Kitesurfing is a fast growing sport. Beaches that used to be full of windsurfers have now been replaced by beaches full of kite surfers. Many windsurfers have switched to kitesurfing because of the extra tricks the sport allows and ease of moving the equipment around. Keen windsurfers need a whole van full of sails and boards to make the most of a given days conditions. A kitesurfer will need one small wakeboard sized board a couple of kites which pack down to hand luggage sized bags and a harness. All of this will easily fit into an average sized car boot.
Kitesurfers can go out in winds as low as 14 knots and make it out over large waves. Huge jumps of over ten metres in the air are possible plus many other maneouvres. There is also a surf style of kite surfing where the board is a shrunk down surf board with (or without) foot straps. Usually people take a smaller sized kite and do amazing surf moves on the wave. Once the wave is over there is no need to paddle back out, you just let the kite do the work and wait for the next set of waves to surf back in again. When going back out if the wave is too big you just make an easy jump over it.
Kitesurf equipment
To kitesurf you will need a special kite surf kite, kite lines, a board and a harness. Along with this you will need a pump and maybe a wet suit. Modern kitesurf kites have the leading edge and the struts reinforced to give the kite extra rigidity in the air. This also allows the kite to float if it lands in the sea. To set up you need to first pump up the kite, then connect the lines. That is about it. Normally it will take around ten minutes to set up your equipment and be ready to go kite surfing.
How kitesurfing works
The basic principles are simple. A big kite catches the power of the wind. This kite is attached to you via your harness. You stand on the kiteboard and kite pulls you over the surface of the sea. Those are the basics but if you want to go up wind a pull some big jumps or other tricks then it gets a little more complicated.
The kite size is around 10 metres squared for a person of average weight in a 20 km/h wind. Now if you fly a kite this big through the most powerful part of the wind there will be too much power. This is because the kite is designed to pull you when it is over to the left and right hand sides of its travel. Normally about a 70 degree angle to the left of right of the wind if the wind is coming straight at your back. So now if you are just pulled in a straight line in the direction of your kite you will be going do wind but only a little. To actually go up wind you will need to use your kite board like a dagger board on a yacht. To do this you just lean back on the board in the way it was designed to be used. By moving your weight further towards the rear you will go further upwind. If you over do this you will stop though. So there is a balance to be achieved for speed and how far upwind you want to tack.
To make life easier kite surf kites have a few clever functions. The inflatable struts and leading edge allow the kite to fly faster and more into wind. Another major design issue is that the kites are controlled by four lines. Two lines come from the front and are connected to your harness. The rear two lines are connected to the control bar. The bar allows the kite to be steered, pulling on the left side of the bar turns the kite left and vice versa. The really clever bit is achieved by pulling the bar towards you or away from you, towards you slows the kite down and gives it more power, away can decrease the power in the kite almost to zero. This kite power reduction system has made the entire sport much safer, if you are losing control or being overpowered just let go and all will be well.
Kite surf destinations in Europe
The basic conditions for kite surfing are a beach with a cross onshore wind. If the weather is warm, the surroundings beautiful and the wind dependable so much the better. If you like kitesurfing with waves then a beach facing a large ocean with a steep continental shelf will bring in more waves. If you live in Europe then the Canary Islands are one of the best bets. For kite surfers that like waves then one beach stands head and shoulders above the rest, this place is called Famara beach in Lanzarote. In summer the trade winds start to blow, these bring a reliable cross onshore wind to kitesurf in Famara. The wind tied in with a warm climate and waves makes this a great destinations for both experienced and new kite surf enthusiasts. The beach is over five kilometers long. Behind the beach as some very impressive cliffs rising up over 600 metres above the cliffs. In winter time many hang glider and paraglider pilots make the journey to Lanzarote to fly along these amazing cliffs all the way from Teguise to the northern tip of the island.
Rental accommodation in Famara
When you get to Famara for your kite surf holiday you will need to find somewhere to stay. In the area you have to main options. The cheaper option of an apartment for rent in Famara, this is in the actual town where all the shops and restaurants are. The other option is to rent a Famara bungalow to rent. The Famara bungalows are about one kilometer outside of the town and are set on the side of a shallow hill in front of the cliffs. They all have amazing views of the beach and face west so sunsets can be an impressive time of day. The bungalows are all a semi circular shape with full glass fronts and large terraces. If you can afford it they are definitely the option to go for.
Kite surf courses in Famara
If you are new to kite surfing or want to improve your technique then there is always the option of going on a kitesurf course in Famara. There are a good selection of kitesurf shops in Famara town that have all the equipment and know how to teach you all you need. Most of the shops have lessons designed to suit everybody’s ability level. The very best way to get into kite surfing is by being taught. The sport is very safe when all the safety aspects are explained but conversely could be very dangerous. The kites can pull with a lot of power so correct handling and understanding is important. On the whole kitesurfing is known to be a lot easier to learn than windsurfing with a much faster learning curve.