Have you ever dreamed of gliding through the air with the ocean beneath you? Are you looking for the next thrilling experience that you can tell all your mates about? Or are you an adventure seeker who wants to master something new while having some fun in the sun? Then kitesurfing lessons in Cape Town definitely has to be on your to-do list this summer — there’s no better way to make the most of Cape Town’s amazing weather and beautiful coastline!
LekkeSlaap recently attended a kitesurfing lesson with Coastline Kitesurfing in Cape Town to learn more about this exciting sport and boy, what an unforgettable experience it was! After my first lesson, I was totally hooked!
I love all forms of water sport and I’ve always been fascinated by the colourful kites decorating the sky in Blouberg. Flying through the air or riding a wave while controlling a kite seems like the most enthralling experience. But the gear and strong winds have always been too intimidating to me. After my first lesson, I could luckily put all my fears to rest — I learned how to control the gear and determine the ideal wind conditions. Now, I am very excited to master this sport!
Why Coastline?
Coastline Kitesurfing is one of the leaders in the competitive market of kitesurfing lessons in Cape Town thanks to their great courses and affordable rates. Kyle, the owner, has taught at kitesurfing schools across the world and he and his certified team guarantee to get you riding after only 5 lessons! And if you still can’t ride after 5 lessons, they promise to continue with your training until you’re up and away! It is clear that everyone at Coastline is very passionate about this sport and want to share the thrill of it with everyone who knocks on their door for a lesson.
There are various courses to choose from, depending on your skill level and time frame. The 3-day course, which is the most popular, lasts 10.5 hours and gives you the chance to get on the board and ride. The 2-day course of 7 hours is a short course where you learn the basics and enter the water. The master course lasting 5 days or 17.5 hours offers the opportunity to become completely independent and comfortable on the board and with the kite. If you’re looking for a more flexible option you can pay per day, take a 3.5-hour lesson and complete the course in your own time. Aside from that, you can also do a convenient 1-hour Power Kite Course which is a great beach activity with friends. Once you’ve had a taste of kiting, you’ll be keen to get in the water every time the wind blows just right!
Experience kitesurfing firsthand
I attended my first lesson on a windy afternoon in Blouberg — the kitesurfing capital of South Africa. There were plenty of kites in the air and the southeasterly wind showed us what it’s made of. With our harnesses and helmets on, we headed down to a secret beach in Melkbos to learn about the basics and safety aspects of kitesurfing. It was very reassuring to know that my safety was at the top of the list!
Seeing that the wind is your best friend in this sport, the first and most important lesson we learned was determining the wind direction. In order to kitesurf, the wind needs to blow across the shore, and luckily for us, we could easily determine the direction with a strong wind sweeping right across the white sandy beach. We were taught how to handle the kite while setting it up on the beach and it was a lot less intimidating and complicated than I thought.
After the setup was done, Kyle showed us how to attach the kite to the body harness and how to control it in the air. The steering is pretty straightforward and once you get a feel for handling the kite in the air, you’ll just want to get in the water to test your skills!
The second day starts off with a guided setup of the kite and other equipment and taking a more in-depth look at the handling and launching of the kite. You do some body dragging which will give you a greater sense of kite control while you’re in the water. This is a lot of fun! By the end of this lesson, you’ll be more comfortable with all of the equipment and ready to expand your skills.
On the third day you’re ready to do an independent setup and some more body dragging. You start off on the beach learning the theory behind the board, and with some help from your instructor, you then practice getting on the board. The instructor will help you attempt your first board start and finally you get to ride your first meters. The last step is learning to control your equipment and the speed.
Cape Town is a popular kitesurfing destination
Cape Town is famous for its southeasterly wind during summer, and while most Capetonians avoid the beaches in these conditions, kitesurfers gear up to make the most of it. Cape Town’s west coast runs in a similar direction to the southeasterly wind, making Blouberg and Langebaan the ideal kitesurfing destinations. When you’re not trying your hand at kitesurfing, the conditions are almost always perfect for other water sports such as surfing, stand-up paddling or kayaking. With the majestic Table Mountain in the background, Blouberg is not only an ideal kitesurfing destination, but also one of the most beautiful spots to fuel the adrenaline junkie in you!
Accommodation in Blouberg
We bet you’re ready to book your first kitesurfing lesson, right? And with Coastline and LekkeSlaap it has never been easier! Why don’t you make the most of your course and spend a couple of days exploring Blouberg and everything that it has to offer? Surf Kite Sleep offers the ideal backpackers accommodation close to the beach, making it very easy to put your new skills to the test.
Now you can also try your hand at one of the most exciting activities this summer. So, if you love the ocean and you’re ready to take on a new challenge, book your kitesurfing lesson today!
A special thanks to Coastline Kitesurfing for a fun lesson and providing us with photos.
Feature image: Big Stock
