Costa Rica Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing is the natural evoloution of windsurfing with lighter equipment and higher performance capabilities than conventional equipment.

Kitesurfing bring together many skills from other extreme sports and generate a new level of excitement beyond the scope and influence of any one traditional watersport.

Kitesurfing is like a cross between windsurfing, wake boarding and paragliding. Kitesurfers control a wing which pulls them across the water or above it. The sport is fast becoming the center of attention on the world water sports stage as pre-conceived limitations are regularly being shattered.

Kitesurfing began in the mid ’80’s. Cory Roeseler from Oregon began to develop his Kiteski system using water-skis. At the same time in France the Legaignoux brothers were working on their early prototypes for their flysurf system that was later to develop into the Wipika system.

The modern era of kitesurfing began about seven years ago when Laird Hamilton and Manu gained recognition for the sport on Maui’s north shore and captured the imagination of the water sport community.

Kitesurfing popularity has exploded in the last three years and the equipment is now widely available. Kitesurfing now has well-organized events such as the Kitesurfing World Titles, and the World Cup of Kitesurfing

World champion kitesurfers fly forty feet in the air above huge bone crunching waves in Hawaii’s famous surf. They approach the wave at blistering speed and launch themselves from the crest of the oncoming wave.

They leap high into the air where they hang effortlessly suspended from their wing and dance as gracefully as a bird, soaring and looping, they defy gravity until they softly descend, and challenge the next wave. Returning to shore they rides the wave with the agility of a surfer.

This aerial ballet is the manifestation of the new water sport of Kitesurfing.

Costa Rica is perfect for water sports and it has a fantastic kitesurfing spot in a bay called Bahia Salinas, on the north pacific coast in the Guanacaste province, close to the Nicaraguan border.

If you have never kitesurfed before, a beginner course is highly recommended. At Bahia Salinas, on Playa Copal, there is the first kitesurfing school of the country, called KiteSurfing 2000.

They have certified instructors that will teach you what and what not to do until you’re able to do the water starts. After this, a couple of days of practice on your own will help you gain confidence in your skills. From there, it’s recommend that kiters take individual lessons in relation to how fast they want to progress.

The beginners course is about 10 hours long and is divided in 3 days:

• Day 1: – Control of a trainer kite on the beach (understanding the wind, take off, landing, flight technique, basic steering, simulation of water starts and get going).
• Day 2: – Flight techniques in the water with 4 lines inflatable kites (launching and landing the kite, body dragging with the instructor, body dragging alone (from this moment the instructor will be in contact with the students through a walkie talkie), control of the kite with one hand, safety, kite water launch, self rescue, discussion about the equipments).
• Day 3: – More body dragging if necessary, approach to the board, demo of the water start by the instructor, water start, discussion about sailing (Start and return with the board in linear sailing, discussion about wave sailing, jibing and jumping techniques).

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For more information about kitesurfing in Costa Rica, please visit KITESURFING 2000 or email Nicola Bertoldi.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.