Duck Key Area in Late Febuary 2010

[ricki]

Drove by Duck Key over the weekend. This is not a good beginner launch without an instructor with boat. There are high tension powerlines bordering the road and in the water, a boating channel and the road itself as possible downwind hazards. If you were well experienced, could stay upwind and away from all the nasty stuff near the road, you might be able to walk south from the road out into the flats to launch and land. If your friend needs training hook him up with a good school down there. This is no place to try training him on your own.

[OttoNP]

jeez guys did you read my post..."He has done a few lessons, would progress much faster if there was some waist deep water area to practice (like hattera's soundside)...anything like that in this area?"

I am experienced and he has done several lessons and purchased gear. He can ride and is at the stage where he can upwind no problem in higher winds, but struggles more when it is lighter (others can still ride upwind), still falls when just riding and has to body drag for board, etc... He took some of his lessons in Hatteras in the sound and more lessons up here in MI, in both cases mostly in waist deep water. I would consider him right at the start of being self sufficient, he has all the knowledge just needs the practice. We have down some downwinders together here in MI in deep water and I can see he learns a lot more in shallow flat water as most do. Powerlines and other downwind obstacles are probably enough for us to move away from Duck Key if he is riding, but I may ride there as well. My gear spans about 13 mph to 30 mph while he only has gear for 15-20 mph...

I think he would be fine in the ocean with waves, just that he would spend a lot more time fighting the surf, fighting to get his board on, and body dragging then if we can find a shallower flat water spot.

[ricki]

Got it, again, it isn't a spot for a new kiter. Think you agree. You both would probably have a much better time off the north end of Bahia Honda to the south, at least there is a beach. Off Duck Key, there is no beach, a tree line to the water and barely a place to park. Not sure if it is legal to park there either. Still, if you walk out into the flats far enough to launch and land away from the road and powerlines, assuming there isn't a channel in the way, you should be fine yourself. As I recall with the perimeter channel and fringing bar around Duck Key there is no place to launch from the island itself, even for an experienced kiter.

[troubleshooter]

Duck Key. Not a good spot for beginners and not a good spot for advanced riders who dont have experience riding in channels with high currents and lots of obstacles in the launch area.

You ave been given many options by local experienced riders. I suggest you take it. The wind is good in all those areas. Lots of flat water to go around.

[OttoNP]

Thanks for all the advice, I'd have to survey the launch to decide, but don't worry I'm a very cautious kiter...my normal launches here in MI are very sketchy!

[mikeO]

No reason to kite at duck key-curry hammock sp is 3 miles away and the best kite in the keys. If we have wind, I am there. Call Otherside boardsports or contact me for info. Mike Olness mike.olness@yahoo.com

[noel]

Otto,

Me and Mike O. live here and know the best spots for you. Everything you are looking for is at Curry Hammock State Park. Great launch, wide open, shallow water everywhere and a great bunch of locals to help you out. Unlike many of the other spots, Curry Hammock S.P. has full restrooms, shade, grills, picnic tables and a grass rigging area. If lessons are something your friend would be interested or you need anything, please let us know at Otherside Boardsports in Islamorada.

oTHErside Boardsports
www.othersideboardsports.com
305.853.9728

[aaronnnnnn]

Duck Key is a group of islands that that takes up an area of about 60 acres, half of that is occupied by a resort called Hawks Cay Resort and Marina. There are no good shore launches on the island but there is a kiteboarding school called Florida Keys Kiteboarding that takes people out for lessons and rider trips. There is also a boat ramp if you have your own boat. All wind directions are kiteable within a 5 minute boat ride and you don't need to be a guest of the resort in order to go out on the boat. Curry Hammock State Park is 5 miles away and is a great place to kiteboard as long as there is no more north in the wind than an ENE. Cocoplum Beach is another 2 miles down the road with the same wind directions. Duck Key offers great kiteboarding for beginners and experienced riders with plenty of calm, shallow, waist deep water to learn in no matter what the wind direction is. There is plenty of legal parking, a dockside store, restaurant, and tons of watersports for everybody in the family.

Duck Key is a great place for beginners and experienced riders to learn and experience kiteboarding in high current areas. You not only have current, you have varying current speed, direction changes, and the best thing, tons of calm shallow water in a huge area so you can stand up without worries of being swept away. Learn what happens when the current or wind direction changes and how to set up in current from a boat, in a safe manor. When you need a change of scene to get out of the current, pack it up and take the boat for a 5 minute boat ride to a no current area just around the corner.

Duck Key offers a super place to kiteboard with numerous riding areas and reasons to go there.

If you have any questions about kiteboarding at Duck Key, please don't hesitate to call me, Aaron at 305-942-9635 or email at aaronosters@gmail.com. You can also check out the kiteboarding section at hawkscay.com