Kitesurfing on Fuerteventura

Those big colourful kites you see from the road as you drive around the island are not being flown just by enthusiastic kiters – they are usually a mark of one of Fuerteventura’s fastest growing sports ... kitesurfing
 

Kitesurfing - or kiteboarding as it is also known - has attracted an army of followers since its birth about a decade ago.

Kite surfing has caught on in a big way on the island. It is an adrenalin-fuelled mixture of surfing, kite flying and wakeboarding.

Kitesurfing has its origins in Hawaii nine years ago when Frenchman Manu Bertin arrived in Maui with his new invention. Soon, the whole island was hooked.

Contests are now held around the world and riders have been pushing the sport to its limit by coming up with ever more daring manoeuvres.
 

Such has been the growth of the sport that the beaches at

The idea behind kitesurfing is simple - a kitesurfer stands on a board lashed to it with foot straps or bindings. They use the power of a large controllable kite to propel them across the water.

It can be a dangerous sport as you have lines attached to you from the kite which can wrap themselves around and cause injuries.

Schools can be found around the island offering everything from beginner courses to advanced levels.

A beginner course takes between five and ten hours and starts with learning to fly a stunt kite. After this comes a four line kite with a safety system that allows you to detach the kite, lessons in safety procedures and understanding the wind and finally, being introduced to the board.

It often takes time to get up on the board but if you come off – just keep trying! The results are worth it.

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