Beach: Cherry Beach
AKA: Cherry
Google Map Coordinates:

Beach: Cherry Beach
AKA: Cherry
Google Map Coordinates:

Official Rules:
(Made by Toronto Port Authority, Toronto Lifeguards)

Ride outside the white swimming buoys. This is the rule at all GTA beaches and is also critical to maintaining kiteboarding access to this beach. Upwind of the bay (between the island and the rocky cherry beach point) is a shipping channel known as The East Gap. Vessels in and the channel have the right of way, you must give way. This is one of the biggest complaints the port authority gets about kiteboarding. Please respect the rules of the road. If you are not wearing Canadian Coast Guard Approved PFD, You may be stopped and given a ticket by the Toronto Police Marine Unit.

Please take the time to speak to all new kiters at this location and make sure they understand where they can and cannot ride.

Local knowledge
Submitted by local OKA Members:
Matt Aiken, Michael Dobell, Ken Reddick, Kevin Benner, Andrew Stewart

Wind tends to be best the more upwind you go. Conversly, if you end up east of the lifeguard station, the wind slackens making it quite difficult to head back to the launch/landing zone. The wind increases on south side of bay, rig accordingly. Watch for dark clouds over the downtown core, this is a sign that the wind is about to shift to the NW (offshore) - head in immediately. Watch other kiters, if everyone is heading in, follow suit, the NW shift can also happen without the dark clouds (usually near the end of the day) and experienced kiters know what to look for and head in quick.

Suitable wind direction:
Ridable NE-SW. NE can be quite gusty, but has small chop. WSW is offshore. S-SW is ideal.

Set up and launch location:
On a SE-SW wind the best setup and launch location is adjascent to the dogs-off-leash area. Please launch well upwind of lifeguard tower leaving room for other beach goers. Do not launch or land in between beachgoers. Wind on the beach can be quite flukey. On a NE launch upwind of the Lifeguard tower.

Launching:
The best launch procedure (as with any Ontario kiteboard location) is to launch with the kite towards the water. This ensures that in case of emergency the rider will be pulled towards the water rather than inland towards hard objects. Once launched keep the kite low and head directly into the water. Enter the water as soon as your kite is in the air and avoid any unnecessary time  standing around the the beach with your kite in the air. Wind on the beach can be very flukey, especially close to the trees. At Cherry, remember the mantra: keep it low and go! Before strapping in body drag out from beach (if wind is shifty near launch), perhaps even 100 feet out.

Landing:
Find a buddy to land your kite (tap your head as you are coming into shore). Preferred technique is to come ashore and land with the kite inland of the rider. Avoid bringing kite overhead, particularly if in the vicinity of non-kiting beach users. Put your kite down as soon as you are on shore. If you end up downwind of the lifeguard tower, self land in the water, wind up your lines and walk back.  Do not under any circumstances walk with your kite at 12 between the electical poles and trees. It may seem like an obviously insane thing to do, but worth mentioning as people have been witnessed pulling this manuever.

Hazards:
The major hazard Cherry is the row of tall kite-eating trees - launch with your kite towards the water. Always be aware of swimmers, sunbathers and other beach goers, give them lots of room and never launch or land in their close vicinity. The shore is quite rocky and sharp, booties can be helpful if you have tender feet. During the summer months there are often sailing regattas, it’s reccomended to give them plenty of room.

Guidelines
Stay out of the swim areas (particularly on warm days in the summer). Keep the jumps, tricks, and transitions more than a line’s length out from the beach. As with all patrolled beaches in the GTA respect the lifeguards and parks employees. If they tell you to get out of the swim area then get out. While there is a rescue boat at Cherry, don’t depend on it or take advantage of it.

Note to beginners
Cherry is not recommended for beginners unless accompanied by an instructor or buddy in the water. You should be able to stay upwind efficiently in order to ride this spot independently.Water at Cherry can be many degrees cooler than other spots, and can fluctuate drastically in spring and fall. Suit up accordingly. The water at Cherry is rocky where you can touch bottom, and gets deep very quickly.

Lessons:
Fred Telesforo
email: ftelesforo@Hotmail.com
Tel: 416-706-332

Spencer Cotton
email: topree@hotmail.com
Tel: 416-527-0866

PBK
Email: paul@pbkiteboarding.com
Tel: 416-462-3791

Want to be added as an instructor at this beach?
email: matt@kiteboardontario.com

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