3rd Ave Lower Launch

3rd Ave Lower Launch is recommended for intermediate to advanced riders. Do not attempt to ride the lower launch if you have trouble staying up wind. Launching at the lower launch requires a slightly different technique, the lower launch has quite a bit of a wind shadow. This means you need to be more upwind of you kite than usual when launching. It also means you should keep your kite high and try to get out to the wind line as fast as you can. Be warned, many kites have been sacrificed to the gods of kiting at 3rd ave. There are many rocks, if you get stuck down wind of the lower launch you should self rescue and try to get into the last chance beach. See map of last chance beach below. If you are still learning to stay upwind you can park at the lower launch, pump up and walk your kite up to the upper launch. Do not fly your kite while walking on the path. You need to carry it. Many people start kiting at the upper launch and do a down winder to the lower launch when they are ready to come in. Coming into the lower launch is a little tricky. Come in as fast as you can, keep your kite high and do short fast power strokes to maintain your speed. If you fly your kite to low it will drop like a brick.

Again, Do not fly your kite while walking on the path. You need to carry it. The path is used by walkers and bike riders who may not familiar with kite surfers around them. If you are carrying you kite up to the upper launch on the path way please make way for people using the path and look out for bike riders approaching from behind.

Parking: There is free parking available at the lower launch. Turn off 3rd Ave at the lights at Lakeside Dr.

3rd Ave Upper Launch

Third Ave Upper Launch is recommended for beginners who are learning to ride up wind. Its a great spot to learn but we do not recommend that you teach your self to kite there. There is not much beach and all of 3rd is surrounded by rock levees. To kite there safely you need to be able to body drag up wind, self rescue. If you cant kite up wind you can park at the lower launch and walk up, that way you can do a down winder to the lower launch where your car is parked. See comments for lower launch for tips on the getting into the lower launch.

Parking: If you want to kite the upper launch and return to the upper launch there is parking available near by. Turn off 3rd Ave at the lights at Mariners Island Blvd.

3rd Ave Last Chance Beach

Last chance beach is aptly named, if you don't make it you risk damaging your kite on the rocks further down.

Coyote Point

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Coyote Point is sometimes good when the wind has dropped off at 3rd. Don't go into the coyote point park parking area as kites are not allowed to launch from there, instead go to the small area on the map, BEWARE of the power lines. Not many people kite here and if you must its' best to wade out and do a drift launch. Coyote is only recommended for those who can, self launch/land, self rescue, swim really well and drift launch. You cannot launch from the beach as the power lines are above you. There will be no one there to help you.

Alameda Crown Beach

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Alameda if I good spot to teach your self. Unfortunately Alameda get's less wind than 3rd for example. Its a great spot when it blows hard, especially as the tide is getting lower. there is a long beach and if anything goes wrong you will get blown onto it eventually. When people are riding 9 meter kites at 3rd a 12 is needed for Alameda. Alameda is the sort of spot that if your there and its windy you should pump up fast, but if your friend calls you to tells you Alameda is blowing don't bother unless your 15 minutes away. This of course is not the case in storm wind or southerly wind. Alameda is the bomb in a storm and some folks say they get more sessions in a Alameda during winter than during the kite season.