South Padre Island in April

aksurfer · Since 30 Aug 2010 92 Posts Anchorage, AK

I'm planning a trip with some buddies to SPI in April. Any advice on van rental, accomodations, etc.? Any advice is much appreciated.
RIP AI

Bettyboarder · Fri Nov 19, 10 12:19 pm

SPI in April is awesome. We have had alot of fun trips there. We always booked places thru VRBO and rent Vans or Uhauls depending on how many/how much gear we have.

Here's some photo from our trip there in 2008...good time
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-8026-0-asc-0.html

surfboy1968 · Since 17 Jun 2008 222 Posts south padre island Stoked

Check out airpadre.com. They have alot of info. April rocks !

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

yeah it will be a good time to go. If you are trying to pack accordingly, bring your bigger kites. i have been there the past tow years during the same time and have always rode a 10 or 13. Also like mentioned check with air P. they can answer alot of questions. book your place to stay as soon as you can, because it is generally when the round up is and a little spring break action going on. and no need to bring wetsuit its hot as shit there!

aksurfer · Since 30 Aug 2010 92 Posts Anchorage, AK

Any more info on accommodations? Stay on beach? La Quinta?

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1154 Posts Oregon Phishy

LaQuinta is not bad. If you have AAA or some other discount arrangement they will give you a pretty good discount. If you do stay there, ask is there are any weddings planned in the conference room. If there are, refuse to take a room anywhere near the conference room. My room was right below it and I was kept up until 2 am with foot stomping South Texas wedding music. April is a good time of the year. Make sure to go after the Spring Breakers are gone. Otherwise you will not be able to get around. Definitely check in with AirPadre also you might want to ask them about the Roundup. There will be Demos and a competition for the roundup.

tonyb · Sun Nov 21, 10 7:24 pm

April is my favorite month in SPI.

Spring break is over by the end of March but check on when Easter weekend is. Prices go up a bit for that weekend but then come down. Right now there are 4 or 5 hotels displaying prices under $30 a night. Wont be quite that good in April but still not bad. April is generally 12m weather although it could blow enough for an 8 or you might need a 15m.

Lots and lots of places to stay. Shoot me a message when you get closer to coming down and we can go over specifics. Carol and I will be here until early May.

November is pretty nice as well! 80 degrees today and did a 12 mile downwinder followed by an hour of park and play at the jetty. Solid 11/12m weather and nice waves. Got in sunset / moonlight session yesterday. So glad to be out of the cold!

Tony

shred_da_gorge · Sun Nov 21, 10 10:32 pm

tonyb · Mon Nov 22, 10 7:03 pm

SPI roundup has been the first week in May the last two years. Haven't heard the dates for next year yet. I'll post something when I know.

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

KITE ROUND-UP will be MAY 18 - 22 this year. (wed - sun)

participants are welcome to come for longer, slider features (all past and 2 new (at least)) will be in the water for a few days prior to event

product demos and official contests will be on scheduled days with wind

things looking good so far for an even bigger event, more info to come on that in the next few months......

aksurfer · Since 30 Aug 2010 92 Posts Anchorage, AK

Why so late? Due to wind? Thanks

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

winds are generally solid from april 1 - early july,

there are few reasons, but one that will hopefully have a positive impact on the event are lower predicted tide levels for that week this year.

hoping this big of a shift doesn't throw off peoples plans too much

tonyb · Thu Dec 02, 10 10:11 am

Great thinking on checking the tides forecast for the event. We've had to deal with flooded conditions the last two years.

Wind in April and May has been great the last 4 years that we've been down here.

aksurfer: info here on a lodging option: http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-20269.html

Tony

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

hey truthfully the wind sucked for this years kiteroundup I was down for ten days and got two good days and a few poor and some no wind . Still had a good time on SPI , great people .
Ha ! Flysurfer was there and they can kite in no wind . I think the guys name is Pat ( Flysurfer USA .) ? Anyway he's like 220lbs? and was doing back rolls when all the rest were tanning ! Ok maybe there were two others weighing 90lbs on 14m's with doors LOL
JackZ

Hi Tony ,
I had my 15 roo and it was used the most this last time @spi . I tried to locate holly beach with no luck . I asked the wrong people I guess . Nice drive to nowhere .
I rode the cable with several others ( incl. Sam Medysky ) as there was NO wind .
Another day Several people were involved with Phil from XL kites with his powered paraglider which he demoed as there was NO wind for kiting ( they don't go up in more than 12mph ) . I tried stand up paddle boarding which initially seemed to be the most boring but had a challenge trying it and enjoyed it as there was No wind .
Sun tanned with the Wainman gang on the flats with no wind but later in the day did a down winder with them on the Gulf side , what a blast !
You know the rules as you have more time there (SPI )so for me it was a %50 fail as far as wind goes. But like I said I enjoyed it all a lot . My first visit to Spi I was a total beginner and Jeff @ Air Padre was a big help . I looked forward to SPI and don't regret going . Just like the Kite Soldier event (2010 Idaho ) , ONE day of wind for most but some knew of locations that had spots of good wind . Too bad these spots are not common knowledge shared openly at times . I still had a blast there too .
I have met many kiters all over including you and Carol and love this sport no matter what the wind does . Next time at Spi Ill watch out for early wind as well , thanks Tony !

tonyb · Fri Dec 03, 10 8:26 am

Last year was an off year but I didn't remember the wind being that bad and I'm pretty sure I was out riding quite a bit in May so I went and looked up the wind history. Pic below shows the first 15 days of May. Only 4 days that weren't really kiteable.

Last half of May wasn't as good but we still got out a few times a week. Yeah, you'll have to fly a 12m or a 14m every now and then but it's still good. When it's really bad we'll break out the Spleene or the 8' longboard or the big skim and screw around but it's pretty rare. And there is always Holly Beach where you can get out on a 10m when it's dead calm on the island.

In the gorge we fly our 8m kites 90% of the time. In SPI we probably fly our 12m's most of the time in April and May. 6/8/10 weather is through the winter months and in to March. In the gorge we rarely go out unless it's blowing near 20 but we can get out and have fun in the flats at 12mph and can slog around mowing the lawn at 8 to 10 mph.

You have to watch the forecasts on the island as the wind is not thermal driven. If the graph shows it's going to be blowing from 3 a.m. until 9 a.m. then dying off, you better be on the water at sunrise if you want a session. And there are many days where the wind picks up at sunset and blows all night. Sometimes there is enough wind to ride the flats just fine but you can hardly get the kite in the air on the gulf side.

Best part about May kiting in SPI is no wetsuit required!

Tony

brockmi · Since 31 Aug 2009 13 Posts

We are hoping to hit SPI in mid February. Maybe not ideal timing compared to April but that's the only time I have off. Anyone have experience there that time of year?

tonyb · Fri Dec 10, 10 9:39 am

February can be good although usually a little cold. Should be drier this winter than it was last year. Bring a 4/3 and a hood as it can get down to 50 degrees and be blowing 35 mph. Or you could be out in a shorty at the flats.

Winter generally follows a pattern of 3 to 4 days from the south, a day off then two to three days from the north followed by another switch day. You wont kite everyday in Feb but should be able to get 4 or 5 out of 7.

Tony