Cherie Down Park
Side-on ocean wave riding with easy beach access, just north of the Cocoa Beach Pier.
At a glance
| Location | W Central Blvd at Ridgewood Ave, Cape Canaveral FL |
|---|---|
| Best wind | NE, E, SE — side-on to side-off |
| Also works | S |
| Avoid | N (too turbulent) · W and any offshore direction |
| Water | Open Atlantic. Small-to-medium waves, sandbars that shift year to year. |
| Tide | Matters — sandbar shape and shorebreak change with it |
| Disciplines | Kite · Wing · Foil |
| Skill level | Intermediate. Beginner-friendly on small, clean days. |
| Launch | Boardwalk to a wide open sandy beach |
| Parking | Free lot, medium size — fills fast on windy days |
| Facilities | Showers, restrooms, pavilion, boardwalk, shade |
The rundown
Cherie Down is the wave spot that doesn’t require a wave-riding résumé. When a northeast or east fills in, you get side-on wind across small-to-medium surf, a wide beach with room to lay out lines, and a boardwalk that puts you on the sand in thirty seconds. On a clean day it’s one of the more approachable ocean sessions on the Space Coast.
The sandbars are the variable. They rebuild constantly — what was a mellow, uniform break last season can be a punchy shorebreak with a fast-deepening trough this season. Look at it before you rig. On a straight east with any size, the shorebreak here gets serious and the launch window shrinks.
Foilers do well here in chop that would be unpleasant on a twin tip. Wingers should be honest about conditions — a rough day at Cherie Down is a lot of work, and the lagoon is fifteen minutes away.
Who it's for
Beginners: Only on a small, clean, side-on day, and ideally with a coach.
Intermediate: Your wave-riding classroom.
Advanced: Kite foil on the bigger days; strapless surf on a clean NE.
Hazards
- Rip currents and strong longshore drift — know where the rip is before you launch
- Shifting sandbars and fast-deepening water
- Heavy shorebreak on easterly winds with swell
- Surfers have right of way. Non-negotiable — stay clear of the lineup.
- Lifeguarded zones are off limits to kiting
- Never ride here on a west wind. Offshore on the Atlantic is how people end up in the news.
Wind swung?
Too rough → Jetty Park
Wind went north → 520 Slick
Want flat → Kelly Park
New here?
Wave riding is a different skill set from flat water. Good Breeze runs coaching sessions.
Book a lesson → or call 321.302.5663Getting there
W Central Blvd to Ridgewood Ave, Cape Canaveral FL — north of the Cocoa Beach Pier. Free parking lot on site.