There is always an area deep enough to kiteboard at the east side of the Skyway Bridge rest area, even on a low tide. On a low tide, it is important to be aware of the sandbar and where it is exposed. Doing tricks over the sandbar on a low tide is a recipe for an accident to occur. If the tide is noticeably low, scope out an area’s water depth before practicing tricks or jumps. Refer to the screen image below as a visual reference to where the sandbar is.
Skyway East Tide Chart
Some applications like iKitesurf provide the tide charts in addition to the wind forecast. It is a good idea to get in the routine of checking the tides in addition to the wind speeds. Although there is always a place to ride, checking the tides contribute to overall better situational awareness. For a visual representation of the tide charts, we prefer the website Tides4Fishing.
Where to Kiteboard
We recommend kiteboarding in the “Deeper Water” to the west or left of the “Exposed Sandbar”. This is where the foilboarders ride so it is important for twin tippers to be aware of their presence and provide them with space. Right of way rules apply especially when the area for kiteboarding is reduced in size. On an extremely low tide, there is a sandbar to the north of the launch spot that will occasionally be exposed. This sandbar creates the perfect conditions for freestyle on a NE wind direction.
