Corpus Christi vs. South Padre

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 799 Posts Opinionated

Just got back from a week of kiting in Corpus Christi.

We had 3 days of 20-30, 3 days of 10-20, and one day the wind only reached about 10mph. It seemed like there were almost as many launch spots in Corpus as there were kiters which got me wondering:

Why is S. Padre so much more popular with kiters?

kitebot · Since 20 Feb 2007 251 Posts Obsessed

great photos, I've wondered the same thing myself...

forrest · Sun Oct 21, 12 8:57 am

It probably only boils down to the onshore wind in Corpus, vs. the side shore conditions in SPI when trying to wave ride.

tonyb · Sun Oct 21, 12 3:12 pm

There are more oyster beds in CC than SPI and i think the back bay side water is not as clean and smells funny. But there are more places to kite in CC although this does tend to spread the community out quite a bit.

I also prefer the more resort feel that SPI has as opposed to being on the edge of a big city.

Lastly, as Forrest said, SPI gets a lot more side shore wind than CC does.

Tony

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 799 Posts Opinionated

I suppose we did get lucky in that our windiest days (spent in the Gulf) were either blowing NNE or due S (rather than SE).

The riding at the Flats in SPI (when they are not flooded) is pretty nice.

The variety of launch sites in (and around) Corpus also resulted in more time spent driving around in the city traffic.

forrest · Mon Oct 22, 12 7:54 am

How about those real estate prices right next to Wild Cat? 9 months a year of kiting right out your backdoor.

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

How does the kiting around Galveston compare with CC or SPI? See some really cheap flights PDX-Houston and thought about quick winter weekend trips

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1765 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

Galveston is kind of a sh@t hole. The levee is not a bad launch, big grassy field, but the water is nearly toxic. Cut the hell out of my feet on old pilings. Lucky I didn't get flesh eating infection.

Also high crime, crappy nite life, major traffic. All the perks of a huge city!

NCKite_Ryder · Since 16 Mar 2011 38 Posts Nor Cal Coast

if your're going to travel SPI is where you want to be imo... sideshore winds and the island community is kind of what you're going for. I wouldn't "travel" to corpus as a destination, i'd rather go to Florida, La Ventana, Hatteras, etc... I've been to both and the whole time i was in Corpus i wanted to be in SPI. (i thought the wind was cleaner in SPI). I did ride a sick inland butter spot in Corpus that felt like it was loaded full of gators. Corpus has lots of launches, unique features, and a nice community. I'm not ripping on Corpus in any means, if you live in Texas its probably a great destination as its closer to central TX than SPI...

what about NPI?

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or

So SPI is the place to go but have you checked out the airfares to get there? The cost has gone up 50% in the last year with some of the ¨nothing special¨ filghts out of PDX > $1000..

tonyb · Tue Oct 23, 12 11:02 am

Shop around a bit. United has flights for $511 RT in to Brownsville if you can travel midweek. Southwest has $299 each way in to Harlingen. Also check airfare to McCallen as an option. Sometimes Southwest will say you can't get to Harlingen from PDX. When it does that book PDX to Houston then book Houston to Harlingen separately.

A few years back when we took all of the kids we had to fly to San Antonio and drive down as it was a lot cheaper.

Airports to use:
BRO - Brownsville - 35 minutes (United & American)
HRL - Harlingen - 60 minutes (Southwest, United, Sun Country)
MFE - McAllen - 90 minutes (American, Delta, United)
CRP - Corpus Christi - 3hours (American, Southwest, United)
SAT - San Antonio - 5 hours (Delta, Frontier, United, US Airways, American)
HOU - Houston Hobby (Southwest flies here) - 6.75 hours
IAH - Houston Bush Intercontinental - 7 hours

achen · Since 03 Apr 2012 39 Posts

If you like corpus, try sailing port aransas instead which is virtually the same barrier island as south padre. Port A is more of a beach community than SPI which is more commercialized. The sand quality in port a is much nicer than corpus and you can get waves by the pier.

SPI can actually have blue water sometimes, corpus/port a never do. SPI has slightly stronger/more consistent wind. Due to the shape of the bay and with the barrier island (north padre, mustang island and port a) you can pretty much sail in any direction. I think SPI does a better job cleaning up the seaweed which washes on shore.

Corpus also gets red tide, sea lice (baby jellyfish?) and jellyfish swarms.

I usually sail off north beach which is typically side on in SE winds. A plus is that beachfront condos in northbeach can be had for about 35-40K.

There are literally 40-50 miles of beach with just a handfull of people kiting. You can drive your car on any beach in texas so you dont have to carry gear to launch.

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

Lots of great comments here. I took a trip to CC & SPI a few years ago to check out everything...including real estate & maybe a future business. I found that the wind in CC was not as consistent as in SPI. Oyster Beds, junk in the water & was getting electric shocks on my bar at Wild Cat. The Real estate is affordable...until you get to the annual property taxes. That is what will kill you. I'd rather pay state income tax there, than the property tax. Plus, CC seems to be aghost town. Strange place. When I got to SPI, I felt relieved. Super convenient, things going on and great kiting wth a choice of flats or waves. I've been all over in the last year or so and SPI is my favorite. If the wind is bad, you can just drive to CC.

I'm headed to SPI for the winter and I am stoked. I love Baja, but there is something to be said for being in the USA. Plus, I can find work in SPI & get my mail.

Viva la Texico!

NCKite_Ryder · Since 16 Mar 2011 38 Posts Nor Cal Coast

Plus its hard to beat running downwinders on the beach, exiting at a beach bar w/ a shower head to rinse your gear, grabbing a drink while you get your $6 taxi back up to the launch in your wetsuit to do it all over again...

I'd rather be in Maui though

forrest · Wed Oct 24, 12 10:46 am

SPI has pretty awesome flat water though.

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

Coolness ....

Check the website for a few more details ....

www.prokitesouthpadre.com

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 799 Posts Opinionated

It looks like S. Padre also stays 5-10 degrees warmer than Corpus when the cold fronts bring North winds. Corpus is actually as cold as Hood River this morning.