Hey All!

I am in Florida visiting family. I have found what would be fantastic areas for kiteboarding on the beach. However, sand is the issue. Here on the Gulf side of Florida, the sand is very soft. So obviously when I hopped on my board and started to go, immediately the wheels just dug in the sand making it near impossible to move. Should I look into (or are there) special wide wheels for my board, or is sand not a good choice for boarding? I didn't think it was THAT soft walking on it, but it is when the wheels get on it. Thanks!!

Unless you are going to be there for a while, it might not be worth it. Larger tires on the board will generally require a different inner tube and hub set like GI Multi-Hub, MBS Tri-Spokes, etc.

Folks have mounted larger tires on standard size hubs, but it stresses the hubs a bit. Check this thread:
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=12071

No grassy fields near the beach?

ATB,
Sam

soft sand is near impossible, and as the tires get larger..... everything changes. find beach side park or soccer field. soft sand will wreck you!

Or just go out on the water...

Hehe...oh man, there are loads of places to kitesurf around ft. myers. I found a couple soccer and football fields nearby, but having a fence around the field makes me a little nervous. Actually last night I started realizing that when I get back to Korea, kitesurfing is a must....there are just very few places to landboard there. Sure, there are soccer fields like crazy there, but there's not a minute at any time of the year, day or night, that they're not being used. Going to check on wetsuits today. I'd say by April I can get out on the water around Korea. Like Florida, I'd say Korea is like gold for kitesurfing.

Quote:

Originally posted by hondamon Hehe...oh man, there are loads of places to kitesurf around ft. myers. I found a couple soccer and football fields nearby, but having a fence around the field makes me a little nervous. Actually last night I started realizing that when I get back to Korea, kitesurfing is a must....there are just very few places to landboard there. Sure, there are soccer fields like crazy there, but there's not a minute at any time of the year, day or night, that they're not being used. Going to check on wetsuits today. I'd say by April I can get out on the water around Korea. Like Florida, I'd say Korea is like gold for kitesurfing.

Just one caution about kitesurfing in Korea... they do not have the same standards about dumping stuff into the water that we do in the US. This is not to say that our waters are clean... but the waters in Korea are going to be, quite possibly worse... Keep your shots up to date, don't go into the water with open wounds.. etc. Just take the proper precautions...

I was going to comment on the west coast being soft all the way up to Tampa but am Canadian so ...

Find a park on the west side?

@Bladerunner: I'm in the South, not the North. :P Who knows what could flow down the coast though. I am a mere 15 miles from the border, though I will be doing my kitesurfing down a ways on the west coast off an island called, Anmyeondo.

Looking for parks, but many have either been blocked by trees/buildings, too small, or ground is nuts. Water looks fun...but there's more money to spend. :bird:

Right, I understand.

From my bit of exploring I think I found the whole Gulf side had soft sand . Heading north to Sarasota etc. will not work. The ridable hard pack is on the Atlantic side.

Perhaps picking up a skim board and playing in the shallows is something to try? That is how Flash Austin got started in Florida!

Im with the crew soft sand is no good, get out on the water :bigok:

Cheers, y'all! Yeah, I'm checking in on some kiteboards and wetsuits now. That's about all I'll need (yet a fair flow of cash). My Unity is good for the water as well. Went to a pretty sweet spot today that had hard rideable sand as the tide went out, and would be a good spot to have a go at kitesurfing, provided the winds are onshore next time. My next challenge is 2 and a half more weeks with mom! Great lady, but....ugh! :ticking: