I just got back from a year in Colombia learning kite, and I'm completely out of the loop here. I'm from Toronto, without a car which makes it a little difficult to get around. Are there aaannnyyy good spots near the city, or is it a lost cause?

Check out these spots.
Really hard to ride at any of these during beach season.
Best riding and better wind in the Fall.

Hanlan's Point Beach Map


Cherry Beach Map


Ashbridges - Woodbine Beach Map

Marie Curtis.

Not an obvious selection as it is not in the heart of the city, nor a particularly nice spot for that matter (need to be a confident upwind rider, okay with gusty conditions, and comfortable with a slightly awkward launch and land), BUT, the "mississauga side" of the park is not conducive to a lot of beach goers and there is a big grassy park under a wind shadow that makes for an ideal lz.

More importantly for you, it is only a short walk from the Long Branch Go Train station.
http://localkitespots.com/kitesurfing/Ontario?site=1205182260321&static=1


Until the bad weather clears out Ash Bridges (i.e. fall), this is a fine destination for anything with a healthy amount of Easterly wind.

It's relatively easy to get a bike setup going for the Toronto area, I've seen some of the guys with really elaborate and effective setups that makes it a cinch to get around. Mine looks hokey by comparison but it works..

Hahaha that bike set up looks great...

Where would you guys say is the best in toronto for the summer season? I went to cherry beach once and it looked kinda crowded with beach goers

I was looking at my kitesession logs and this year I've only kited 16% of sessions in the GTA (HAN, ASH). Last year's GTA sessions account for 26% (HAN, BLU, ASH). I know there are other hardcore TO kiters that get most of their time in the GTA.. if I were to look at my top rated sessions (top 10), not of them were in the GTA..

depends on wind direction

SW(and sometimes NE/offshore) - cherry
NE/E - ash/bluffers
SW/W(and sometimes NW) - Hanlans

pretty much the only spots east of the island.