crosshatch - 14-6-2007 at 07:21 PM
Hope this hasn't been posted already; couldn't find anything 'bout it in the search.
My brothers and I did some buggying at Floyd Bennett Field this morning (Brooklyn,NY). Wind wasn't terrific today, strength or direction-wise, but
enough to have fun for a little while anyway.
In case you're thinking of trying this place out, here's some up to date info, as of today. Runway #19 (see pic at end of post, R19 = the one
highlighted in blue) is the only section where kite buggies/landboards are permitted. And you need a General Use Permit for Wind Powered Activity,
obtained at the Ryan Visitor Center, which is $50/year. [There are checkboxes for LandSailing,KiteBuggy,Board,etc].
I picked up a permit, as this is the largest buggy area/closest to me, for the time being, and I'll be using it again.
The asphalt was fine for buggying, but I can't vouch for kite-landboarding, as there are potholes staggered here and there. I don't landboard, but I
would imagine those might be annoying/dangerous...?
The park officers were extremely friendly and helpful, and they didn't give me a hard time about not having a permit (or about not knowing I needed
one). They answered all my questions, and I would recommend talking to them, as they'll give you a heads up about what times/dates may be most and
least busy [RC hobbyists use the same runway...as do bicyclists, etc etc].
There're a lot of other things to do there as well, but you can find out all about that from their info packs, etc. The Ryan Visitor Center info ph#
is 718-338-3799.
Hope this might be helpful to someone in, or w/in driving distance of, Brooklyn, NY.
-crosshatch
domdino - 5-7-2007 at 05:06 PM
Hiya, i'm considering moving to NY...
Can you give me more general information on the kiting situation out there? I kite surf as well... I'd also like to get rid of my car and just use
public transport if i moved there...
Regarding this spot, does it have grassy areas or are you only able to use the concrete? I only landboard and concrete with landboards can be deadly!!
Any more information would be great 
Pictures would be awesome too :frog:
crosshatch - 5-7-2007 at 06:21 PM
Regarding Floyd Bennett Field:
As far as I know all wind-powered activity is restricted to the one runway (runway #19), and it's all concrete, I'm afraid. For a sure answer on
whether or not there are grassy areas available for kite landboarding at F.Bennett Field, I would call up the Ryan Visitor Center there (see # in orig
post). Everyone there was super-friendly to me.
Regarding 'General Kiting Situation':
Please see other post from today, re: kitesurfing locations northeast===> http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=3896
I static fly and buggy (learning to buggy, anyway), so I'm afraid I've not much info on landboarding/surfing in the NY area. That other forum has
lots of info, though, and I'm sure any kitesurfers from NY here on this forum willl chime in shortly with info for ya.
Next time I get to F.Bennett Field I'll ask about the grassy landboarding and let ya know what I find out.
acampbell - 6-7-2007 at 06:53 AM
As a former NY City dweller who lived there without a car, I can say that your choices for kiting on a land board will be severely limited. In
Manhattan, the only suitable open space is the Great Lawn in Central Park, but any wheeled vehicles are prohibited there due to the ecological
fragility of the man-made environment.
Public transportation there is fantastic, but the only thing I can think of would be the beaches of Long Island and that would be an all day affiar
with travel for a few hours of 'boarding. Maybe the beaches of Brooklynn (Coney Island, Brighton Beach) but I don't know about prohibitions there and
forget about summer with the crowds. And even that is an hour subway ride unless you already live in Brooklyn.
There is Liberty State Park in NJ accross the Hudson River accessible by water taxi but I m sure I have heard that there are prohibitions there too.
Too pedestrian.
NY City is a wonderful town. Just not for kiting unless you have a car to get out. And then it costs $350 a month just to park. Then add $6-800 a
year for your auto insurance just for the zip codes