Wakeboarding around South Padre Island
Whether you have your own boat and are ready for a week of sailing adventures, want to hook up with a boat and driver for an afternoon of shredding, or would like a learn how to ride lesson, the waters around South Padre Island are excellent. to wakeboard and have what you are looking for. South Padre Island offers warm water and air temperatures year-round, and the boat launches are just a short drive away with guaranteed calm water in any direction of the wind.
places to travel
mother lagoon
For beginners just learning to get up and ride behind the wake, there is an excellent ride into Laguna Madre Bay from any of the boat ramps on South Padre Island. Although on an average day the water is a bit choppy for experienced riders looking to split it up and do tricks in the wake, conditions are generally good for learning the basics. On calm days the water is flat and cyclists can make long runs the length of the island near the coast from the many bars and restaurants that line the bay.
The shallow waters of the Laguna Madre are only suitable for boats that can board a plane less than 5 feet deep, and therefore it is best to travel behind boats with outboard motors, powerboats, and PWCs.
Delfin Cove and Barracuda Beach
On calm days, Dolphin Cove and Barracuda Beach are great places to bike. The deep water is accessible to all types of boats, and the flat water can usually be found by making short passes through the cove or long passes along the beach. Dolphin Cove is located between the cliffs of South Padre Island, at the beginning of the cliff on the north side, and Barracuda Beach is a stretch of sandy beach on the other side of the channel that runs between the cliffs, facing Dolphin Cove.
On windy days or when the ocean is swollen, there are too many rough waves for this place to work.
shipping channels
Just a short 15-minute ride from the boat ramps at South Padre Island, or just 2 minutes from the ramps at Port Islabel, are the crystal clear, deep waters of Brownsville’s boat channels. The Navigation Channels are a system of man-made channels that connect Brownsville and the Port of Brownsville with the Bay of Laguna Madre and the ocean waters of the Gulf of Mexico. At 40 feet deep and only a few hundred feet wide, the channels offer crystal clear water for sailing in any wind condition, and are a world-class place to sail. Traversing the middle of one of the world’s largest migratory bird stopovers, and in waters that are home to large numbers of dolphins and sea turtles, navigating the ship channels is a unique and surprising experience.
The only thing to keep in mind is the occasional presence of large ships. Drivers and passengers must stop and stay out of the way when they pass. Occasionally there are moderate currents to be aware of that surround the boat ramps in Port Isabel.
lessons
Air Padre Kiteboarding and Watersports offers wakeboarding lessons and group riding sessions throughout the year. The store is located on a great boat ramp on South Padre Island, with a private dock and quick access to the open waters of the Laguna Madre. If you’ve never ridden before, a lesson is a great way to familiarize yourself with the sport. With special equipment specifically designed to help you get up and stay up, as well as waterproof radio headsets so you can hear your trainer’s instructions while behind the boat, Air Padre provides the highest quality lessons and training.