Activities and Adventures in South Padre Island, Texas, Wakeboarding
Tours TravelWakeboard 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 lesson in learning to ride, the waters around South Padre Island are excellent. to wakeboard and have what you are looking for. South Padre Island offers warm air and water temperatures year-round, and boat launches are just a short drive away on guaranteed calm waters in any direction of the wind.
places to travel
mother lagoon
For beginners who are just learning to get up and ride behind the wake, there is an excellent ride on 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 passes along the island close to shore from the many bars and restaurants that line the bay.
The shallow waters of the Laguna Madre are only suitable for boats that can get on a plane less than 5 feet deep, and therefore it is best to travel behind boats with outboard motors, powerboats and PWCs.
Cala Delfin and Barracuda Beach
On calm days, Dolphin Cove and Barracuda Beach are great places to bike. The deep waters are accessible to all types of boats, and the flat water can usually be found by making short passes down 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 choppy waves for this place to work.
shipping channels
Just a short 15-minute drive from the boat ramps on South Padre Island, or just 2 minutes from the boat ramps at Port Islabel, are the deep, clear waters of Brownsville’s ship channels. The Ship Channels are a system of man-made canals that connect Brownsville and the Port of Brownsville with Laguna Madre Bay 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 to navigate in any wind condition, and are a world-class place to navigate. Traversing the middle of one of the largest stopovers for migratory birds in the world, and in waters that are home to a large number of dolphins and sea turtles, navigating the ship channels is a unique and surprising experience.
The only thing to watch out for is the occasional presence of large ships. Drivers and passengers must stop and stay out of the way when passing. 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 get a feel for the sport. With special equipment designed specifically to help you get up and stay up, as well as waterproof radio helmets so you can hear your coach’s instructions while behind the boat, Air Padre provides the highest quality lessons and training.