Kitesurfing is an exhilarating water sport that allows you to feel like you’re flying over the water.
It’s a great adrenaline-filled sport. One that hooks you soon as you master the skills, but it takes a while to master them.
Not only that, but it is also a great way to exercise. Working your balance, core muscles, and challenging the mind all at the same time.
Kitesurfing gets you outside. It is a great alternative to surfing when there is wind, but no waves.
It creates an opportunity to travel to some amazing places all over the world with different conditions. So why wouldn’t you want to add learning to kitesurf to your bucket list?
However, it is a hard sport to master. One that requires day after day of learning. It’s not like surfing, where at least you stand up on the board the first day.
This is why, if you want to learn to kitesurf it is always best to find a labor-intense camp to jump-start your kitesurfing lifestyle.
Kitesurfing schools are everywhere around the world. All schools are situated close to the water, of course, and have great conditions for learning the sport.
If you’re lucky enough to have a kitesurfing camp near you that’s definitely a luxury but for many people, traveling to a kitesurfing school is required.
However, choosing and visiting a kitesurfing school can make for a fun vacation in an exotic place in and of itself.
A big part of what makes kitesurfing camp great is not just the instructors or the ability to teach the sport, but you have to have the right wind and water conditions.
If the kitesurfing conditions aren’t great it is much harder or even impossible to learn.
It’s important to do tons of research before committing to a camp but luckily we’re here to help you narrow down your list.
Best Kitesurfing Camps Around the World
All of the schools and camps on the list below are International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) certified which means they have met the standards to teach and train kitesurfing at a professional level.
We have created a list of some of the best kitesurfing camps and schools all around the world and on every continent except for Antarctica.
Hopefully, there will be one near you or one in an exotic place you have always wanted to visit.
1. KitePeople
El Gouna, Red Sea, Egypt
El Gouna is known as being the best kitesurfing spot in Egypt and it’s a great place for beginners to learn the sport.
KitePeople is located at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa which means there are already accommodations in place.
All you need to do each day is walk out of your room and head to the beach for training.
The area has both shallow and deep water which makes it ideal for all levels of riders.
Certified instructors will teach you the sport in English with a focus on safety.
The group size is a maximum of two people, which means you will get a lot of one on one attention. You will learn with a trainer kite on land before moving into the water.
Wouldn’t it be cool to say you went to Egypt and learned how to kitesurf?
2. SoCal Kitesurfing
Long Beach, California, United States of America
Located on Belmont Shore, SoCal Kitesurfing is one of the best kitesurfing camps in the United States.
The instructors are certified, informative, and only use the best quality gear. The helmets even include a 2-way radio so you can be coached as you ride.
There are various course options including private lessons or even small group lessons.
You will start with an informative beach lesson that will teach you everything you need to know about kitesurfing and how to use the equipment before going out on the water.
The guidance and structure of the course will help you become a pro before you know it!
This is a great option for any Americans wanting to learn, that don’t want to leave the country.
3. Surf Club Keros
Kalliopi, Lemnos, Greece
Surf Club Keros is on the beautiful Keros Beach in Greece. The reason it’s so popular is because guests stay in luxury safari tents, making it an all-around fun vacation.
They have all the amenities you could need while being in the heart of nature and only a 5 minute walk to the beach.
It’s an amazing experience to not only learn to kitesurf but to stay in a really cool environment.
Surf Club Keros has only IKO-qualified instructors and also provides radio helmets so you can be coached every step of the way.
Beginners can learn in waist-deep water which is great for helping you feel comfortable and confident before moving away from the shallow waters.
There are also courses to refresh your skills or progress your skills if you’re at an intermediate level.
The equipment is high quality and always the newest on the market and lessons take place in at least 7 languages including Greek, English, and Spanish.
Surf Club Keros caters to all experience levels and can teach in private or in groups.
You also receive an official IKO student card at the end of your lessons which certifies your level.
What a unique place to take up the sport.
4. C2Sky Kite Center
Mui Ne, Vietnam
Located in Vietnam, C2Sky Kite Center is a great place to learn to kitesurf. The instructors are IKO certified and lessons are available in English, German, Dutch, Polish, Russian, and Vietnamese.
There are both beginner and advanced lessons depending on your level of kitesurfing knowledge.
October through April is the best time for kitesurfing in Mui Ne and C2Sky has a lot of great space on the southern end of the beach for teaching the sport.
They also offer amenities such as showers, WIFI, storage rooms, and a place to chill out before or after your lessons.
You’ll be provided the equipment, an IKO certification card as well as refreshments during your course.
Consider Vietnam for the start of your kitesurfing journey!
5. Ion Club Dakhla
Dakhla Lagoon, Dakhla, Morocco
Ion Club has different locations around the world for kitesurfing. Dakhla is a great spot because it’s located on a lagoon and there are almost constant winds year-round.
Which means it’s possible to kitesurf almost every single day.
This isn’t the case everywhere and sometimes lessons have to be canceled if the weather conditions aren’t right but in Dakhla, you have a great chance of getting to kitesurf every day.
All lessons are instructed by certified kitesurfers and are even offered in several languages.
There are opportunities for beginners, intermediate, and advanced kitesurfers to learn new and valuable skills.
It’s also located on a peninsula and you’ll get different winds and waves at different points which can make exploring the waters a fun activity for more advanced surfers.
Ion Club is definitely a great choice.
6. Surf Connect
Brisbane, Australia
Surf Connect in Brisbane, Australia has been educating people in water sports for over a decade. Which is why it is one of the best kitesurfing camps in the world. They offer 2-hour lessons with some of the best and safest equipment.
By the end of all your lessons if you’re serious about kitesurfing and plan to buy equipment they’ll even credit the cost of your first four lessons towards your equipment.
Not a bad deal!
Surf Connect takes its accreditation very seriously, especially since kitesurfing is such an extreme sport.
At the end of each lesson, you’ll be given a certification card.
After you’ve completed all of the beginner courses your instructor will let you know if you’re ready for independent riding or if you could use more practice.
Instructors truly want to make sure you have the skills needed before attempting to ride solo.
7. Club Ventos
Jericoacoara, Brazil
When learning to kitesurf at Club Ventos, your safety is of the utmost importance.
You will be registered with IKO so that your progress can be tracked. You’ll have the opportunity to continue learning at other IKO centers around the world.
It will also allow you to rent equipment from other locations without having to take a course again.
Club Ventos only uses Cabrinha Kites which is one of the best kitesurf brands on the market.
All instructors are IKO qualified and will provide radio communication throughout the lesson.
Be sure to pay a bit more money for a private lesson.
There are four lessons for three hours each at the beginner course level and there are two intermediate and advanced course offerings as well.
8. Wind Riders
Lake Garda, Limone, Italy
With a backdrop of mountains, it can’t get much better than learning to kitesurf on Lake Garda a hidden gem in Italy.
For over a decade, Wind Riders has been educating people in the sport. They offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons.
They even have a test lesson which is a 1-hour theory, to see if you like the sport.
However, to reach the point of being able to ride independently, the school recommends you take the 5-day course so you can learn all of the necessary skills of a safe rider.
Every instructor is IKO certified and new equipment is purchased each year to makes sure it’s of quality and safe to users.
You’ll also wear a radio helmet for ease of communication with your instructor and at the end of the course, and you’ll be given your IKO level so you can continue lessons at any IKO center.
What to Look for in a Kitesurfing Camp
Many factors determine if a kitesurfing camp or school will truly be able to teach you the skills to learn to master the sport.
Like any other school, there are very prestigious places as well as smaller learning centers.
In order to make a good decision, we’ve gathered some of the important things to look for when choosing a school.
- Instructors– Make sure they’re qualified to be teaching the sport and certified by The International Kitesurfing Organization (IKO)
- Equipment– The quality, age, and condition of the equipment will impact your performance
- Group size– Look for a one-on-one lesson rather than a group setting
- Cost– The prices can vary widely so make sure the school or camp is worth the money
- Accommodations– Some schools or camps provide accommodations onsite otherwise you will need to look for somewhere to stay nearby
- Culture– The community aspect and friendliness, as well as the professionalism of the employees, make a huge difference
- Education– The emphasis on health and safety and building core skills are very important. Instructors who care about teaching their beginners the basics create a better foundation
- Reviews– Always check the reviews and recommendations to make sure the school is a good fit
If you can feel confident with these considerations in mind, you may have found the right school!
Why Visiting a Kitesurfing Camp is a Must!
If you know someone who is a kitesurfer it may be enticing to just learn the ropes from a friend instead of paying to attend courses from a skilled instructor.
However, kitesurfing is not surfing nor is it snowboarding. It is a sport that requires a lot of different and unique skills that you must use all at the same time.
You will need to know how to read the wind, use your kite, and balance on the board.
This is a BIG ask for a friend to teach you or even for you to learn on your own. For the most part, when learning to kitesurf, you will not even get up on your board for the first couple of days.
The sport can be dangerous especially when you don’t know what you are doing.
That is why, It’s highly encouraged to do an intensive camp from a qualified instructor to make sure you learn all the safety precautions and best practices of the sport.
What You’ll Learn at Kitesurfing School / Camp
At Kitesurfing camp, you’ll learn so much about the sport that you may feel like a pro by the end of your training.
Your instructor will teach you all about the equipment you’ll be using. How to use and set up your equipment properly is a big part of the sport.
Also, you need to learn to maintain your equipment, so you will be able to manage your own once you are a proper kitesurfer.
The camp will also teach you how to use the wind. If you don’t understand the wind you won’t make it very far as a kitesurfer.
They will also teach you the basics of how to generate speed, how to turn, and countless other important things.
You don’t even need to be a beginner to benefit from visiting a kitesurfing school or camp.
Even those who are familiar with kitesurfing visit these places to perfect their skills or progress on what they already know.
It’s a great opportunity for any kitesurfer at every level to get comfortable with the sport.
Best Books for Learning to KiteSurf
If you are the type that learns for reading and wants to be prepared for your kite surfing camp before you even show up. You might want to check out these op kite surfing books on Amazon.
Kitesurfing for complete beginners
Conclusions
Kitesurfing is a unique and exciting sport that you should consider trying if you get the chance. It’s the perfect excuse to travel to a remote location for a week and attend a kitesurfing camp.
Who knows, you might just love it and travel all over the world to try out different places.
We hope you enjoyed this article on the best kitesurfing camps. Have you been to an awesome kite surfing camp that wasn’t mentioned on this list? Say so in the comments below
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