Keys / Miami Area
 

Hi,

I am coming to florida for a fly drive holiday over new years / early January. This is primarily a family holiday with my wife and daughter, however I should be able to do some kiteboarding.

We will be staying on key west for a few days around new years, for the rest of the trip we are planning to tour around south florida.

I have seen that there are plenty of spots in south florida on kite beaches.

What size kite(s) should I bring?

Are there any local rules? (for example do I need to join specific local club etc.)

Which online weather sites give the best forecasts for this area?

I am an intermediate rider (back/front loops) and have 3rd party insurance through the BKSA.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

keys
 

down here its pretty easy, you take care of yourself and look out for the guys around you. there are plenty of launches on a east, south, to west wind, northly winds get harder. There are people that well take you out to the flats (by boat) to ride. www.thekitehouse.com.

look me up when you get closer to comming down, but I'm up in marathon.

kevin
________
VAPOR TOWER

Mark,
Give Kevin a call and he can get you set straight but for some of the other stuff. The best local launch is the east end (left side) of Smathers Beach. Ask anyone where it is. Just about all beaches in the keys face south. Smathers is good on E, SE, S & SW. For the W, NW, & N you should talk to the locals like Kevin or Paul. For the best experience, get a ride or rent a boat with the family and go to the flats. I'm from the upper keys and the flats are where it's at.

Just Got Home
 

Went out with Nick and Paul at the Kitehouse... In Key West..I go down there about 3 - 4 times a year because it is such a great place to Kite and great resturants to dine at after a day of Kiting. Everything is close by. The wind was fantastic and the service when you go out there boats are great...You don't have to worry about a tight launch sites or problems getting back to the boat.. It is miles of flat water to work on your tricks or just plane cruising and looking at the wildlife ..rays,, fish ect... Call the kite house you won't make a mistake ...Have a great time while your in the keys its really nice and warm there right now.!!! and windy

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like a great place to kite...

Do I need a full wetsuit or will a shorty be sufficient for late December / early January?

A shorty may be OK, it usually is or even less particularly if they are short sessions. Then again, if particularly powerful cold fronts come through say in January, maybe not. I was down there many years ago in a pretty strong front and froze my butt off in a 4/3 in an 8 hour session off Islamorada. Last time in Austria I seemed to be the only guy on the mountain skiing in a tee shirt for four days straight. So, although I get cold it doesn't seem to happen all that easily in the near term. If you can carry a full suit why not throw one in just in case?