Kiteboarding Near The Golden Gate Bridge

Kitesurfing or kiteboarding is a fairly new sport in the market that has recently started to become very popular, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kitesurfing season usually starts in March or April and is usually good up until September. Full wetsuits are needed for the beginning of the season and depending on the wind patterns, you will never know the best place to kiteboard until the day of.

For those of you unfamiliar with the sport, kiteboarding is a surface water sport involving a small surfboard similar to a wakeboard with foot-straps, while holding on to a crescent shaped kite that propels the boarder through the water. It is similar to wakeboarding, except with a kite pulling you instead of a boat. However, the really cool thing about this sport is the controlled flying and jumping you can do. The kitesurfer builds up as much tension as possible by pulling the kite towards them, then once they hit a wave, they snap the kite to an overhead position which will provide the kiteboarder with a lot of air. With this air, a surprising amount of tricks and board grabs can be done.

There are many different areas around San Francisco that kitesurfers can go to; some places good for beginners, other places good for the advanced:

Berkeley Marina: good for beginners, intermediate, and advanced kiteboarders.

Candlestick Point: good for intermediate and advanced kiteboarders. Can experience sudden offshore winds from here.

Coyote Point: for intermediate and advanced. Very popular spot, therefore can become crowded with other kiteboarders.

Crissy Field: for intermediate and advanced surfers. Powerful tide and currents, cold waters, high boat traffic, and fog are all factors here. This area has the most rescues recorded than any other sites combined.

Crown Beach: Beginners and intermediates should go here; shallow waters with predictable winds.

Flying Tigers: for intermediate and advanced surfers. Winds can become very high.

Larkspur Landing: for intermediate and advanced surfers, mornings are good for beginners. Watch for Golden Gate Transit ferries entering or leaving the terminal, and if you land on prison property you will be escorted off premises by armed guards.

Rod & Gun Club: intermediate and advanced surfers. Must start from the water.

Third Avenue: for intermediate and advanced kitesurfers. Several shallow sandbars can stop you while trying to gain speed suddenly. Flood currents can drag you beyond the San Mateo Bridge.

Waddell: Only good for experts due to cold waters, sharks, and dangerous surf conditions.

Photo credit: chelsiefoty