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Who said you need waves to surf? Grab a kite and a board – then let the wind power you along… Words: Sophie Griffiths, Sophy Grimshaw > Palma, Mallorca For British kitesurfers seeking sunshine closer to home, Mallorca’s long beaches and variable wind conditions make it a perfect option. The kitesurfing scene centres on Can [...]
Who said you need waves to surf? Grab a kite and a board – then let the wind power you along…
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Words: Sophie Griffiths, Sophy Grimshaw
> Palma, Mallorca
For British kitesurfers seeking sunshine closer
to home, Mallorca’s long beaches and variable
wind conditions make it a perfect option.
The kitesurfing scene centres on Can Pastilla,
but other areas also have favourable wind
conditions. Beginners are advised to avoid
the height of summer when the crowds can
hinder learning. Winds can vary dramatically,
so experienced kitesurfers are advised to bring
kites of various sizes. An hour’s instruction and
three-day kite rental from Kite Mallorca costs
€49 (£37) and a three-day starter course
costs €190 (£145); www.kitemallorca.com
> Chicago, USA
“Kitesurfing USA” has a certain ring to it, you
have to admit. This exhilarating water sport is
all about harnessing powerful winds – so where
better than Lake Michigan near the Windy City
of Chicago. Learning on one of the world’s
largest lakes gives beginners the space to
master the art of handling the kites – without
coastal offshore winds. In winter, students can
train to kite-snowboard or kite-mountainboard.
A three-hour introductory lesson with
Chicago Kitesurfing costs $150 (about £77),
with a follow-up advanced one priced at $250
(£128); www.chicagokitesurfing.com
> Barbados, West Indies
Warm ocean temperatures and ideal wind
conditions make Barbados a haven for
kitesurfers. A wide selection of beaches cater
for different skill levels. The wide beach of Silver
Rock is well suited to novices, while the narrow,
tree-lined Silver Sands suits expert kitesurfers
only, due to the strong offshore winds. The best
conditions occur between December and April
(it’s best to avoid the rainy summer season
between June and September). A three-hour
introductory lesson, including equipment hire,
costs about £53 per person from Outdoors
Barbados; www.outdoorsbarbados.com
> ON HOME TURF: Scotland
Mark T Ward is the UK’s leading kitesurfing expert and runs Scottish
kitesurfing organisation Extreme Exposure, teaching the sport at
different locations including Aberdeen, St Andrews and Troon.
“Scotland offers the best conditions in the UK, mainly because we
get a lot more wind up here, especially in the summertime and we get a
lot more light,” he tells voyager. Scotland’s beaches are also uncrowded
compared with tourist favourites in the South East of Great Britain,
which is how sportspeople like it. A kite surfing “taster day” with Extreme
Exposure costs £145; three days will cost you £275.
So, is it worth it? “It’s the most dynamic sport around,” insists Ward.
“It’s good for body and soul;” www.extremeexposure.co.uk
