I will be doing some work in toronto so am flying out this thursday and will be there until next friday. Was wondering if any pkf members would like to meet up for buggying, landboarding or kitesurfing. I would like to travel light so if you have loaner gear, that would be great!!

Hey Van
This time of year there really isn't anywhere to buggy. close to Toronto there would only be sports fields to landboard but wind would be sketchy. Most people are on the water this time of year - when there's wind. We are going into a little heat wave for a few days tuesday through thursday will be around 33 celsius, the long range forecast is showing some wind during the week but low for next weekend but you shouldn't look more than a day ahead for wind otherwise you just get disappointed.
There are beaches at the east end of Toronto and Cherry beach has a narrow beach with a tree line that doesn't give much forgiveness, Ashbridges Bay is a popular spot for the locals especially any wind with some east in it. The beach is bigger but also the main Toronto beach so very busy on weekends especially with summer starting and hot weather.
There are a number of beaches that are favored outside of Toronto but it depends on wind direction and what conditions you want. Keep in mind wind around the great lakes is rarely steady through a day. It can windy early and then die right off on the water as the sun heats up the beaches - you can have storm front move through and pull in more wind or suck it out, you could get either really light or really blowing if some temperature changes move through.
To the southwest of Toronto you can go further around to Port Weller on Lake Ontario - over top Lake Erie to Long Beach area - we are generally on Lake Erie at Long Point if it's a SW - more west then we are further over on Lake Huron and can be anywhere along it or up on Georgian Bay at Wasaga or east of Toronto.
outside of the regular Toronto gang of kiteboarders (I don't think any are on PKF other than once in a blue moon to sell something), most people will be at the other beaches some of which are bigger beaches with far more space. Travel time heading to beaches to the SW of Toronto (depends where you stay in T.O.) you can be 45 min to 1 hr, then further along Lake Erie would take you at least 2 1/2 hrs, to Lake Huron heading north probably 2 1/2 hrs, up to Wasaga on Georgian Bay about 1 1/2 hrs

I have tons of gear that I'm always lending to friends - a few directionals and twintips, LEIs, Arcs - probably a spare harness - bring a shortie wet suit some water is still cool depending on where you go.

I'll U2U my email address.
There are a few guys that you would find interesting to meet for buggy and board building but weekends people are going all different directions so I'll have to see who's around doing what.

do you know where you'll be staying?
Mark

Mark,

thanks. I really just want to meet up and hang out, maybe grab a beer or two. With such a short stay, my chances of actually kiting is probably very low. Our winds here in houston is about the same during the summer. Very hard to predict and plan for. I am staying at the Hilton Garden Inn at 985 Syscon Road , Burlington. I guess just south of Toronto, so not directly in Toronto. Looks like I will be pretty close to the lake.

Hi Steve
Yes Burlington is right along the curve of Lake Ontario and I have kiting friends that sail catamarans off the beach there as it goes around the curve and people do kite there once in a while but big power lines running along the edge of a narrow beach so not the best place to go by any means. Not too far from there on the Lake Ontario side (probably 20- 30 min drive around) is Port Weller where guys kite board if there's wind with some north in it.
Then you are also closer to Lake Erie's east end and a lot of guys surf and windsurf a few beaches scattered along that end - Long Beach and Sherkston because there is a shoal not too far out in one area so you can get big swells building when there is a strong wind and then areas of flat water behind the shoal. You actually have a little better access for anything west and south being in Burlington and don't have to fight Toronto traffic - just sit in your car for an hour on a hot day when it should be a 15 min trip and you'll hate it. It will back up in Burlington in the morning for traffic heading into Toronto on the main highway as well.
I've sent an email to a few people to give them a heads up and I'll see what we can do to meet up or get you out riding while you're here - stay tuned, more by email...

okay - bad Canadians taking a Texan to the great lakes to make him go in a little bit cool water - what do mean "this feels like winter water temperatures in the gulf" - it's refereshing on a hot day!

Had a great day with Van on the beach today getting toasted by the sun and wind filled in enough to surf with big kite until almost 8:00 in the eve. Jim Everding and his wife Tami and another friend Matt were also able to join make it down and even time to stop for a piggyback burger on the way home - sweet day.