Site Updated Aug 25nd '08

Contact Us

Purchase Gear

Home Page

> START HERE <

FAQ's

Comments Testimonials

How-To

Gear

Trainer Kites
Traction Kites
Sheetable Foils

Inflatable Kites
Best Waroo 2008
Best Waroo 2009

KiteBoards - Water
Landboards - All Terrain

Accessories

Site Map - Find it Fast
What's New

 

____________________

Cocoa Beach, Florida

 

                                                  Enter a City or US Zip:  

 

http://www.nettrust.com/surf/    weather links for the Brevard county

http://www.cityofcocoabeach.com/     Learn more about the city.

Cocoa Beach.  Cocoa is a great spot mainly due to its quick access from Orlando via the 528 (beeline).
For the river is flat and shallow, ideal, but has very technical launch areas.    In other words... once your out in the river, its great!   Finding a place to rig up and launch is the challenge because of the power lines, and expressways along the waters edge.
For Beginners,  if you have a wave runner or flats boats, ( nearby rentals available) you can rig up out on the flats far away from shore.
Without a boat,  I recommend Daytona Beach, because the more gradual sloping bottom, keeps the surf and shore break smaller.

Related Page: Daytona


Launch Sites:

Cherie Down Park:   Off A1A in Cape Canaveral, take Central ( traffic light at Mc Donald's) East to the water, then go South a couple of blocks. Look for the park on the left ( beach side) head. The large parking area is located 1/2 block to the north.  Wide Bch at low tide, popular launch site for kiters and windsurfers.  Bathrooms and showers.
If you like waves, this is spot work checking out.
+'s:  Wide open beach, Waves.
-'s:   Other water users, Waves.
Overall:  Excellent spot if you can handle the surf and side-on to on-shore winds.  On a very typical SE summer breeze,  Its better to launch further south where the beach faces more East, so the angle of the wind is more "side-on". 
At this time there are no kite restrictions.... lets keep it that way.  Use common sense and keep a safe distance from swimmers and surfers.  Give everybody else the right of way.  

Lori Wilson Park:  Approx 2 miles south of the "520" on the Beach.  Good on N, NE, SE, S,  on NE  head for Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral. ( see above ).

520 Boat Ramp: Banana River South side of the 520 causeway.  Opposite side of the road from the hospital, just west of the public boat ramp.  A North wind here is Dead off-shore, producing amazing glass flat water close to shore.  Stay close in, because if you break a line, or the wind dies, you'll have to swim back up-wind to the beach.   Most of the 3-2-1 Kite School lessons are taught here out in the shallow water with the assistance of a chase boat.   The bottom is mucky, and warmer months bring in the sting rays. The area is loaded with Dolphins and some manatees.  The "red star" on the map marks the spot. The rider is Keith Notary ( Clam Sandwich Boards) riding the dead off-shore North winds at the 520.  ******  DO NOT LAUNCH AT THIS LOCATION IF THE WINDS ARE BLOWING ON-SHORE.
A Mishap with your kite could easily cause a kite ban or a deadly car accident with you held responsible. 


  

+'s:  Waist deep water goes on and on and on!  Mostly flat to small chop.  Ideal for beginners if you have a chase boat to pick you up. Boats and jet-skis can be rented nearby at Wave Craze (321) 452-0590   I found the location to be excellent for teaching. 
-'s:  The launch is very close to the hwy.  The narrow boat channel runs parallel and close to the beach.  Assisted launch required due to the mangroves at the waters edge.  Gusty conditions due to nearby buildings. The river is know for having stingrays.
* Overall, I love it!  Once you get out past the channel, its sweet!  Conditions are very similar to Hatteras. Foot protection highly recommended due to the mucky bottom and possible sharp objects.  Lots of sea life.. Manatees, Dolphin, Horseshoe craps, rays, etc.  The porpoise are everywhere,  if you see a big grey fin, that what it is.

Manatee Park: Located in Cape Canaveral, at the NE end of the Banana River.  There is a massive open field ideal for flying trainer kites, or Riding a mountain board in West winds NW / W / SW.  I'm told a due North wind works here as well. Unfortunately the open field  does NOT open up to the water. Its obstructed by a newly built boardwalk.   An assisted launch at the waters edge is the safest, but is still risky because of the trees and boardwalk close to the waters edge. Once on the water, there is a deep channel near the beach extending approx 50 feet out and then it really shallow beyond that.
If the wind dies, its a great spot to watch the sunset.

***At any County Parks, crowds can be an issue, all walk a bit north or south to find some open beach.  I've listed these parks for easy locations to find on a map.  On a busy beach day, drive a few block either way a park in the less popular areas.
Kiteboarding access in this area is currently un-restricted and I want to keep it that way.   Its pretty simple, use common sense, plan for the best, but consider the worst and plan accordingly.  As long as kites stay off  peoples heads, out of the road,  out of the trees and power-lines, and a safe distance from surfers and beach goers, everybody's happy. :)

Others launch site:  There are many, and details will be added after I get a chance to check them out.
AVOID "Kelly Park"  One more time Avoid Kelly.  This is the main "Windsurfing" launch and NOT a good place for kites. The predominate wind direction at the park is "on-shore".  For beginners, this means constantly being pushed into the beach, palm trees, windsurfers, and parking lot.   For advanced riders, this site is workable, but still extra risky.  Check out the photos below to see for yourself. There are plenty of other launch sites, and no reason to ride in this crowed area.   If you launch elsewhere and get blown downwind in the park, be sure to due everything possible to keep your kite lines away from others.   Some people are now launching just south of the park, and riding in between the boat ramp and the long wooden dock a bit further to the south  
This is a photo Kelly Park at sunset. Notice the kite flying over the trees and beach.

The area near the boat ramp / immediately south of the windsurfing area, is far from ideal, but workable.  The flatwater Windsurfing group is generally not psyched on the idea of being "clothes lined"  by kiteboarders. The windsurfers who ride at a Beach (wave-sailors) are a different breed, and generally not phased by kites.

The Cocoa / Cape Canaveral / Merritt Island  Area is totally surrounded by water.   Finding un-obstructed access to the water is lesson common.   Boat launching:  Opens up endless possibilities.   The "Thousand Islands" area  is prime!
The tiny mangrove island keep the water flat even in strong winds.  If you've got a boat, give it a try.  If you don't .... we do!

 If you have someone to assist you with a launch, you can park along either the 520 or 528 and walk out into the water while you assistant holds your kite at the waters edge.  Be sure to wear you kite leash!  A run away kite would end up on the road and could easily cause a serious accident.   Always expect the best, but prepared for the worst.  

The Banana River is one of the best locations I've found to learn Kiteboarding!  Its a huge body of protected water, mostly 3-6 feet deep, and accepts winds from all directions.  The Year around warm temperatures and convenience to the Orlando Airport make it an ideal destination.  The only major challenge is launching.  The river is bordered by two highways with trees and power lines making it more challenging.   The key to really enjoying the River is using a boat to launch from.
For Beginner students, we do the first 1/2 of the class on the wide open beach, and then complete the lesson on the river.

Other Activities:

Cable Park Wakeboarding in Orlando at the watersports complex near the airport.

Boat and jet-ski rentals:  321.693-7873

NASA: Tour behind the scenes the  US Space Program.

Shopping at Ron Jons. Corner of A1A and 520

Windsurfing at Calema. lessons, rentals, and a retail shop.  Kelly Park, Banana River Drive at the 528.

Orlando: Just one hour away.  Universal studios, Discovery Cove, WaterSports Complex, Downtown Disney, etc.

Where to Stay

Holiday Inn Express   (321) 868-2525

Best Western     (321) 783-7621

Where to Eat

Grills at Port Canaveral
Outback Steakhouse