Activities and Adventures on South Padre Island, Texas - Kite Landboarding

KITE LANDBOARDING AROUND SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

With more wind, more space, and more variety of terrain, South Padre Island is a top destination for all kinds of wind powered dirt surfing, buggy riding, land sailing, and kite landboarding. In this article your will find information on some of the types of land kiting, as well as places to ride around South Padre Island, Texas.

Types Of Land Kiting

For those that prefer to surf the earth, and not the water, there are lots of ways to get your fix around South Padre Island. From easy cruising, to high speed racing, catching air, or endless carving turns in parking lot skate sessions, land boarders and sailors are using all kinds of different gear and techniques to ride the wind and ground around South Padre Island.

Buggys
Kite Buggies are super fun for all ages and levels of riders, from novice through hardcore adrenaline junkies. Buggies are three wheeled carts that sit low to the ground, roll on big tires capable of handling all kinds of terrain from parking lot asphault to soft beach sand and everything in between. Steered with your feet, and powered by the pull of a kite, buggy riders are capable of cruising in the lightest winds, as well as racing across all kinds of terrain at high speed, pulling g-forces in powerslides, and even boosting air with the pull of the kite.

Off-road Skateboards and Mountainboards
Off-road skateboards are large skate decks that sit a few inches higher off the ground than regular skateboards, roll on big rubber tires and suspension systems to obsorb bumps, and offer control at high speed in rough terrain. Beginners often learn by cruising slowly and without using the bindings that advanced riders use to hold their feet to the board. At high speed, off road skateboards can roll over all kinds of terrain, with the exception of soft sand and mud, and advanced riders can carve, jump, slide, and ride very much like their counterparts on the water.

Skateboards And Carve Boards
If you dont want to get dirty or just prefer shredding smooth pavement, skateboards, longboard skateboards, and carveboards are fun to ride around parking lots and open paved areas. With just the slightest wind and kite power, riders can carve the concrete endlessly.

SPOTS TO RIDE

Ocean Beaches

The entire 30 miles of South Padre Island Coast line are great for land kiting with offroad skateboards and buggys. There are no off-limit areas, although riders are encouraged to avoid crowded areas of the beach by riding on the North end of town only. Ocean beaches offer hard pack sand near the water as well as soft sand further up the beach, and work best in predominantly East wind, although can be riden in all wind directions. Riding during low tides offers the most area of hardpack sand, and occasionally during very high tides there may be no hardpack exposed, so check the tides and water level before you go.

Bayside Flats (The Beaches of the Laguna Madre Bay)

On the bay side (west side) of South Padre Island, are a series of wide open, hardpack, sand flats beaches, which all offer lots of space, predominantly flat terrain, but also a few interesting dunes and trails around their perimeter. With constant wind and lots of space, these are some of the best places for landboarding in the entire country.

Convention Center Beach: Located next to the South Padre Island Convention Center, the Convention Center Beach, also know as the South Flats, is the located at 7355 Padre Blvd. It's a great place to ride right near town, although can sometimes be crowded with non kiters and beach goers. The wind quality is good, although in light SE winds there can be some turbulence from the nearby buildings.
North Flats: Located a few miles North of the developed part of town, and across the street from Beach Access 5, the North Flats is a huge, open, area of packed and semi soft sand with numerous hardpack trails running through it as well as many low dunes to ride through, over, and around. Far enough away from buildings, the North Flats offerers clean wind in all wind directions. The North Flats is an area managed by the South Padre Island Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Association, and a parking pass is required to access the area. Passes can be picked up at Air Padre Kiteboarding.
Beyond the North Flats:Continuing North from the North Flats are numerous other sandflats locations, all offerring good terrain, open space, and adventure for landboarders. Just look to the left as your driving North along the road, and when you see a good spot, stop and ride!

Parking Lots

Convention Center: The South Padre Island Convention Center has a nice medium sized parking lot perfect for kite skating and buggying. The area is fun and most of the pavement is smooth enough for skateboards, although there is only enough space for 3 or 4 riders at a time. The wind at the Convention Center is generally pretty clean and steady.
Walmart: On highway 100 in the town of Port Isabel, shortly before crossing the bridge onto South Padre Island is a Walmart with a very large parking lot great for night time skate sessions. The spot works in all wind directions, riders just need to be aware of any parked cars or occasional traffic. Behind the building offers some good pavement, as well as a fair amount of grass for off-road skateboards and buggy riding.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark: Located at the South end of South Padre Island, the Schlitterbahn waterpark and Shrimp Haus Restaurant offers a large and frequently empty parking lot. With palm trees surrounding the lot on all sides, the wind can be a little tricky, but the space is great.
Isla Blanca Park: The Isla Blanca County Park is the land at the very Southern tip of South Padre island, a day pass is required to enter, and can be purchased at the entrance. Inside the park are 2 medium sized parking lots that when not full of cars are a nice kite skating area. Don't wrap kite lines around any light poles or tourists if you choose to ride this spot.

End Of The Road

The end of the road is the northermost end of Padre BLVD. The last 7 miles of the road are undeveloped, with nothing but sand dunes on either side. With little traffic, kiters can ride down the road on skateboards in virtually any wind direction, although predominantly east winds are the best.

Main Land Grass, Floodplains, and Trail Systems

For explorers, there is tons of ridable off-road terrain off the side of highway 48 between South Padre Island and Brownsville. Although there are numerous places to pull over, one good starting destination is located about 1/2 to Brownsville, on the South side of the highway. There is a medium sized parking lot, with lights, and a boat ramp to access a canal that connects to the ship channel and large lagoons.

Lessons And Rentals

Kite boarding of all kinds is incredibly fun, but its one of those things that you don't want to try to teach yourself. If you are interested in learning how to kite, or already know how and just need some gear for the day, Air Padre Kiteboarding offers the best professional lessons as well as rentals of buggys, boards, kites and other gear as well.

Types of Yachts

Yachting has become one of the most luxurious past times for any upscale boater. Sailing the open waters brings all passengers on a yacht to a relaxing place where the cool ocean breeze and warm sun come together. For any first time sailing yachter, though, there are many choices in the lifestyle of yachting. Before deciding on a yacht to purchase, consider the options and classifications for yacht sailing.

For the beginner, a small, day sailing yacht may be the perfect fit to give you a feel for the open waters and yacht controls. They are often called dinghies, which is a popular term among fellow sailors. A day sailing yacht is meant for typical weekends or long days for yachting, but they have no overnight cabin. Day yachts provide a cubby for important items and an area to find shelter from ocean spray, but overall their use is mainly for a day of cruising with friends and family.

For longer sail yachting, weekend yachts can provide facilities for short, vacation trips. They are designed to allow beaching for an overnight camping, or to take a break from the open water. They have a small cabin with a bed and facilities to keep items for overnight stays. The bed usually has a capacity for two or three people.

Cruising yachts are the most popular type of yachts designed for long trips and easy open water maneuverability. They have enormous space both inside and outside to allow larger families and group gatherings to enjoy a long sailing vacation. Their size ranges from twenty five to fifty feet long, and they are designed with several amenities for comfortable cruising.

Some sailors enjoy the ability to cruise with a motor instead of sails for a period of time. Motor sailor yachts provide a method of using a motor in place of sails for as long as the driver needs. This option is perfect for days when weather turns sour, or wind is not properly available. They are also good vacation yachts with large rooms in the interior for overnight stays.

Luxury sailing yachts are the largest of the sailing yacht styles. They are generally over eighty feet in length with enormous fiberglass hulls. They are equipped with the highest and most advanced computerized equipment, and they are packed full of quality amenities such as television and air condition. Luxury sailing yachts are the finest extended vacation yachts with generators to provide long term electrical power.

Finally, in an effort to bring yachters a sport they enjoy, racing yachts are available for competitive sailing. They are made with the lightest materials and created with the sleekest design to avoid wind drag. Their sails are massive to provide the most efficient wind propulsion ability. The sport of yacht racing has become popular among yachting enthusiast for its competitive nature while maintaining an overall enjoyment of yachts and their performance.

If you are in the market for a sailing yacht, consider all your options before you buy. Yachting is truly a luxury that everyone enjoys if finances permit.

For more information, visit http://www.onyachts.tv.

Why Choose Aluminium For Boat Building

With different designs of boating materials under development & review, a lot of recreational sailors and other boat enthusiasts, prefer the lighter the craft. Seemingly, this applies mostly to those hoping to gain good speeds, while, maintaining a durable craft. And in this sense, it's a good idea to weigh up all the options - instead of diving right into aluminium boat building.

However, for those who are seeking an established metal for their vessel, thus; ensuring strength and reliability on the waters, then the plans should really include aluminium for boat building. Not only has it been a tried and tested metal in the travel industry for many decades, but, it also allows for one of the lightest creations of craft there is, bar of course, fibreglass. This essentially means it is an easier metal to work with - both to sculpt and create.

There's also a strong argument for the choice of aluminium as your boat building fabric, as far as financing goes, while other forms of materials cost much more due to operational costs and the price of general manufacture; means, it is a much more settled investment. As an established craft, you should find very few difficulties, if deciding to raise some capital for your project.

Other obvious highlights of choosing aluminium as your first option for your boat, definitely has to do with the upkeep. While it's nice to design a vessel for launch, it's imperative to consider more fundamental implications, such as; the damage that may be sustained through wear and tear. Aluminium, as a metal, is easily mended and at a relatively cheap cost when compared to other forms of boat building.

All in all, aluminium is a sturdy choice when considering boat building, whether, from the design stage or production stage, it is established, and so, it'll be easier to work with, than perhaps other more popular types.

3mm Wetsuit - A Closer Look

Wetsuits are important to most water sports and activities enthusiasts. It is something they just can't live without. Wetsuits do not only look sleek and cool but are also functional as a protective suits against the common hazards of the waters. They come in a wide variety of designs, styles, material composition, zippers and seams. Whether you passion is scuba diving, water skiing, snorkeling, wakeboarding, or surfing, you will always benefit from finding the ideal wetsuit just for you. Suits are available in different strengths for the protection in certain water temperatures. But as 3mm neoprene from the rest of their colleagues are different?

An important aspect of any changes, can be a shorty wetsuit, or whole body, the thickness of the material used. thicker material to provide protection against the heat of the body. The thickness of a pack is often measured in millimeters and varies between 3 and 5 mm. The suit is a part of the body most often the arms and legs.This ensures maximum protection again body heat deprivation while underwater for lengthy periods or in cold waters during cold seasons. A 3mm wetsuit is the lightest of all wetsuits and if made from or used with the right combination of materials such as the leading synthetic rubber material neoprene, a 100% waterproof material, the wetsuit can be extra elastic. Some wetsuits may also have what some call the "superstretch" feature that gives more freedom to movement.

A 3mm wetsuit more elastic than other wetsuits that go beyond the 3 millimeter thickness. People who want lighter wetsuits for quicker and more comfortable movement prefer this type of wetsuit. The only disadvantage of the 3mm wetsuit is that it is not the ultimate protection you need against hypothermia or total loss of body heat in extreme cold water conditions. It is not as durable as its thicker counterparts as well. But the advancement and innovations in creating durable, light and waterproof wetsuits is vastly improving. Soon enough, the belief that thicker is better for colder water temperatures may not be true anymore. In the future, we will surely see thinner materials have great effectiveness in maintaining body heat even in extremely cold water conditions.

But now, a 3mm wetsuit is the best choice for people who want to go into action with a lighter and more flexible water body suit. Wetsuit shorties are known for their comfort in providing an adequate range of movement and are commonly 3mm thick - making them lighter and extra elastic. Some full body wetsuits use the same thickness all over except the body area.

There are just too many types of wetsuits in the market today for suiting every need and taste. The wide array of styles, colors, and even accessories make wetsuit shopping even more fun or more difficult. That depends on how knowledgeable you are about these types of wetsuits. If you are still a beginner, you have to ask for help from some friends or you can go for the most trusted big names in wetsuit apparels such as Rip Curl or Body Glove. Check the internet for more information and tips and discover some of the latest and the most amazing wetsuits available today.

Selecting the Right Canoe Paddle

There are so many choices in canoe paddles today, it is very difficult to select the one best suited for your individual needs. But you do need someplace to start. So, here are some characteristics for you to consider when picking out some paddles you would like to try out in actual use on the water:

Paddle Length

This is undoubtedly the most important specification you need to determine. The wrong length paddle on an extended cruise-even on calm water-can ruin your whole trip. Your muscles will rebel until your whole body is wracked in pain. So spend some time to get this one right. Unfortunately, there are several controversial methods (none of them perfect) for getting the measurement for each individual. Here are the most common ones:

Stand up straight and measure from the floor to your chin for bow paddle, and to your eyes for a stern paddle.
Sit in a chair and measure from the chair seat to your eyebrow and add that measurement to the blade length.
Sit in your canoe and measure from the water to your nose and add that measurement to the blade length of your preferred design.

I think you can see the fallacy in most of these methods (and your shoulders will pay the price). The best way to determine the proper paddle length for you is to take several paddles of the approximately correct length out on a trip and use them enough to know which length is ideal for you. On the other hand, if you are only going to paddle around on the lake in front of your summer cabin, any of the above systems will work fine for you.

Material

Paddles are made of many different materials today, but the most popular ones are made of wood, aluminum, or composite carbon fiber. Wood is still the most with canoeists, while aluminum and composite carbon fiber is popular with kayakers.

Aluminum is the lightest, and least expensive, paddle, but it can transmit cold from the water to your hands, forcing you to sometimes wear gloves. And, paddles made of aluminum are hardly aesthetically pleasing.

Composite Carbon Fibers make the strongest paddles, and their lightness give them the best strength-to-weight ratio. Although this material is easier on your muscles, it is not so easy on your wallet, and the aesthetics obviously cannot compare to certain woods. This is a popular paddle with kayakers, however.

Wood has long been the standard for canoe paddles, because it flexes slightly in the water and absorbs some of the shock, Wood does not transmit cold, and it has a better "feel" of the water. Needless to say, wood paddles can be downright beautiful. The only disadvantage is that some wood species can be fairly heavy, so be cautious when picking out a wood canoe paddle.

Bent Shaft vs. Straight Shaft

Bent shaft paddles have been around for a while and have become more popular in recent years, but there are many pros and cons about this feature. The decision is yours, but frankly, there is very little noticeable difference for the average recreational paddler.

Grips

The two basic grips on canoe paddles are the "T" grip and the "palm" grip. There are variations on each of these designs and the choice is yours, but much depends on your use. The "T" grip is usually preferred in whitewater because it gives a more positive grip for turning the paddle quickly while maneuvering. If you are in serious whitewater you do not want your hand to slip off the grip.

Blade Shape

A wooden paddle can have a blade of any shape, but the most popular are either oval or square-end. Traditional design calls for an asymmetrical oval blade, but if you are going to paddle often on small streams with gravel bottoms, you may want to consider a square-end paddle. You can also attach a metal guard on the bottom edge to stop excessive abrasion.

After you have done your research and shopping, you should make the final determination by trying out several paddles you think are right. You may have to borrow paddles from your friends and fellow paddlers to try out, but effort will be well worth it...and your body will thank you at the end of a long-day's paddling.

Happy canoeing!

Top 5 Ultralight backpacking tents

Cutting pack weight is king on long treks and shedding some unwanted pounds with Ultralight tents seem to be the trend. Ultralight tents usually come in the form of a 1 or 2 person tent that is designed to be used for 3 seasons (omitting winter). The constant battle with ultralights is finding the lightest tent that has the most space inside, yet is durable and will stand up to high winds and tough storms. The requirements of good Ultralight tents lend them to have some of the most cutting edge materials and designs which in turn can lead to hefty price tags. I am an avid reader of Outside and Backpacker magazines, I have taken some of their suggestions on gear with great results. Here are some of the highly rated Lightweight tents for backpacking that I have discovered via those publications.

The Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1

Weight 2.3 lbs

Number of people: 1 person

The Big Agnes fly creek series was a backpackers magazine Editors Choice. This is one of those lightweight tents that really the nail on the head. It is a canopy top, cut the weight and keep the tent breathable, so you do not get unwanted condensation in the morning helps. This is a single door tent with a large porch waterproof waterproof taped seams, which include. L86 x W42 x H38

Sierra Designs Light Vapor

Weight: 3.4 pounds

Number of persons 2

The Sierra models is the light curtain Vaporcurrent king of lightweight tents for backpacking. It was rated a best buy according to backpackers magazine and has the features to prove it. This tent has near vertical walls which add a surprising amount of space and headroom. Many lightweight tents have a tendency to be delicate, have weather proofing issues or can be a pain to set up. The Vapor 2 is simple to set up and one reviewer states that it held up to 20 mile an hour winds and even a couple inches of snow. L83 x W49 x H38

Mountain Hardwear Helion 2 Tent

Weight: 3.5 lbs

Number of people: 2

The Mountain Hardware Helion is the work horse of ultralight tents. this thing has been tested in 24 hours of pelting rain, over 1200 inches to be exact. You will never get wet in this tent. This tent is extremely stable in high winds because of the shape however that does cause you to lose a bit of head room at the tapered end of the tent. The all-mesh canopy reduces weight and provides excellent ventilation and the tall front entry with tapered foot maximizes livability. MHW's patented Evolution Tension Arch provides strength when the weather turns nasty. Freestanding design ensures quick pitch. Guaranteed watertight construction. L86 x W45 x H41

Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2

Weight 3.6 lbs

Number of people: 2

Made with at 3 pole configuration it maximizes the frame efficiency however the aircraft aluminum makes the poles lighter than most. The Big Agnes Seedhouse has mesh upper and a construction that will hold up in even the most violent summer storms. This is a 3 season tent and worth every penny. L84 x W52 x H38

Marmot Aura

Weight: 4.4 lbs

Number of people 2

The Marmot Aura won Outside magazines gear of the year award in 2008 and for good reason. In my opinion this tent is yet to be topped. It has two doors with dual vestibules, the interior is seriously big enough for 4 adults to sit up and eat a meal in. The walls are near vertical so the 40 inch ceiling extends over the majority of the tent. This system has 4 ultra lightweight poles and has been reported to shrug off 50mph winds! L88 x W50 x L40

Wise Choices in Hiking Tents

The first thing you should be thinking about is weight. Specifically, you should be thinking about light weight. Serious hikers carry as little as possible, and this is no exception to sleeping gear. So always start with the smallest you can carry.

After any time spent on the trail, you will be considering every ounce on your back, believe this to be true. Shelter is no different in this regard. So regard the lightest of them all, the tarp. This can weigh just a few ounces, but can be turned into a serviceable sleeping quarters in nothing flat.

But since the weather is highly likely to be an issue, you will some more protection. For the solo act, or a close couple, a tiny two-person tent or personal bivouac bag are ideal. These have floors and walls, can be fully enclosed, and do a fine job of keeping the weather off of you and your gear.

If you are out with the family or a group, of course the shelter size will increase. But the weight does not necessarily have to increase with it. Take the construction material, the pole and stakes and such, and dole them out evenly amongst your crew. With everyone carrying his or her fair share the load can stay comfortably light.

Hiking tents come in more shapes and sizes than you can imagine, and there are many very good brands to choose from. Just remember to go with the lighter every time, and your body will thank you when it lays down to rest in one.