Kiteboarding at the Skyway Bridge on a SE wind direction can be a lot of fun. There is a sandbar that runs perfectly cross-tack with the SE wind. The ideal place for a twintip kiteboard to ride is a little upwind of the launch. Although the sandbar keeps kiteboarding safe and easy, downwind of the sandbar the water gets deep. Deep waters make it significantly more difficult for beginner kiteboarders.
Skyway on a SE Wind
The SE wind direction at the east side of the Skyway Bridge would be considered cross shore wind. The ideal place to ride is just upwind of the launch area. There is a sandbar that is visible from the shoreline that identifies where the shallow water is. Stay between the sandbar and the launch area. Unless foilboarding, avoid getting blown downwind from the launch.
Beginner Kiteboarders
If learning how to kiteboard, avoid the Skyway on a SE wind direction. The better location to kiteboard in St Petersburg is Fort Desoto East Beach. Beginner kiteboarders are more likely to get blown downwind. If you are taking lessons, a professional instructor will be aware of the deep waters. The instructor will be able to control the environment to keep the student over the shallow waters.
Foilboarding
The east side of the Skyway Bridge is perfect for foilboarding on a SE wind. Foilboarders want the deeper waters to prevent running aground. The sandbar creates a pond effect around the deeper waters. For this reason, the water remains relatively calm. With calm, deep water, it is a beginner-friendly place to learn foilboarding.
Kiteboarding Skyway on a SE Wind
Kiteboarding at the Skyway on a SE wind can be a lot of fun. But, there are some dangers involved. It is important to be cognizant of these dangers and aware of the situation. If riding here, tack upwind and kiteboard downwind of the sandbar.
Tracking the Wind
The two places we receive our information from are iKitesurf and Baynews 9. These two places provide the most reliable sources for forecasting. On iKitesurf, the arrows indicate where the wind is coming from. Check out our blogpost on how to read the wind for more information on this.
Learn to Kiteboard With Us
We take great pride in teaching people how to kiteboard. There are little tricks we can provide that will make it quicker and easier to learn. In the lesson we will discuss situational awareness. Situational awareness involves the ability to read the wind and environment to prevent oneself from being in a dangerous situation. We will teach you how to stay safe and enjoy the good parts of a location.
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