WIND DANCING IN LANGEBAAN

Kitesurfing in South Africa is concentrated around the coastal areas, stretching from Cape Town, going up to Port Elizabeth and Durban. Surfers go where the waves are strong; kitesurfers follow the wind.

On any summer’s day, when the wind blows, motorists line the roads to watch dozens of kitesurfers at play in the sky. When the world’s best kitesurfers are in need of practice, this is where they come.

The relatively young sport of kitesurfing is an offshoot of windsurfing – a wind-assisted board-riding experience. Your feet are strapped to a board, you control your arch-shaped kite with two or four strings and remember: you’re able to crash-land or de-power your kite anytime by just dropping the lines.

It’s possible, if you live in a windy city by the coast, to teach yourself to kitesurf. But if you fancy trying it out in South Africa, you can choose from a number of kitesurfing schools to learn a few skills. The courses generally last up to two days and they can provide all the gear you need. And if you’re an experienced kitesurfer looking to enhance your skills the schools can help to take you to the next level.

In Cape Town, much of the kitesurfing crowd can be found in Bloubergstrand. Not only do they practise their sport at Kite Beach, they can also be found socialising in the area’s watering holes and restaurants. Even if you’re a kite boarder, the good schools offer one-on-one lessons to take you to the next level.

Although Cape Town has some of the best kitesurfing beaches in South Africa, over the past few years the sport has grown in popularity on Durban’s beaches and along Port Elizabeth’s Sunshine Coast.

There are a number of beaches to choose from to get your kite surfing fix, so be sure to ask a few locals about the best and safest sites.

http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-kiteboarding