The Flats - Padre Island

If you are looking for a challenge on top of learning to kiteboard - then this is the place. With knee to overhead high surf (at 5 to 6 second period) and onshore wind, if you can kiteboard here and survive, you have accomplished something. If you have mastered staying upwind, and coming back to the same beach after an hour session, then The Flats is like a neverending liquid skatepark!


The benefit to kiteboarding the Padre Island National Seashore is that there is 140 miles of sandy coastline, most of it open to driving on the beach. With very few obstructions, you can have a chase vehicle pick you up down the coast if you have equipment failure or the like. With onshore wind - getting out is tricky, but possible. Good news: you will always get blown back to the shore if you get in trouble. The water temp is between 70-80 degrees year round. Look for a few of the locals who frequent this spot (Jeremy is the local ripper). With so much coastline to choose from, find a section of beach without too many sunbathers for launching your kite. Be friendly and courteous - we don't want the rangers to only allow kiteboarding in a small section of the beach in the future.


Directions: Traveling down Hwy 358 SE from Corpus Christi. Exit Hwy 358 onto State Route 22 towards Padre Island. At the first stop light turn left onto State Route 361 - Mustang Island Rd. Driving SR 361 take the first right onto beach access road. When you hit the beach - turn left and go down beach for 1/2 mile until there is a flat spot in the sand dunes. Note: you can board anywhere along any of the Padre Island National Seashore beach.