You have the best of both worlds with the Bay and the Ocean. You can kite on wind from any direction at Assateague. Kite Beach is very shallow and is a popular spot on the bayside. It's just inside the fee area near the canoe rental. Kiters who challenge the Ocean setup all along the shore. Great accomodations can be had at the home of local kiters Jim & Annemarei's Francis Scott Key Family Resort www.fskfamily.com

Update;

This spot is in danger of being shut down due to over crowding of tourists in the summer and kiters not following the local safety rules. Please respect the giudelines and help self police the area.

Assateague Riding Regs:

These regs come from many meetings and discussions with the top park management over many years.

EDIT: 7/9/10

SUMMARY OF KEY RULES:

- Assisted Launch and land at least one line length from the beach. (bayside canoe launch)

Yes this means please walk kites and lines out into the water. Always be sure your downwind window is clear launching and landing. If it is not, politely ask folks to give you space or wait for a better time. If you drift launch walk out 2-3 line lengths so there margin for error.

- Ride 3 line lengths from the beach and/or nearest park users.

Please ride as far out as possible and move out as soon as possible. If there are other users please stay 3 line lengths away from them. If you cannot due to being underpowered or people spread all over the area, please slow down to subplaning speeds when passing anywhere close to other users. We do not want to scare or intimidate other users and cause an issue or complaint.

Try to keep kites on the south facing beach if there's room. If not, try the west beach, but the main point is to not have kites taking up a huge amount of room in the picnic area, none if possible.

- Please help self-police based on this info so we avoid incidents. Please ONLY friendly reminders but dont be shy about reminding people, "locals" and out of town riders.

AZZTG RIDING ZONES MAP:

[color=#006699]http://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/azztgKiteMap[/color]

END EDIT.

BACKGROUND INFO:

The park is putting in place a new management plan and in this process they are evaluating every user group of the park, including kiteboarding. Their focus is not only on recreation but also preservation of natural resources and looking out for the interests of park visitors.

Kiteboarding is one the newest and smallest user groups of the park and many other national parks prohibit the sport all together.

Here are the official park regulations that were put into place by the superintendant. There is also a list of safety and access protection guidelines that were a result of meeting with key park officials and local kiteboarders. We all need to follow these guidelines and educate new riders about them for kiteboarding to continue at Assateague.

Everyone that rides azz should help self-police based on this info so we avoid incidents.

Please pass these along to all riders.

REGS:

Official Park Regulations for Kiteboarding at Assateague Island National Park (these were put into place by the Superintendent in 2006):

Kite Surfing is only authorized at the following locations and during the following times:

(a) Year Round from Bayside-1 mile south of Bayside Landing to the Verrazano Bridge. There is a 150 yard no entry buffer zone around Lumber Marsh Island located south of Bayside.

(b) Year Round from the South Beach Parking Lot to the Bull Pen.

(c) April 1 - October 30 from Sinepuxent Ranger Station to the South Beach Lot is authorized only during the hours from 4:00 PM to 10:00 AM.

**Operating a business or providing a commercial service is prohibited.

EDIT 6/28/10: clarification: No commercial activities in park without a park permit.

Safety and Access Protection Guidelines

If there are any incidences with park visitors or other users (surfers, picnics, fisherman, kayakers, etc.) please be apologetic and do what you can to avoid complaints to the park service.

Bayside Launch Area:

Use the beach at the end of the boardwalk near restrooms that leads to the south side of the point. On the far left as you enter the parking area. There will be less of a chance to have complaints from other park users. They have the right away at all times. When there are non-kiting park users do not launch at the beach around the picnic area.

Bayside Launching and Rigging Guidelines:

No lines on the ground unless preparing to launch. Wrap them at all times.

If you must leave your kites rigged, stack them together to keep area clear for other users. Do not leave kite down on the water unattended.

The beach is very small, rarely with enough room for a traditional self launch. Walk kite out 3 line lengths and drift launch.

Drift Launch Video: [color=#006699]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sm9q6V3bIM[/color]

Due to the very limited space bayside is not a place for beginners to learn how to self launch/land.

Bayside Riding Guidelines:

Ride three line lengths from the beach and ALL canoes, kayaks, and people swimming.

Riding area officially starts one mile south of Bayside Landing north to the Verrazano Bridge. It is prohibited in a 150 yard no entry buffer zone around Lumber Marsh Island located south of Bayside.

Riding north of the Verrazano Bridge towards Ocean City is also officially off limits on the Assateague Island side within 300 yards of the island. There are white buoys that mark the boundary.

If you are riding and cannot temporarily stay 3 line lengths from other users in the water or on the beach (for instance, a group of canoeists moves through the area you are riding, or a wind shift forces you close to the beach) slow down to subplaning speed as you work your way past them.

Oceanside Launch Area:

Official Launching area is between the South Beach Parking Lot south to the Bull Pen.

April 1 - October 30 from Sinepuxent Ranger Station to the South Beach Lot is authorized only during the hours from 4:00 PM to 10:00 AM.

Do not leave lines out on the beach.

Oceanside Riding Guidelines:

Stay clear of all fishing lines. They are hard to see and will drift with the current so look to the sides, as well as in front of the fishermen. They may be as much as a quarter mile out, by shark fisherman, so look hard for them. If you get tangled or hooked on a line stop and apologize or go back later.

Launch at least 3 line lengths downwind of, and Ride at least one line length from all surfers, kayakers, and swimmers. Stay downwind of them whenever possible.