07-12-07

Kite Surfing: -

Just as windsurfing was a combination between sailing and surfing, kite surfing is a combination between power kite flying and surfing. The sport has completely exploded in Tarifa over the past 3 or 4 years. In good wind conditions in summer, it isn't unusual to count over 250 kites in the sea and on the beach. An amazing sight!

It is easy to understand why this sport is so popular - it looks deceptively easy, the jumps and tricks look spectacular and it requires much less wind than windsurfing.

Grit determination will be an asset, because although kite surfing is easier to master than wind surfing, co-ordinating all those skills at the beginning can be a challenge!

Lessons: Lessons are absolutely essential. Kiting is extremely dangerous and can go wrong very quickly. The lines on the kite can easily take off fingers, arms or worse if they suddenly are subjected to the power of the kite. For this reason it is vital that you are correctly insured and correctly taught. Most people will be close to standing up on the board after three days of lessons. There are over 20 kite and windsurf shops in Tarifa most of whom offer lessons and kit. Through experience I would recommend the Cat Fun Surf shop, The Art of Surfing in the centre of town and speak to Carlos Manrique.  He has grown up in Tarifa and has run the shop for many years. He speaks reasonable English and has provided excellent kit to us through the years. Lessons on average cost 90-100 euros per day. A 3 day package can be 250 euros. 

Rental: To rent equipment you can either speak to the shops in town or go to the Mistral centre up at Las Dunas. Kit hire is only possible if you can go upwind with your kite. All the shops will check you out before they see their kit disappearing down the beach. Day rental charges should be under 50 euros for all your kit.

Within the sport of Kite Surfing there are two main learning curves that a new participant will move through. These can conveniently be broken down into power kite flying skills and board skills. Within each of the learning curves are a series of skill areas that go to form the overall activity. It is unlikely that many people will be able to combine these two areas from the word go, without some prior experience in one or the other.

There will be short cuts for people who have either good board skills from a related sport or a high level of power kite flying skills.