Host: CKA - Collegiate Kiteboarding Association
When: Friday, October 16, 2009 at 12:00am thru Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 5:00pm
Where: Huguenot Park, Jacksonville, FL

Forecast is looking good for some chilly NW winds. Bring your blankets and sweatshirts.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=302827500602

Huguenot is a great location due to the west winds, but did you guys clear it with the Park Management first? Hopefully you did.....if not, you REALLY need to do so, or you are going to cause problems that could affect all of us. Especially, with the talk about bringing sliders out to the park.

Yep, just heard from the Mayor, and he will be contacting the contest organizers. I am not sure if they have covered the bases on this one, but if not, then I am quite sure that the Mayor will straighten them out right quick. Don't mess with Huguenot Park, or you will find out how serious he is about preserving access for kiteboarding at one of north Florida's best kite spots.

If the Mayor is on it, all is good....

I'll be out there Friday if it is blowing...get some west wind ocean action...

Thanks guys. The vote of confidence is appreciated. I dont seem to be able to post to the Facebook CKA page so I will post this here. If you can copy it to CKA please.

It does look like the forecast has improved for Sat. and Sun. I believe that there will be a low tide in the middle of the day (3 pm to 4 pm). that puts high tide about 9 to 10 am. At high tide there may not be much dry, hard packed sand to drive on. Also the park management may close the park during the highest part of the tide and until it drops enough to allow for cars to pass on the beach. The closures last about 1.5 to 2.5 hours if needed. If you do get in you may have to park in soft sand to stay above the high water mark. People with small cars and low clearance could get stuck. Be prepared to dig out. There is a small amount (about 10 spaces) of off beach parking at the snack bar. It might be a good idea to car pool from there if the tide is high and incoming. Because of the timing the tide should not be an issue much this weekend. After 10 the beach will be getting bigger till around 2 pm when it starts back in. The park closes at 8 but we run out of light around 7.

With people coming from all over the state it sounds like there will be a great group at the park. Local kiters kite at Huguenot Park with the permission of the city and park manager. They have ultimate control over the daily use of the park. We have worked hard to maintain a good reputation and the management team likes having us use the park. Collectively kiters have logged well over 1/2 million hours at the park in the past ten years. During that time not a single member of the non-kiting public has been injured by a kiter. Help us continue our great record and please exercise all the normal rules for safe kiting.

1. Keep at least two line lengths distance between you and people or hard objects down wind. That applies to launching, landing and especially while riding. No jumping over people at any time. Do not ride close (20') to people upwind of you especially children.

2. Use a kite leash.

3. Yield right of way to ALL other beach users and people in the water. Be aware that people driving by may run over your gear because they just don't see it. Try to set up in less driven areas.

4. Stay out of the posted areas of the dunes and beach.

5. As the tide drops sandbars (outside) and mud (inside) are exposed. Various species of birds often sit on these exposed areas. We are having a running gun battle with the Audubon Society and other environmental groups who want to remove people from the park. We are high on the hit list. Please do not kite near birds. Doing this often results in photos of kiters "chasing" birds. These photos then are used to back arguments that kiters are a disruption to bird populations and must be banned from the park. Such photos could even be used to make the same argument at your home beach. This is only an issue for a short time each day. As the water level drops the bars become so exposed you cant kite up to them. At high tide they are covered with water. If the bars become so exposed that you could drive out on them...don't. That is Audubons pet peeve. Besides if you get your car stuck out there when the tide comes in the insurance will not cover it.

6. There are always the usual rules and city ordinances to deal with. Most kiters are very respectful of the environment and local managers. There have been some changes to the park in recent months. Dogs are not permitted on the beach any longer. Leave your pet @ home. They have stepped up unmarked patrols of traffic and people in the park. When they say 5 mph they mean it. The beach is treated like a city street and any type of bad or crazy driving you do there can earn you a ticket. Please don't do "burn-outs" or donuts in the sand. No alcohol of any kind is allowed in the park. Yes you can get a DUI or "open container" on the beach.

7. The park closes at 8. Please be packed and out the gate before then. If you stay on the beach longer you can get a tress pass ticket. I bet most of you guys will be headed for a coldie and a sandwich by then anyway.

On that note there are two restaurants just down from the park entrance. For beer etc. with your meal there is the Sandollar next to the ferry. If you dont care about the brew (yeah right!) Nicoles a bit further down has great home cookin' style food. They are also the place for breakfast or lunch. Try the bacon! The closest hotel is the Holiday Inn Express at A1A and 9A. All others are on the other side of the river. Use the ferry. It runs on the top and bottom of the hour on the south end and the quarter before and after on the north end. The last run is at 7 pm. Or drive to 9A to cross the river.

Most of the park rules are common sense stuff and I hope the other information has been helpful too. We are there to have a good time and kite. I hope we have good winds and weather. See you there.

Paul

Thanks for the great info as usual Paul. I posted a link on the CKA Stop #1 Facebook event page for all to read. It seems that the event has been changed to a "Riders Party" to avoid conflict with park management. Looks like solid wind this weekend for a change, so have fun policing the free for all! We will enjoy a nice mellow weekend in St. Augie without the crowd before we invite the circus to come to town in 2 weeks!

It looks like the CKA is having a good time at Huguenot Park this weekend. Its been fun watching (and riding). We finally got some wind. You guys picked a good weekend at the park. I want to thank the group for keeping the kiteboarders good standing in the park. Sunday may have a few more patrons on the beach (and JSO) so watch the speed while you drive on the beach. Please dont do burn outs or donuts. The cops dont like it and the bird people were there Sat with cameras. Dont give them any ammunition to use against us in the up coming lease review. They look any photo op they can use to validate their claim that people should not be able to drive on the beach. Beach driving is the only reason the park is able to stay open. Without it the park could not afford to operate. If you see idiots like the ones in the yellow colbalt please dont egg them on. Its better to call the office and let them escort the dummies out of the park. See you out there Sunday!