Hello Toby,
Normally we have good riding conditions in the Miami area, that is winds in the 15 to 20 mph range, one day to several days each week with cold fronts passing through from October to early May. The winds even go up a bit higher sometimes in particularly strong fronts. The frontal season has just started so it is too soon to say whether this will be a good year for winds or an off one like last year. We had very few good cold fronts in 2001.
On a more serious issue, kiteboarding in Miami is having growing pains. Miami may have the highest concentration of guys with kiteboarding gear than any other place along the east coast of the USA. Add a population of 2.25 Million people and you will have problems. As a result, most publically accessible launches have access issues with some bans in place and others threatened in the near future. Hopefully, responsible riding practices will take hold and incidents will be minimal. With time access issues should stabilize until then though Miami riding access is uncertain in many areas.
So, if you plan to visit the Miami area, it would be good to contact the FKA,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FKSA/, local kiteboarding shops or myself at:
flkitesurfer@hotmail.com for ideas on local riding spots. For learning there really aren't any real conducive spots along the beaches that are currently open to kiteboarding. Miamikiteboarding.com offers a unique service in that they take new kiteboarders into the bay to learn well away from land from a pontoon boat over shallow sand bars.
For experienced riders that can stay upwind and more importantly stay well offshore and out of bathing areas while riding, a few current options open up. The key to keeping access here and really anywhere else is responsible riding and keeping your distance from other beach goers both on land and in the water.
In kiteboarding, "distance is your friend!" It may save you some aggravation one of these days and should go a long way towards preserving our access to ride.
Rick Iossi
Some shops in the area appear below:
KitesurfUSA.com
MAILING ADDRESS:.....301 SEA BREEZE BLVD.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL.
CALL FOR RESERVATIONS
BEACH 954-763-4020
CHRIS KJOS - CELL - 954-816-0944
http://kitesurfusa.com/
Obsession Watersports
222 N. Federal Highway
Dania, Florida 33004
1-800-664-5621
http://www.obsessionwatersports.com/location.htm
Water-play.com at two locations including:
Miami
2220 Coral Way
Miami, FL 33145
Tel: 305-860-0888
Fax: 305-860-1199
Ft. Lauderdale
2000 South Federal Hwy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tel: 954-523-7778
Fax: 954-523-7779
Toll Free: 800-841-1225
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RickI on 2002-10-07 16:56 ]</font>