Hello everyone from the blog KitePassion Tarifa Kiteschool. With this complete guide we will advise you from start to finish about your kitesurf course in Tarifa. When and how to do it, duration and methodology, what to do after the course. Best season of the year and with what types of winds … And of course where to do it, you already have it clear: in Tarifa and with KitePassion.

Doing a course of kiteboarding or kitesurfing (as you want to call it) is something that you have been planning to do all your life, it is something that has been planned by your mind for a long time and you want it to be perfect. The same thing happened to us back in 2005 and we wanted everything to be perfect. For this reason, we put everything on our side because we understand that you are very excited about your learning and we want all the decisions we make for you to be the most appropriate for you to learn and enjoy to the fullest.

BEST MOMENT OF THE YEAR

Without a doubt, the best months of the year pass between the beginning of April and the end of October. We make special emphasis in the months of May, first half of July and October. These are months in which statistically windy days are very numerous, the weather is perfect and the post kite environment in Tarifa is incredible. Last year (2018) in the month of May we had: 24 days of sunset, 5 days of release, 1 day of strong lift and 1 day without wind. What was simply spectacular, since in addition the average temperature was 24 degrees Celsius and the environment in areas such as the water bar or the center of Tarifa town were very good. We always encourage you these months by meteorology and to avoid the agglomerations of August. Although if August is your vacation month, do not hesitate to come!

Obviously, outside these months: November, February or March you can also enjoy kitesurfing since the water temperature is quite similar throughout the year (maximum 19º and minimum 17º). So do not hesitate to come with us since we open from March to December 31 and any time is good … However, this period indicated above is the best: May, July and October.

HOW TO PERFORM YOUR KITESURF COURSE

Everything will depend on the time you have, whether you come alone or accompanied to do your course and the budget you have. We propose three types of courses:
Private // Semiprivate // Group

In the private mode the progression is much greater obviously since the instructor is all the time with you and you with the kite in your hands. You learn much more, since the instructor is exclusively for you and your time is used much more. The courses in private mode usually last 2 hours per session, but it is too much, because after two hours in the water, you are physically and mentally tired, so you are losing time and money. Our experience indicates that two hours of private and semi-private courses are more than enough. Another possibility is to make more time but always with a break in the middle of the session. That is, 1.5 hours (rest) and another 1.5 hours.

What the course includes: all courses include all the necessary material of 2019 complete, from the harness to the neoprene, going through the table, leash helmet … Everything! Likewise, it includes rescue boats 10 months (from March 1 to December 31), Accident and RC insurance, transportation to the beach and classes with walkies, in addition to your IKO card as a course certificate.

On the other hand we have the group mode in which you are from 2 to 4 students sharing 1 or 2 kites with an instructor. In this case, it is also very effective, since the duration of the classes is 3 hours and you are learning from your classmates and sharing kites. Like the previous course everything is included and the courses are longer and perfect if you come with your friends to Tarifa!

The last possibility is the semi-private modality, with two students, two kites and an instructor always close to you, teaching you during the whole class. The duration of the class is two hours and you always have the kite with you.

Once you acquire the level 3 in which you are already completely independent, and also solve another issue that is the number of hours needed for a kite course, this question is very relative. Some students with two days of class have enough to be independent and go to the beach on their own. Others need more time to reach this level and start renting always with supervision. At our school, we offer a 3-hour rental system with the supervision of an all-inclusive instructor in which you will not be alone on the beach, but you have the security and certainty that there is an instructor with you and you feel more secure in the beach.

PARTS OF THE KITESURF COURSE

A complete kitesurfing course must have at least three days of course. Some students require less time, others need more but the average is three days, regardless of the type of course you take.
First day: Theory and learning of kite piloting on land
Second day: bodydrag and beginning of table
Third day: Waterstart.

First day: During the development of the class on the first day, the first thing we are going to teach you is a bit of theoretical aspects, essential for the second and third days to work on your own. The first thing will be to teach you the assembly of the kite correctly and safely. The three security systems, remember: Drop the bar !!. Likewise, we will teach you the universal signs to raise, land … And finally, theory about the wind window. As we have said before, kitesurfing is all advantages and it is not necessary that you have much knowledge about wind, directions, etc … You only have to understand that the wind has to be on your back.

Once you have controlled the theory, we move on to the practice of the kite flight. The keyword is: control. It’s about you controlling the kite, not the kite controlling you. Everything happens through the control in the steering bar and that you attend well to the sensible and intuitive thing that is the kite. The more abrupt you are with it, the more jerks it will give you. Softness and control are fundamental. We will do exercises by flying the kite in the zenith, to the right of the window, to the left. Also with one hand, since the other hand we need diaphanous to transport the board and finally on the floor emulating the bodydrag. If we manage to carry out all these exercises, we are ready to go to the exercise and continue with day 2.

AND WHEN YOU ARE INDEPENDENT AND YOU FINISH YOUR COURSE

Therefore, you already know the basic principles after the course, now to practice to the fullest and enjoy with the practice of kitesurfing in the spot you choose: Tarifa, Isla Canela, Málaga … !!Fundamentally we have two types of wind in Tarifa: lift and sunset. As everything in life has its pros and cons. What if you must be very clear, is with east wind on the beach of the sets do not sail if there is no rescue boat, do not go out to kite as the wind takes you out to sea and can be very dangerous.

Levante: wind off shore (land to sea), which on its first day, as it needs to stabilize as it is a land wind and travels many obstacles until it reaches the sea. Therefore, sometimes the wind is very gusty but on the other hand, when combing the wind the sea generates a perfect flat water to learn.

Poniente: Wind from sea to land (on shore) fairly constant coming from the sea, but often with more waves and more moving sea. Perfect for piloting your surfboard, but something frustrating when you’re starting. Since it hinders the process of putting the board on your feet.

However, you have to learn in all conditions. It does not happen frequently, that students who learn in lagoons like Egypt or Dakhla have to reset and adapt to the conditions of the open sea. If you learn in Tarifa, you will sail anywhere in the world.
Do not forget to always sail when you are starting with winds coming from the sea and above all, when the wind gets hard (more than 20 knots) we pick up and go home. Be prudent and respect the weather conditions is the greatest teaching that we can transmit from this blog.

SPOTS IN TARIFA

Depending on the time of year, you will have some areas or others for kitesurfing. The City Council of Tarifa prohibits being an area for bathing and public use the area included in the village that runs from the Camping Rio Jara to the Town (Spa). If you see the lifeguards working from June 15 to September 15 in the area of ​​the football field will call your attention, you will be invited to leave that area where kitesurfing is forbidden, so we advise you to That area and throughout the year in the lagoon area best do not practice kitesurfing.

As of June 15, the zone that has been opened is that of the chiringuito agua towards the Dos Mares hotel and the Ensenada de Valdevaqueros. Both areas with rescue boat that makes the company Sea Angels. This area is qualified to give courses with rescue boat from March 1 to December 31, practically all year round.

Obviously there are more spots but you must know them, understand them and know their ins and outs. There is a special spot where we always make special emphasis in terms of difficulty, space, danger with lift and currents. And so you have to be well prepared in terms of level and material: Balneario.

The first thing you should always do is to know the spots. Very important!!

YOU ONLY MISSED US

In KitePassion we have prepared this guide and no doubt that we will lack things that we will be expanding. Any doubt, questions or whatever you need about Tarifa kitesurfing, do not hesitate to ask us at: info@tarifakitepassion.com.

A hug, good wind and see you in the wáter!

www.tarifakitepassion.com

Juan I. Fdez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMcpOya6AgM