Kite Boarding Locations

Emeryville Point

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Emeryville Point is a fun place to kite, the wind there is somewhat fluky due to what some call the "thermal bubble". When it blows there its great. The wind that travels through the gate flows down the bay past treasure island and towards Berkeley. I don't claim to know exactly how it works but it has been explained to me like this. In summer as it heats up Berkeley gets a little warmer than  some of the surrounding spots, this in turn creates a warm "up draft" from the heat that's generated around the Berkeley area. This is the thermal bubble. As the wind travels across the bay towards Berkeley it tends to flow over that heat bubble. This means that you can stand at the Emeryville point launch and see that the wind half a mile out is pumping but on the beach its calm, this makes it hard to get out, then other times the winds a little stronger and it will blow the thermal bubble away, then the wind will reach all the way into the launch area and  kiting is on.

Berkeley is recommended for intermediate to advanced riders. You need to be able to self rescue and self launch/land your kite. Also if the wind dies as it often does at Berkeley you will be doing a very slow drift into the beach. Sometimes the wind stop completely and you will have to swim in with your kite.

The road is really close the the beach and just behind the road is the freeway. People who kite at Berkeley have to super careful to avoid letting there kite go. If your kite blew on to the road it could cause major havoc. If you self rescue and don't get blown to the beach there are rocks that can rip your kite. If you have any doubts about your kiting ability avoid kiting Emeryville.

Parking: There is limited free parking available.

The Race Track

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The race track is recommended for intermediate to advanced riders. The race track is often a little winder than Emeryville point. Similar to Emeryville the wind blows pretty much direct on shore. In terms of safety its more safe than Emeryville and probably a little more fun to kite. There is also what some refer as the butter pond, an area of water smaller than a football field and if your game you can jump the rock levee into the butter pond, most sane people walk across. There are rocks so be careful!

When driving into the race track take the Gilman St exit off the freeway and get onto Buchanan and go up along side of the race course. That way you can get your car nice and close to the launch area.

Parking: There is plenty of free parking.

Marina Bay

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If anyone has comments, suggestions or info on this launch and would like to share it so others can use this resource please email mike@norcalsurfshop.com

Lakspur Landing

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If anyone has comments, suggestions or info on this launch and would like to share it so others can use this resource please email mike@norcalsurfshop.com

Crissy Field

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If anyone has comments, suggestions or info on this launch and would like to share it so others can use this resource please email mike@norcalsurfshop.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.