Everybody's going kitesurfing
by Dylan Wyn Pugh. Wednesday, 18 July 2007
We might not be blessed with the warm seas or golden beaches of the southern hemisphere here in Britain but one thing we do have – and have in abundance – is wind.
That means while our antipodean friends are soaking up the sun on Bondi Beach, we can get a much-needed adrenaline boost via the latest sport to hit Britain – kitesurfing.
What is it? Put simply, it’s being towed along on a surfboard by a kite.
But we’re not talking the piddly diamond-shaped kites you flew as a kid, but a ten to 14 metre high-octane sports kite, capable of lifting a surfer four storeys into the air.
It is not for the faint-hearted, but ask any kitesurfer and they will tell you they do it for the thrill.
And it seems there are plenty of thrill-seekers out there, with the sport attracting new people all the time.
Best of all, within two hours of London, you can drive to a dozen or so places, including Whitstable and Camber Sands, book into a B&B overlooking the sea and join other kitesurfers preparing to harness the wind’s power for hours of heart-pounding fun.
You don’t have to be very strong to kitesurf either, because you are attached to the kite with a harness, meaning your weight balances most of the power from the kite.
For beginners, I’d recommend Poole Harbour (two hours from London along from the M27).
Apart from a lovely sandy beach, there is a designated area of shallow, waist-high water specifically for wind sports, and an area beside the road with a sandy beach, ideal for unloading and preparing your kit. Learn the basics by booking lessons with www.easyriderskiteboarding.com.
One thing goes for anyone planning to kitesurf for the first time: flying power kites isn’t as easy as it looks, so you must be taught by a professional.
Kitesurf schools will lend you the kit as part of the lesson but, because it is easily damaged, you won’t be able to hire it without lessons.
As for where to stay, all the kite schools recommend local B&Bs, which start at £30 per person per night.
And if it isn’t warm, don’t worry. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll spend most of your time on the water, rather than in it, making kitesurfing possible all year round.
Flying facts
• Two to three-day courses (in the UK) range from about £180-£250 and should include equipment. Make sure the school is British Kite Surfing Association registered
• You can use kite-school kit during your lessons but, if you want to try out different kites afterwards, schools should allow supervised use of a kite before buying
• Depending on the brand, kitesurfing equipment (board, bar and lines, kite) ranges from £1,000-£1,500. The quality and versatility of modern kites is of such a high standard that this is the only major cost of the sport. You can negotiate a saving by buying all the kit from the same place. It is not advisable to buy a second-hand kite
• The water is surprisingly warm with most kiting done in shallow waters. The temperature is around 22C in summer
Kitesurf Abroad
Cabarete, Dominican Republic
One of the most popular destinations on the PKRA (Professional Kiteboard Riders Association) World Cup Tour. Regular trade winds, good waves and warm conditions. One-week packages, including instruction, equipment rental, en-suite accommodation with half-board and transfers start at £660.
Hurghada, Egypt
The difference in temperature between the land and sea in Hurghada produces winds all year round. Five days of kitesurfing, (two days’ instruction and three days’ equipment hire, not including accommodation) starts at £300.
Langebaan, South Africa
A lagoon north of Cape Town, Langebaan benefits from the strong cape winds but also offers sheltered shark-free conditions better suited to kiting. A four-day beginner-course package (two days’ instruction and equipment hire, four nights’ shared accommodation) starts at £220.
Kitesurf in the UK
Whitstable
Beachwalk car park, Whitstable, Kent
Whitstable is a 60-minute drive from the M25 (along the M2), situated in north Kent opposite the isle of Sheppey.
A long sand bar extends from the end of a large, natural bay producing an area of flat, shallow water ideal for kitesurfing.
Conditions: Best at low tide on a northeasterly wind.
Learn: Kiteboarding three-day beginner courses start at £275. www.transitionkiteboarding.com, 020 8378 2138
Stay there: Whitstable Bed and Breakfast have rooms from £60 per night. www.whitstablebedandbreakfast.co.uk
Get there: Victoria to Whitstable takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, starting at £20 return.
Camber Sands
Jury’s car park, Camber Sands, Camber, nr Rye, East Sussex
With four miles of open beach at Camber Sands, the tide goes out a long way, producing a large expanse of waist-deep water. The sand underfoot makes launching comfortable. The council has designated a launch area that kiters must stick to.
Conditions: Best at low tide with a westerly wind.
Stay there: The Place, Camber Sands, starts at £99 per night. www.theplacecambersands.co.uk
Get there: London Bridge to Rye takes 1 hour 20 minutes. From £21 return.
Learn: Rye Watersports two-day courses start at £199. www.ryewatersports.co.uk, 01797 225 238
Mersea Island
Victoria Esplanade, West Mersea, Colchester, Essex
It is good for those wanting to try out tricks as the sandbars offer good flat-water areas. The river direction combined with sturdy easterly winds can produce some good ramps.
Conditions: No tide dependency, but needs easterly/southerly/ westerly winds.
Stay there: Mersea Island Vineyard offers B&B starting at £70 per night. www.merseawine.com
Get there: Liverpool Street to Colchester Town takes 50 minutes. From £25 return.You will need to take a bus or taxi to Mersea Island.
Learn: Essex Kite Surf School two-day courses start at £200, www.essexkitesurfschool.co.uk
Hayling Island
West Beach car park, Hayling Island, Hampshire
One of the favourite spots for Londoners continues to be Hayling Island, near Portsmouth. A sand bar produces a shallow lagoon of flat water.
Conditions: Best at low tide with a southwesterly wind.
Stay there: Minutes from the sea, Waratah Lodge starts at £55 per night. www.waratahlodge.co.uk
Get there: Waterloo to Havant takes 1 hour 30 minutes. From £20 return.
Learn: The Hayling Island Kite Surf school two-day courses start at £190. www.hikitesurfschool.co.uk
