Favorite Kiteboarding Spots in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay truly is an amazing place for kiteboarding. Choosing our favorite kiteboarding spots in Tampa Bay depends a lot upon what our goals are. Are you learning how to kiteboard? Wanting to foilboard? Or do you want a nice grassy park to launch and land from?
Wind direction plays a vital role in what spot we choose to kiteboard at on a certain day. The nice part about kiteboarding in Tampa Bay is that there is an awesome spot no matter the wind direction!
All Time Favorite: Fort Desoto East Beach
Fort Desoto East Beach is our favorite place for kiteboarding in the Tampa Bay area. There’s a sandbar a half mile offshore that runs east to west that protects the shallow, flat waters. The predominant wind direction is a NE wind and when it is NE the wind travels sideshore. Since the launch area is long and with a sideshore wind, you can have multiple people out on the water kiteboarding and it won’t feel crowded. Theres minimal obstacles on and off the water. Whether you’re learning how to kiteboard, wanting a safe place to learn new tricks or just want a beautiful place to ride, Fort Desoto East Beach is it.
Best Winds: NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, S
Difficulties: Foilboarding is difficult here since the water is so shallow.
Favorite Place to Escape: Fort Desoto North Beach
Fort Desoto North Beach is nice if the wind and tide are right. The place that’s truly amazing is the island off north beach. You can get to it if you walk all the way up north beach then tack upwind, which can be difficult if the tide is coming in. The best way to access the island is by boat or jetski. Once you’re there, you can kite in butter flat, waist deep water. It truly is a world class spot.
Best Winds: N, NW, W, SW, S
Difficulties: Getting there, it is a bit of a hike without a boat or jetski
Favorite Grassy Launch Area: Lassing Park
Lassing Park is a fantastic place to kiteboard with the beautiful scenery of Downtown St Petersburg. A sandbar protects the shallow bay keeping the water calm even on windy days. The nice part of Lassing Park is launching, landing/ packing up on grass, no sandy gear! Enjoy a burger and beer at a favorite local restaurant, Chattaways.
Best Winds: ENE, E, ESE
Difficulties: power lines downwind of launch, public park so other pedestrians
Favorite Place to Foilboard: Skyway Bridge East Side
The Skyway Bridge East Side is one of the most popular spots for kiteboarding in the Tampa Bay area. There’s shallow, calm water on one side that makes it perfect for learning how to kiteboard and deeper waters on another side that’s perfect for foilboarding. The launch area is big and easy to get to.
Best Winds: NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE
Difficulties: Some deep water, some shells on bottom
Favorite Place to Catch a Seabreeze: Skyway Bridge West Side
The west side of the Skyway Bridge is a quick and easy launch spot to access. The winds tend to be best here when sea breezes develop. There is shallow water and deep water to foilboard in. The only downside is that on a high tide the launch area can be small. For some of the best twin tip kiteboarding in Tampa Bay, ride across the channel to experience miles of flat water. It is important that if you decide to go across the channel that you are an intermediate to experienced kiteboarder. Downwind of the shallow waters is deep water with no exit point. Make sure there is enough wind and that you can successfully ride and stay upwind.
Best Winds: NW, W, SW
Difficulties: Narrow Launch Zone, Barnacles by mangrove island
There are so many kiteboarding spots in Tampa Bay! Since St Petersburg is shaped like a peninsula we can kiteboard on any wind direction. Some days we like combining our favorite spots by doing a downwinder or kiteboard from one spot to another. If you want to join us for a downwinder or take a trip to any of these spots, shoot us a message below!
