TRAVEL - TOTALLY TROPICAL
TRAVEL – TOTALLY TROPICAL
If there are two words guaranteed to put a spring in the step of any European kiter as the temperature starts to dip in autumn, then they are ‘The Caribbean’. Perhaps more than any other destination, the Caribbean seems to promise those idyllic white sand beaches, coconut trees, a mellow vibe, and good times. And – for those of us for whom this is not enough – there’s also a lot of very respectable choices when it comes to scoring perfect kiting conditions too… So, let’s break things down into tropical, bite-size chunks. A bit like a Bounty.
(This originally appeared in the Nov Dec 2013 issue of Kitesurf Magazine. Print and digital subscriptions for readers worldwide are available HERE.)
Aruba
Flat water and massive shallow areas make Aruba ideal for everyone, and Aruba’s warm jewel-blue water is an experience in itself. These conditions, along with some of the most dependable wind on the planet, make Aruba one of the best options for kitesurfing in the Caribbean.
Cabarete
Located on the Dominican Republic’s north shore, the innocuous little town of Caberete happens to have a little secret: some of the best kitesurfing in the Caribbean. There are a whole lot of options – from flat-water perfection to reef pass grinders, you can take your pick. Summer and autumn are best for beginners and intermediates, with flat water inside the bay or small easy waves outside the reef, whereas winter and spring offer more for intermediate to advanced kiters as the wave size cranks up. Whenever you visit, boardies/bikini are all you will need and you’re guaranteed to come home with a few more tricks under your belt, or tales of the kind of waves you only dream of back home. Plus the climate is tropical, the locals friendly and the fact that most of the pros rate it in their top places to go kiting tells you all that you need to know…
Margarita
Just off the coast of Venezuela, Margarita has been a destination right at the top of the pile for many, many years. First embraced by the windsurfing fraternity, kiters have followed and made the island their home. Mornings tend to be lighter – great for practicing tricks – and the wind builds gradually throughout the day before reaching solid bump and jump conditions. Or, if you want super-fast glassy water, it is a 20 minute ferry across to El Coche where you can find plenty of butter flat perfection. The wind is between 15 and 35 knots in the main season (January to August), so it’s worth bringing your whole quiver. The vibe is very chilled, so you can kick back and relax with the friendly locals, plus prices are cheap so you can find your own nice little slice of paradise without having to break the bank.
FEATURED ACCOMODATION
Club Z Properties
This overly spacious 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom, air-conditioned condo is one of four in a gated complex. The unit is probably the finest on Margarita Island with spectacular ocean views through massive picture windows. It has all the finest amenities from granite counter tops and tiled showers, to a full kitchen, nearly every kitchen appliance you should desire from coffee grinders and maker, to food processors and top of the line cookware and cutlery. Club Z has Direct TV already set to English and there is a stereo with an IPOD base station along with VHS and DVD players. It is not Blu-Ray compatible yet. The unit also has its own laundry room with a washer and dryer. The bedrooms could sleep 6-8 comfortably. On premises is a shaded yard and outdoor workout area, along with a private patio area on the beach for outdoor entertaining. There are hammocks located in the lower closet along with portable beach chairs for your convenience. NOTE: No smoking indoors please.
Contact Details: www.windsurfingmargarita.com // info@clubzproperties.com//303.415.0074
St Martin
St Martin’s most popular spot is Orient Bay, which offers the largest and safest place for kiting in St Martin. The main kite zone stretches over two miles into the Atlantic and offers a unique opportunity to discover inter-island cruising, with several islands within 20 minutes’ reach from the main launch centre. The beachfront at Orient Bay (which has been named “best beach in the Caribbean” for many years) provides crystal-clear water with an average temperature of around 25 degrees!
The main season runs from October through to July, with winds averaging 13 to 18 knots, although back-to-back days of 20+ are common. The training zone for kiting is away from the other watersports areas, allowing students to learn in a comfortable area with plenty of space, and is protected by the Green Cay reef – which is the biggest wave-spot on the island if that’s your thing!
Vela Kite Cruise Day-Trips and Multi-Night Adventures!
Although Orient Bay and St Martin will provide you with more opportunities for amazing adventures than you are likely to conquer in one trip, we invite you to see even more!!! The owner and manager at Vela St Martin, Manu, is a licensed skipper who is eger to arrange charter sailboat trips on his Lagoon 38’ catamaran, “Wind and Kite”. Available for either quick and affordable day-trips or multi-night trip, the combination of this fantastic vessel, experienced local skipper, plus the addition of great gear from the Vela center to take along will make for an unforgettable adventure. Note that some day trips are also arranged with a Cap Camarat motor boat making for quicker travel to and from the various spots on no-wind or light-wind days. The island of St. Martin, Anguilla and St. Barts create a triangle that makes for perfect short sailing expeditions. The longest trip is between St. Martin and St. Barts (3h30m) with a possible stop on the small Fourche Island along the way, making the cruise rewarding for any group or even families with young kids. The majority of kitesurf spots are on Anguilla and around St. Martin, while St. Barths is reserved for exploring more of the island (St Jean). Orient Bay St Martin is where all cruises begin and end.
St Lucia
The volcanic island of St. Lucia is a wild, lush and mountainous Caribbean get-away, made even more desirable by the fact that the south of the island offers some of the world’s best conditions for kitesurfing. The old fishing town of Vieux Fort lies at the foot of a headland that cuts into the Caribbean Sea to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. On this Atlantic coastline, we find one of St Lucia’s longest and unspoilt beaches: Sandy Beach. With one mile of soft yellow sand, steady cross-shore winds from the left, and a reef-enclosed bay that curves slightly into the wind on the leeward side, Sandy Beach is a dream location. The trade winds blow steadily cross-shore from the left, dropping off slightly (and conveniently!) over lunch. The shorebreak is usually mild, and only when the wind is really blasting do conditions on the water become choppy. The bay provides bump and ride conditions, and the scenery is truly beautiful with the two uninhabited Maria Islands on the horizon, and the Pointe Sable Nature Reserve all around… It really is paradise island.
FEATURED CENTRE
The Reef Kite + Surf in St Lucia
Season: December – April, June
Location: Sandy Beach, Vieux Fort, St Lucia, Caribbean.
Ideal holiday for: Kiters looking to explore the beauty of St Lucia and the easy-going, friendly St Lucian lifestyle. Simpler is better!
Riding Styles: Freestyle, slalom, jumps and tricks.
Accommodation: Simple, clean beach huts and beach cottages, guest houses or self-contained apartments (kitchen and a/c), luxury villas and all-inclusive 3* resort.
Equipment and Tuition: Cabrinha kites for lessons and rentals. KiteEazy package for independent kiters offering free rescue and storage. Rates help to benefit the local children’s home.
Flat day fun: Exploring, diving, snorkelling, hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining, sports fishing, climbing Gros Piton, Stand up Paddling, kayaking.
Contact Details: info@slucia.com // www.slucia.com.kitesurf
Tobago
Tobago is one of the two islands known as the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies outside the hurricane belt and has strong consistent wind for much of the year. The best kiting can be found at the northern tip of Pigeon Point Heritage Park with great conditions for all levels. With a large fringe reef protecting the inland shore, the waters are flat and shallow making learning and free riding easy and enjoyable. And then, for wave hounds, the same reef creates some fantastic surf breaks to explore. The narrow white sand peninsula surrounded by clear blue Caribbean waters is perfect for beginners and, most importantly, the water is always warm, and the vibe is always friendly…
VELA KITESURF RESORTS
Aruba//Belize//Cabarete//Margarita//St Martin//Tobago//Turks and CAICOS
Vela Kitesurf Resorts is THE SOURCE to discover windsport travel experiences like no other. A trip to any Vela destination means you’ll find an operation featuring the friendliest, most experienced staff possible, informative lessons from trained professionals, and the latest and safest new gear on the market: Cabrinha kites and boards. In a world of click-here-to-buy travel website, Vela offers a personal touch: they create and plan high-quality k itesurf vacations specifically designed to match your needs. And with a legacy of nearly 30 years in the business you can leave much of the planning up to them. Plus, with new destinations around the globe being added to the existing menu of amazing (and windy) destinations every year, you are sure to find an adventure worth taking in the near future. Where do you want to go?
ARUBA Vela Aruba – located on the beach next to the Aruba Marriott Resort – underwent recent renovations with the beach and cabanas now located on the north side of the building just a few steps from the water: directly in front of one of the best spots for teaching period. Aruba is one of the easiest islands in the Caribbean to get to, and the wide selection of great accommodations and the endless list of available activities make it a favourite destination for families, singles, or groups of any kind.
BELIZE Picture yourself on a private island, lost in the Caribbean. No modern conveniences. No schedules. No problems. Now, experience it yourself at this amazing adventure-retreat in Belize! With a maximum of 22 guests on any given week, there are no crowds in the kiting area. Ever.
CABARETE At Vela Cabarete our friendly staff is always on hand to help you select a kite, give quick tips, and make your vacation thoroughly enjoyable. Vela offers a full kiteschool and rental fleet so that you can learn this exciting sport in safe conditions from experienced instructors. Situated on Kite Beach, just 30 yards from the water, our center is complete with a great bar/restaurant, a full service kite shop with all the latest gear, storage lockers in case you prefer to travel with your gear, an air compressor, full bathroom facilities with showers, and rescue boat for your safety.
MARGARITA Vela Margarita is located in the thriving town of El Yaque. The kite spots include up-wind of the windsurf area, and downwind past the swimming area. Advanced kiters are invited to sign up for day tours of other areas nearby including Cubagua, La Restigna, Coche, and… Los Roques! Our school offers private one-on-one boat-assisted instruction with all gear during lesson time.
ST MARTIN Great for everyone: crystal-clear and with an average temperature near 80 degrees. Flat water in the lagoon, choppy conditions in front, and swell and waves outside. Stop on nearby Pinel island and Green cay island, the ride is safe and the waters are crystal clear. Pro instruction with certified instructors, we have private lessons or complete clinics. All lessons take place in the flat-water of the Orient Bay lagoon. Our friendly instructors will help you learn new skills.
NEW! TOBAGO The NEW Vela Tobago center Tobago is located at the northern tip of Pigeon Point Heritage Park. This spot is also the ultimate location for couples or families with mixed abilities: in addition to the stellar kiting conditions, you will also find a restaurant, bar, restrooms, shade (Sun chairs and huts) play billiards, table tennis and even foosball. Its’ truly an ideal location for those with non-kiters coming along for the trip.
NEW! TURKS & CAICOS Beginners and experienced kiters alike will find that the atmosphere and local knowledge from an amazingly dedicated staff make for a perfect vacation experience. The highlight here is for experienced kiters who can take advantage of the absolutely amazing Kitesurfaris and truly epic downwinders available. “Getting skunked” in the Turks & Caicos is not an option as there is an extensive and comprehensive adventure-sports program in place including kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, mountain biking, diving, paddleboarding, and eco-tours available.
Contact Details: www.velakitesurf.com // info@velakitesurf.com
Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos are a group of 41 islands located at the end of the Bahamian archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are sedimentary islands, built upon continental shelf, and separated by the deep Columbus passage. But the only fact that you need to know is that, for kitesurfers, these islands have stormed up the ‘best kiting spot’ charts in recent months due to a whole lot of top quality media seeping out from some of the top brands… And no surprise as the collective islands provide a perfect backdrop to stage a k itesurf adventure. Year round warm waters and cooling trade winds are a kiter’s dream, and beginners and experienced kiters alike will find that the perfect conditions and atmosphere conducive to taking their kiting to the next level. These islands really are a true kiteboarding frontier – with so many options and so many perfect beaches and waves to discover, you could spend years exploring, but a couple of weeks would be great for starters…
FEATURED CENTRE
Big Blue Unlimited – The Ecoadventures
Season: December through to end of July. Typically the winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) see the most fronts roll in from the US northeastern sea board. Trade winds blow from the NE but will switch to the NW upon there arrival. They can push excellent swell and make for great kitesurfing. As the wind switches back to the NE, the trades will kick in and blow 15-25. Summer months can be variable but typically July can be an epic month with consistent winds through out and long days to ride in as the clocks are on summer time.
Location: Big Blue is located on Leeward channel on the very north eastern tip of Provo. We are on the doorstep to some of the best “backcountry” terrain for kite safaris from flat water heaven to perfect cross off waves. Long Bay is less than 5 minutes from our office and is the perfect beach for lessons, cruising and trying to dial in new tricks. Miles of beach, waist deep water make it a kite boarders paradise.
Ideal holiday for: Everyone interested in adventure, the outside and the water. Beginner kiters have the perfect backdrop and advanced riders will be stoked!
Riding Styles: Mainly free riding on 9-12m kites. Kite surfing can be epic but not nearly as consistent.
Accommodation: The variety on Provo is huge. Grace Bay Club, Gansevoort and the Palms provide excellent high end luxury while Ocean Club, Royal West Indies offer other more affordable options. There are numerous vacations villas to choose from – too many to name – but even those not on the beach are only minutes away.
Equipment and Tuition: Big Blue Unlimited teaches on the latest Cabrinha gear, typically switchblades and will offer boards and harnesses for rental in 2014. Our experienced and personable instructors safely teach new, beginner and advanced riders. A 1:2 ratio maximizes attention to tuition. They are available as private guides and instructors. Boat support is available with all kite safaris.
Flat day fun: There are countless options. Big Blue leads the way in SUP tours, Kayaking, diving, snorkel, private boat charters and out island adventures.
Contact Details: info@bigblueunlimited.com // www.bigblueunlimited.com
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