Wind & Wave Weekly News from South Padre Island Kiteboarding in the Coastal Current Weekly

by Cliff Stone

Play On

Play is a necessary and healthy exercise. Without it we're all less fun to be around. Without the wind or waves to play with, life can get frustrating, and it has lately. It's the changing of the seasons, and nothing's for certain except that it will be nice and sunny. The storms that moved through the Gulf of Mexico last week didn't really do much good for the surf or the wind last week. Luckily, the first cool front of the season managed to bring us at least a little wind and waves to play with.

The forcast for the next week looks promising, and I really need Mother Nature to make me a believer in the magic of South Padre Island with some serious quality time out playing. Kite safe, stay committed and play hard. We'll see you in the atmosphere.

Yes More

Having the most fun possible is why most of us began playing any and all sports that caught our eyes as kids. As we grew up and got a little better at just about everything, we learned that winning was the best way to play and have the most fun possible. The only problem was that everyone wants to win. But there can only be one winner, and everyone knows that second place is the first loser. Try, try, try your best. Does it matter if you pass the test?

After watching the 2004 Olympics in Athens, you can't help but appreciate what purpose, desire and committment can do for those that give their all. And it's simply amazing. It makes me feel good as a human being to know that no matter what, somebody somewhere is always pushing themselves to the absolute limit. No matter what it is.

The wind has definitely been with us in full Olmpic spirit for the last two weeks. Strong south winds have spoiled us again and I guess we just have to consider ourselfs lucky. August isn't really known to be windy. There was even a little swell driven our way by the relentless winds and everyone was stoked to go play in the surf. The waves never really got over four feet, but the inside sandbars made for some fun surfing. There were two days last week that really stick in my mind kiteboarding. The wind was strong, like 25 to 35 mph and the waves were two to four feet. Everyone was riding in the waves and running down the coast. I hooked up wiht a few friends a couple of times at the jetties, but mostly I rode by myself. It was so much fun to be out in the elments kiteboarding in the waves and going wherever I wanted. Sometimes we'll ride from the jetties all the way to the Tiki or Costa Rica on the north end of the island. You can stop where ever you want, but usually the Wanna Wanna beach bar is the call. They'll call you a cab, hook you up with whatever refreshments you deem neccessary, and the corndogs they serve are worldclass watersports fuel. When you get back to where you started, its just time to pump the kite back up and do it again. Even more good stuff.

September, the slowest, least active and generally lamest month of the entire year is upon us, and I'm excited. After the Olympics and great winds for weeks, August was a winner. We're only days into the month and already I'm thinking about travel plans. Who knows maybe a tropical storm will hit the Gulf and stir it up and show us some action. We shall see. Play hard, kite safe and stay committed. We'll see you in the atmosphere.

July 27, 2004

Dog Days of Summer

If you are really passionate about something and do your best despite the circumstances, sooner or later things will go your way, right? I used to think so, and in a perfect world this would probably be the case. But here on planet Earth even the best will be beaten, the truth will play second fiddle to popular opinion, and the past, no matter how insightful, will never matter as much as the moment. It’s a strange world to live in that seems right but very rarely feels fair.

I guess that’s why sports are so important to us. The pure act of enjoying any sport is why we do it. When you are in your element doing the things you love to do, we get to tip the scales in our favor and win for a while, if only for ourselves. We can all be legends in our own minds. Enjoying the selfish pleasures of the world and playing as hard as you want. To whatever end.

Kiteboarding and surfing have always been about the pure act of riding for me. Getting away from land and stepping into a whole different world, with its own rules and rewards. Riding on the water with a few friends surfing or kiting are always good times. And I can never seem to get enough.

After the last six weeks of great wind, the Laguna Madre shut down the kitchen and stopped serving for the Red Bull Contest last week. Could have been, would have been, should have been. Done, and Mike Danish of Corpus Christi made the most of the weak conditions to get the win and a trip to Hookipa, Maui for the King of the Air.

The Westside has been the best side for kiteboarding lately. Remember access is a privilege. Summer isn’t going away anytime soon and the gulf breeze driven by the scorching sun will keep us riding nearly every day. We’re getting plenty of quality time out on the water. Ride on. Kite safe, stay committed and play hard. We’ll see you in the atmosphere.