picked a good time to come down. If we can help at all, give us a call 305-853-KITE (5483)

B-rad Lange
Seven
Ride On.

Whats up guys? I am coming down with Bryan and have been to key west twice. I love that place and can't wait to kiteboard. Whats in these spring break survival kits? Jager Bombs and condoms? :)

Danny

The kits are not finished yet...but they will have some nice little swag items, coupons etc... I'll let you know soon!

we can't get that hard core!...we can only condone a good time, not that good of a time!!!

Also checkout The Otherside Boardsports. The premier boardsports shop here in the keys. The 1st real skate shop in the keys specializing in kiteboarding, wakeboarding, wakeskating, wakesurfing, and the original guys to bring Stand-up Paddling to the upper keys. We also just got in the new '08 Slingshot Recoil Wakeboard and demos are available. Stop in and say hi!

Slingshot, Best, North, Windwing, Cabrihna, Spleene, Hyperlite, New wakeskates, Dakine, Admundson paddleboards, Jet Pilot, Anarchy, Angel, Accurate, Vew-do, Sector 9, Habitat, Toy Machine, Split, Ergophobia and many more line of gear and clothing. Also check out the new line of Nomadic "State of Mind" sandals. The most comfortable sandals to date.

oTHErside Boardsports
mm 87.7 Islamorada
(305)853-9728

not sure how you guys used to do things up north...but down here in the keys, we locals give respect...

Rudy's supplied the keys with skate supplies for years...we were all really greatful for them as they were all we had...no they didn't have a huge selection, but you could go shop a deck, get some new wheels and pads and shred the park)...not cool to take that away from them now that you are a "real" skate shop. (many skaters would argue that you are not a "real" skate shop if you "specialize" all those other things...)

And...since we're keeping it real...Mike...C4 dealer has been paddling around here longer than any of us...he just doesn't want the credit because he doesn't care...he just likes to paddle...

One of the greatest things about this sport is the outreach and hospitality of the people involved. Thanks for all the input, can't wait to get out on the water. Tomorrow looks good for us in clearwater/st.pete, Dameon Leroy will be here demoing the new cabrinha kites and we had the tampa bay kitemasters kick off party tonight which was awesome.

I'll post some pics on here of the best spot clearwater has to offer tomorrow night. Not the keys but as close as it gets for us!

keywest
 

you guys are gonna have a blast, the beach at smathers has some great locals there and at any given time alot of sceinery.
________
lesbians Cam

Hey fellas,

Thanks for all the great information! Danny and I are sure to stop in on the way and say hello! Work has kept me off the water to long, and I seem to find myself looking out the office window more and more the last couple months, but really looking forward to the time off and riding the flats.

Will keep you posted as it nears. Again, I appreciate all the responses and Rick thanks for having such a great gathering spot to reach out to fellas.

B-rad, Noel, Greg, I'll see if I can grab a couple swag items up our way for a swap when we meet up.

Really looking forward to the break and getting out on the water!

Thanks guys~

Confirmed. Holiday Inn 3/27 - 3/30

Looking forward to mmeting the Keywest Crew. Good times ahead! Thanks for all the info and looking forward to it.

Places to stay in Key West
 

If there is a group, try checking out VRBO.com (vacation rental by owner). Can get some good deals on houses for rent, as long as it's not a big event, such as Fantasy Fest. As long as you tell them you're not spring breakers. - Paco

The clearwater/St. Pete crew will be in Key West thursday mrning at 7am.

Has smathers been ridable?

Where else can you ride in key west/near key west when the wind has north in it???

any recommendations or hook-ups on scooters and scuba diving?

Thanks

Danny
407-902-8484

There are no ready shoreside accessible launches for north winds that I would recommend in Key West. Take a sea taxi to the flats, you'll have stronger wind, shallower water useable from all directions. It is worth the money for prime riding.

Tons of places to rent scooters and bikes. Just look around down by the harbor. There are resellers for diving excursions all over as well. I can't recommend any from personal knowledge, maybe Greg or some of the Key West guys can offer a suggestion.

st Pete guys head to the Keys
 

Give me a call @305 407 6748 when you guys are here and I will meet up with you,if the winds are not good for Smathers and we go out to ride at the lagoon you guys are more than welcome to come out with us.

Greg.

renting scooters
 

The best place to rent scooters is the MOPED HOSPITAL on the corner of Truman and Simonton, which is one block off Duval st.

Greg

Thanks for the heads up greg. I saved your number. I have a reservation for myself + 2 of my friedns to go out to the flats with Nick from the Kitehouse. $60 a person. If you got something better let me know.

My only fear is that there are alot of north winds while I am there and that I don't get to ride that much.

our reservation is for saturday at 12:30pm. Other than that we are looking to ride thursday afternoon, friday afternoon and sunday morning.

I'll give you a shout when I get down there. I've been to key west a couple times about 3 or 4 years ago for spring break, always a blast!

st pete heads to the keys
 

Nick and THE KITEHOUSE offer a great trip out to the flats to ride so if you are booked with them you should definately go with them,you will have a great time,and won,t be dissapointed,we might even see you guys out there in the pm, otherwise if the beach is good I will be down there (Smathers) around noon .

Greg

One more thing...

I am selling my big kite and my new one won't be in until after i get back from the keys. Do any shops down there offer demo kites, or rent them out?

No one here rents kites, but if my kite is ever in the shop they always give me a loaner. All I will have is my 12m LF Assault2 and i'm about 190. 18-20 is usually the minimum for me to ride that thing...

any thoughs?

st pete heads to the keys
 

I,m sure the guys @ the KITEHOUSE will be able to loan or rent you a kite.

Greg

This is probably a little over due but wanted to give props to the guys in key west for helping us St. Pete guys out with the 411 back at the end of March.

Got to ride with Greg one day for about 45 minutes in real light wind but was still nice to get out over that crystal clear water!

Thanks again guys!