Kitesurfing adventure – where to start?
Hi! My name is Ola and I have been working as a kitesurfing instructor for many years. I have already conducted training in many places around the world: in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Egypt, South Africa, Greece, Mexico. And of course also in Poland. I visited even more countries in search of the perfect place to hang out :) However, in the eyes of everyone, an ideal place may have something different, so it is not easy to find one. By reading this entry, you will learn how to start your kitesurfing adventure in the best possible place!
However, my work is not limited only to trips. At Kiteaway you can also meet me behind the desk, from where I will be happy to answer all your questions.
Kite adventure – what to start with?
People interested in learning kitesurfing often struggle with doubts where to start? What should you pay attention to when choosing a place or school? By browsing various types of websites and internet forums, you will find different answers to these questions. There are several criteria – a lot depends on your location, for example.
To learn kitesurfing, you need wind, water and a beach to prepare your equipment. At the beginning - the presence of shallow water makes the adventure with this sport easier. In our country, we have great opportunities for water sports on the Hel Peninsula and the surrounding area. However, it must be admitted that you will benefit from Polish conditions only when you become an independent Rider. Mainly because very often in Poland it is windy outside the summer period.
I know from my own experience that it is not easy to become a completely independent kitesurfer sailing only in Poland. The lack of regularity in wind conditions means that planning a holiday at the seaside with the hope of practicing kitesurfing on a regular basis turns out to be virtually impossible. Not everyone can afford to spend their entire holidays on the peninsula. Especially since nowadays accommodation by the Polish seaside is not cheap at all. Therefore, going to a place with a higher probability of wind is more effective than constant commuting to Hel. Especially if you don't live in Tricity.
Surprisingly, choosing a different location may turn out to be cheaper. Take Egypt for example and one of our recent kitesafari trips. There was a week of wind blowing non-stop on site - in such conditions, already two training sessions for students brought visible results. Repeatability of water sessions and the so-called "motor hours" (quoting after one of our instructors - Murphy) are extremely important in acquiring the skills necessary for you to finally derive real pleasure from swimming.
Kitesurfing adventure – what else should you remember?
In learning kitesurfing, apart from getting up on the board and swimming, there are many elements that affect the feel of the equipment and, therefore, the progress made. Once a skill is acquired and well-established, it will stay with you for good; sometimes you just need a refresher. Places such as Egypt, Brazil and Sri Lanka, thanks to their wind conditions, make this possible.
In addition to the good wind, what will definitely make learning more pleasant is the warm water - anyone who has learned to sail on a kayak in colder depths will confirm my words. If you are shivering from the cold, your fingers stiffen and your brain switches to "survival" mode, it is not easy to acquire new competences. And when learning kitesurfing, you need maximum concentration - contrary to appearances, not only the body gets tired! Acquiring new skills and knowledge is definitely more enjoyable if we are not cold.
You already know to look for a place with regular and sufficiently strong wind and possibly warm water. What else cannot be forgotten? A good instructor, of course! What does this mean exactly? This is a person who will take care not only of your progress in kitesurfing and having fun, but also of your SAFETY. Good quality and modern equipment is also important, as it will make learning progress faster and easier.
Not every great kitesurfer is a good teacher. Therefore, it is important to learn under the supervision of experienced, licensed instructors who ensure the high quality and safety of the lessons. Thanks to this, you will be able to use the time spent learning as effectively as possible.
We can find good instructors all over the world. However, if we take into account that both people who pursue kitesurfing as a career and those looking for reliable training are looking for similar water and wind conditions, it is not difficult to guess where you will find most of them.
Kitesurfing adventure – is it worth making it easier for yourself?
In addition to high wind statistics, favorable temperatures and professional teachers, there are several other important criteria that may affect the pace of your progress or simply the quality of your kitesurfing holidays. Let's return to the topic of shallow water - an issue that is often discussed. In my opinion, the presence of shallow water may be conducive to learning kitesurfing. When we do certain exercises with a kite, learners feel more confident and safe when in a moment of doubt they can simply stop and stand on the bottom.
However, it is not the case that you cannot start learning without shallow water. There are definitely more such places with deep water in the world. Additionally, they are usually well prepared to conduct kitesurfing classes. For example, a wide beach where initial lessons are organized, or efficient protection from a motorboat or scooter, which will help in the previously mentioned situations, such as a lost board, will very effectively replace access to the shallow water.
On the one hand, it is said that acquiring basic skills only in shallow water can make us so lazy that we will have to struggle for a long time to overcome the fear of swimming in places where the water is deeper. You can also lose or even not fully acquire the skills needed to become an independent kitesurfer. Unpracticed skills are often forgotten, which is true of any discipline.
On the other hand, starting learning in more demanding conditions may make the training last longer. But once you learn to swim in such a place, you will be able to swim in any other place. Therefore, we should not focus only on one type of conditions in terms of water depth or waves. It is good to acquire skills in various conditions under the supervision of experienced teachers who will always help you get out of trouble.
It should also be mentioned that every person starting to learn kitesurfing should know how to swimso that you can approach acquiring new knowledge and skills calmly and without stress. Regardless, we deal with the elements - wind and water.
Kitesurfing adventure – is there a perfect place?
One of the places that perfectly combines everything I have mentioned so far is El Gouna. This is a private facility in Egypt that has perfect conditions to start your kitesurfing adventure. But also to acquire more advanced skills. The water there is shallow and warm, and the wind statistics are very favorable. There is plenty of space, and the considerable depth of water does not cause any disturbance thanks to the functioning of the so-called belay system. rescue. The beach is wide, and members of the local team, always smiling, will offer help in launching the boat or connecting the lines.
Moreover, there is a Polish base there. Thanks to this, you can easily come completely alone and always meet people who come for a similar purpose. You will spend successful evenings together, exchanging cabin experiences over a drink. What's more, the base is located right on the beach. In fact, you can spend whole days there, relaxing and kayaking :)
El Gouna is also very safe – mainly due to the private nature of this city. There you will find plenty of restaurants with cuisines from all over the world, so you don't have to eat only in the hotel. There are also bars and clubs, as well as other attractions, such as a wake park and go-karting. So even on windless days you won't be bored there! This location largely meets the conditions of the ideal kitesurfing place described in this text. An additional advantage is the fact that it is only a four-hour flight from Poland.
Can you already imagine where your kitesurfing adventure will begin? If so, great, and if not, it will definitely happen soon! Remember that you can always count on help from Kiteaway – please contact me :)
