The Jetties

Race Flats offer the northernmost launches on the Laguna Madre coast. Air Padre usually places a flag at the turning off Ocean Boulevard towards a break in the dunes that leads onto the Flats. Once there, keep to the hard-packed sand and look for patches of seaweed near shore marking where the water floods to at high tide. With better quality SE wind, the wide open North Flats are favourite for kiting and windsurfing. Even if it’s busy you can still find space away from the crowds – windsurfers sail upwind, kiters downwind. Either way, you’ll need an annual pass costing about $20. Offshore winds are no problem in the bay as the water’s shallow enough to wade back upwind. Where Ocean Blvd becomes Padre Blvd is South Flats county park, entrance fee $3 per vehicle, although there’s often no-one there to take your money. Unfortunately, a shadow from the Convention Centre spoils E to S winds. The Gulf action kicks off in the centre of South Padre town. At 5100 Gulf Blvd, the seaside Wanna Wanna Beach Bar is a popular place to show off and it’s the perfect tropical watering hole to sup an ice-cold beer at after the 5-mile downwinder from The Jetties – a popular wave spot, especially with improvers as the jetty helps organise the Gulf rollers. Waves can occasionally top double-overhead on hurricane swells, although the're messy and mostly close-out when it's this big. In which case a fairly sheltered bay south of Isla Blanca Park called Dolphin Cove is probably going off with clean head-high waves. In the absence of swell, there’s often a chance to freeride alongside the dolphins it’s named after. The cleanest Waves hit Boca Chica to the south of the Lagoon entrance. However big days are rare, so it’s only worth the long drive (into Brownsville then down Boca Chica Blvd to the coast) if it’s blowing 20+ knots. 4WD is strongly recommended – as is parking above the high tide mark! When only light SE breezes plague the island there’s often decent wind on the mainland at Holly Beach. This year-round spot stays windy even on humid summer days thanks to a Laguna/mainland driven thermal. The little beach has a bit of a Mad Max vibe about it though, with menacing cacti and other obstacles making it unsuitable for beginners. Holly Beach Kite Club offer annual passes to qualified riders for less than $20. From TX Highway 100 take the 510 NW through Laguna Vista, past the golf course and right onto Holly Beach Road. The launch is just north of the end of the road.