Kiting Miami Beach and the Keys

[beebad]

We are visiting florida over the christmas holidays, ( hemorrhaging money for accommodations), where can I kite ?

I know there Were changes to kiting and was wondering if it was more relaxed..

[ELI]

You need IKO? cert. some beach in the 70's streets have a location that gives it . I'm told you can the kite there or there is another location in the 30's . A lot of foiling there .

[beebad]

We will only be there one night before we spend a week in the keys. I have been to the 70s launch but did't kite. where would I get this cert. otherwise.

[RickI]

This question came up a few days ago on FB. It is a simple question with a damn complicated and lengthy answer.

"The further north you go, like to Jupiter, FL, a nice wave spot, the fewer rules you may have to deal with. Expect to have restrictions and rules south of that point which warrant research before going to the beach to kite. Rental gear may be available at some of these venues like Matheson, Crandon and TKS but I would check directly. Given the long term presence of kiting in Miami, the high population, limited riding venues,today there are several concessions and a permitted kiting area. Without the concessions, permits there would be NO kiting access so there isn't any point to complaining about them. Kiters brought this on themselves despite numerous warnings over many years, so heads up if you have issues where you normally ride. This could happen to your local. Anyway, you pay in most venues to kite in Miami. Matheson Hammock is one venue with a reasonable set of rules and fees. I recall if you don't have a certification card you can take a proficiency exam. The spot doesn't have much in the way of waves. More at https://adventuresportsusa.com/contact- ... ine-sales/ J Melissa KiteMermaid Mejia offers a very scenic riding venue out in Stiltsville via boat, usually without much in the way of waves. More at http://www.southfloridakiteboarding.com Crandon Park is another venue but with a serious limit on the number of kiters. I would contact them to verify the current program and to see if you can even ride without an annual membership? https://miamikiteboarding.com/pages/how ... in-crandon . The Miami Beach Kiteboarding Association through major effort by volunteer kiters negotiated a permit system for kiting access off areas of Miami Beach. We tried to do something similar many years ago but were unsuccessful, these guys succeeded and thanks. MB has some waves depending on conditions. More at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Kiteboard-Operator... TKS has a concession on North Miami Beach further described at https://tksmiami.com again there are waves off Miami Beach. You could go south to the Keys but please follow the rules in the very few launch areas down there. People might say to go to Hollywood, Dania, Ft. Lauderdale to the north but access is tight in most of these areas and most don't like to add to existing problems. In Jupiter, you need to stay over 100 yards from the fishing pier about a mile south and to be considerate to bystanders and other water users and that is about it. The waves can be quite large there at times, which is usually the good news."

[RickI]

If you know how to kite and only want to go for one day, I would go out with Melissa by boat to Stiltsville. It simplifies things and also gives you access to great and scenic place to kite. More at http://www.southfloridakiteboarding.com

[beebad]

OMG, I couldn't imagine a more complicated affair to kite in the Miami area. If I lived there I would jump through the hoops. But.....will live in the keys for about six days during the holidays and will do whatever I need to do to get wet and I am lugging two boards,3 kites, wife and 16 year old...yeah, i’ll need to kite.

what do I need to know or do to kite in the keys this holiday season in a few weeks.

[RickI]

You have to remember that this is what enough Kiters wanted by ignoring warnings, common sense and courtesy for way too long to where it was forced down the throats of the entire kite community. This happened several times over. Again if not for the concessions and other provisions there likely would be no Kite access. So be thankful that some people went to all this trouble and remember the avoidable behaviors which brought the restrictions down on the community. They are still going on elsewhere at times. Parking spaces are being reduced, New development and other things are happening significantly impacting easy public kite access at some spots in the Keys. So please don’t take things for granted down there either, we have to work effectively to protect our access.

[beebad]

Okay Rick, Im over Miami thanks. I kite in OBX, On the Chesapeake and Delaware so this is pretty alien to me....there seems to be one main shop on islamorada that i will need to deal with for beta or boat rides....hey man thanks

[RickI]

Mike at the Otherside will help you out with info, gear, sea taxi, etc.. in the Upper and Middle Keys. You have some access issues up north on the east coast in places too but often enough related to wildlife issues. The ability to ride is precious, take good care of it wherever folks kite.

[beebad]

Of course RickI