If the wind blows without stopping for more than 24 hours, Juan Rodriguez heads down to Siesta Key with his nine-foot surfboard in tow.

"If you are lucky, you will find beautiful waves and nobody out,'' says the Florida surfing pioneer. "The waves are never big, but they are usually close to perfect. People say you can't surf on the West Coast of Florida. All you need is the right equipment."

Rodriguez, whose One World longboards are coveted by surfers from California to Costa Rica, still shapes his surfboards in Sarasota for one reason: the water.

"I've been all around the world," says the Sarasota native. "But you can't beat our ocean."

Sarasota's beaches, consistently ranked among the nation's

Sailing in Sarasota Bay takes advantage of the wind

best, are a mecca for water sports enthusiasts. During the summer months, when tropical storms roll up the Gulf of Mexico, or in the winter, when arctic cold fronts barrel down from the north, surfers can be found at every public beach access from Longboat Key to Venice.

They carry big boards, like the ones featured in those '60s beach flicks like Ride the Wild Surf, and catch as many waves as their counterparts in Malibu.

"It is probably one of our best-kept secrets," said Rodriguez. "But we have a great surf scene."

When the waves aren't up (and that is most of the year) a whole different breed of board riders can be found playing in the shore break.

For a while, Rodriguez also built Western Flyer skimboards, or wooden/fiberglass composite disc-shaped boards that would be launched down the beach like a Frisbee. Skimming, as the sport became known, quickly attracted a huge following.

Today, the beaches of Sarasota County probably have one of the highest concentrations of skimboard enthusiasts in the country.

[Editor's note: Hard-bodied objects such as surfboards, skimboards, windsurfers and the like are prohibited in designated swimming areas.]

But while the Gulf waters off Sarasota attract a fair share of surfers and skimboarders, the sheltered waters of Sarasota Bay provide a whole new playground for board riders of a different sort.

Long before windsurfing became an Olympic sport, Sarasota was a gathering place for some of the nation's top board sailors. The appealing climate, afternoon sea breeze and warm tropical waters made Sarasota

Parasailing is another great way to enjoy the water

an ideal training place for athletes preparing for international competitions.

Today, you'll find windsurfers along the Ringling Causeway. Ken Thompson Park also regularly hosts regattas that attract one hundred sailors or more. Extreme riders, sailors who seek the thrill of "big air'' by being launched into the air 20 feet or higher, can usually be found on Lido Key when the wind is really howling.

This three-mile beach, located just to the north of Siesta Key, is a favorite haunt for board riders who harness the wind with help of a kite instead of a sail.

Kite surfing, as it is called, requires a high level of fitness and technical skill. Riders usually master the kite, which acts as a suspended sail and pulls surfers across the water, on land before attempting to fly it over the water.

On a windy day, a kite surfer can reach speeds up to 25 mph and can launch the board more than 30 feet in the air. That is why many consider kite surfing the ultimate board sport.

But you don't have to be a daredevil kite surfer to enjoy the thrill of flight. Regular folks can head down to CB's Saltwater Outfitters and take a ride on a parasail. Choose from single, tandem or triple rides, and soar as high as 1,000 feet.

There is no age limit: Children as young as three months old (with a parent) and adults as old as 89 have ridden with Aquarius Parasail and survived to tell the tale.

While Sarasota Bay may seem more like a highway than a playground for water sport enthusiasts, the waterway has plenty of opportunities for wakeboarders, skurfers, kneeboarders, wakeskaters and water skiers. [Editors note: skurfers ski on surfboards and wakeskaters use wakeboard without straps, effectively creating a type of waterborne skateboard.]

Traditional power boaters and personal watercraft owners will also find the bay and adjacent Gulf waters an excellent place to unwind.

But remember, Sarasota is home to a wide variety of protected marine life, including West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins and a variety of sea turtles, so proceed with caution. When it doubt, slow down. You will be glad you did.

If you go:
Ready to get more than your toes wet? Contact the following outfitters and instructors, and you'll be on your way to an adventure on the water:

Aquarius Parasail, 941-346-3532, is located at CB's Saltwater Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Rd., Siesta Key, at the Stickney Point Bridge, 941-349-4400. CB's offers water sports and charter boat rentals as well as fishing guide services.

Kite boarding and windsurfing rentals and lessons are available from Island Style Water Sports, 941-954-1009, as are kayak rentals and tours.

For skim, boogie board and kayak rentals, contact Siesta Sports Rentals, 941-346-1797.

Originally posted 5/14/04