Strapless on South Padre Island

spikite · Since 08 Sep 2012 181 Posts South Padre Island Stoked

SPI is no doubt the best place to learn strapless waveriding. You can hone your gybing skills at the North Flats before heading over to the gulfside for a 6 mile downwinder!

Trouble gybing or linking your turns? Or just wanna have a rescue guide/instructor follow you down the line just in case you blow up and have to swim?

Like to demo the new North surfboards or a hand shaped directional from North Pacific surfboards?

Contact Jason @ SPI KITE 956-772-1098

Also check out the 'visitspi' videos on our youtube channel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X_i_n4qvEw

spikite · Since 08 Sep 2012 181 Posts South Padre Island Stoked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k99Wrwxhn0E

spikite · Since 08 Sep 2012 181 Posts South Padre Island Stoked

75 degrees and 20 knots this weekend!

What's the forecast for Hood River?

spikite · Since 08 Sep 2012 181 Posts South Padre Island Stoked

Waves will be head high!

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

What's the better call for SPI lodging if you've got a crew of 2 or 3?

Just rent a couple motel 6 rooms or rent a condo? A hot tub and a kitchen would be sweet, we won't be there during Texas week, so I'm guessing cheap either way.

Thanks for any beta.

tonyb · Thu Feb 07, 13 7:53 am

PJC,

Probably best to go with a condo. Do a search here on the forum for SPI lodging and SPI info and you will find lots of good advice.

Basically if you avoid the middle two weeks of March the rest is all good.

Spring time is great for strapless riding down here! Small waves, big waves, steady winds and the water is already starting to warm up. 5 mile down winder yesterday in a shorty wetsuit. Waves were only knee high yesterday but it was still fun to try and knock the tops off the waves.

Tony

Johnb · Since 02 Aug 2010 494 Posts Obsessed

Sounds tempting. I am considering a trip down end of the month if my snow kite trip falls through. Or possibly coming after the snowkite trip.

My last trip was a bust, 5 days of no wind.

tonyb · Thu Feb 07, 13 9:15 am

One week trips can be a crap shoot as you can catch the cycle between fronts and get stuck with nothing. In a two week stretch you'll almost always get a weeks worth but it might be 3 days in the front and 4 days in the back. Or you might get 14 days of non-stop down winders and be wishing for a break. Generally in a two week stretch there will be about 3 or 4 down days. I think the longest we've ever gone without wind is 7 or 8 days even though it feels like two weeks when it hits.

You can always go to Holly Beach when it's dead on the island and be able to ride a 10 or 12 just fine.

It's not Brazil or Costa Rica guaranteed steady but overall it's pretty reliable. We've been to Maui before and only had 2 days in a two week stretch. It was blowing the day we arrived and it blew the day we left. Needless to say we got on the plane with wet hair and wet boardshorts in the carry on bag.

Tony

spikite · Since 08 Sep 2012 181 Posts South Padre Island Stoked

Check out casaislaspi.com

charliesislandhideaway.com

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

Re: dead time... can you just rent a SUP and (sexual orientation nonwithstanding) just mess around in the surf if it's dead? My understanding was there where some fun longboarding breaks that also work good on SUP.

SUP's don't need much wave action to make me smile, and the big dork factor is a given re:less.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

get rid of the paddle Laughing

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

assisted living, i need a crutch or a walker.

skateboarding as well. it's a lifestyle, like that cocoon movie, except with middle aged people.

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

I stayed at casa isla spi..Great but no hot tub or pool. I stayed at the Aquarius Condos last spring and they have a wonderful tub/pool & grassy place to clean off your kites. BBQ's as well. Super 8 was good. You can get a 2 queen bed with a cot for about $40 nightly. Microwave and mini fridge.

Be careful with wind prediction. Some days it is predicted for no wind, then it will crank up or you think a Tuesday will be great and then it gets pushed to Thursday. You will need ALL kites sizes. Sad when people get here and it's blowing mock and people are sitting on the beach because they didn't bring a 6 or 8.

Rent a uhaul truck for your stay. Cheap & efficient.

M.

lewmt · Since 04 Aug 2010 182 Posts MT Stoked

Stoked to get there in 2 weeks. Will bring the quiver. I'm driving down and travelling solo so it would be great to hook up with some folks for down winders. Staying @ South Beach Inn(wanted the kitchenette) - I'm hoping its not a total s-hole. Really appreciate some contact info or shops to go to to get together with others. Intermediate rider. Don't mind solo adventures but always more fun to ride with a crew & get all the local beta. Definitely prefer going gulf side. 1st time there.

Thanks

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

when do the SPI kiters quit it and go back west?

late april, early april, ballpark?

J_Matic · Since 14 Oct 2011 158 Posts InDaHo Stoked

on that note, when is it totally DONE.

Got 10 days in May to use up but don't wanna waste 'em.

tonyb · Tue Mar 12, 13 1:19 pm

Kiting is good all the way through May and even in to June. If you go to Holly Beach you can kite through July. Larger kites or and/or bigger boards needed in May and there will be some down days but not many.

Wave season is here. Head high, head and a half and larger yesterday and the day before. Not very clean but the good stuff is coming. Been one of the best winters we've had in years here.

Tony