looking to hook up and ride with some locals

[teklife]

hello florida kiters! i am passing through the state on my way home from new orleans to new york city and have my gear with me (minus a pfd, doh!), and would love to get in a few sessions and meet some of the infamous friendly locals.

i am currently in panama city beach, waiting out the storm i left NOLA in a hurry yesterday to try to make it to pensacola ahead of the storm, and get a session in. well, i made it to pensacola, and it wasn't raining, but the wind was too light to bother trying to set up. i then did a bit more research, and it seemed to me, that most of the panhandle locals ride out of panama city beach, and it was further east, so i figured i'd head out here to try to get in a session before the rain came through, again, no luck.

i have some friends which i am planning to visit who live near ocala and orlando later on in the week, but for now, i'm just living out of my car, waiting for the rain to pass, and the wind to come, so that i may experience kiting in the panhandles' magnificent white sand beaches and emerald colored water.

when i get to the ocala/orlando area, i would like to know which kite beaches to hit, and to hook up with some locals. i'd really like to ride with other kiters so that i can get an assisted landing (launch i don't need) and maybe even keep my gear together (board[s]) if someone has people on the beach looking after gear.

kitebeaches.com shows very little along the west coast. should i just try to spend more time here in the panhandle before i head over to my see friends further inland?

i am already sorry i've traveled so far east along the panhandle, as the water and beaches along the way were gorgeous. pensacola, ft walton, and destin appear to have many great places to ride.

i appreciate any feedback, and if anyone's kiting in the panama city beach area tomorrow (fri 16th) or later in the week along my route, please give a call on my cell phone, i'd like to meet up and kite.

michael 646 541 3952