Wind and Kite surfing in Tenerife

 

Let the wind rush and the adrenaline flow…

 

The history of windsurfing began in 1948 on the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, USA when Newman Darby invented the sailboard.

 

Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard).

Ask any Wind and Kite Surfer here in Tenerife and they will tell you, El Medano is the favourite place to be… 

 

Located on Tenerife’s south east coast, just a few kilometres from the south airport, El Médano is the island’s ‘coolest’ resort and Tenerife's kite boarding and wind surfing capital. With approximately 290 days of wind a year, your accessibility and enjoyment of this sport is guaranteed!

 

If you want to learn how to Kite Surf, The Kite Center in El Medano offer lessons and equipment:

Wetsuit, helmet with headphones, lifejacket kite equipment included!

3 Hour lessons - 145€ (reduced for groups) and single lesson - 60€

Covers: kite control theory, exercises on the beach, launching and landing of the Kite, practical training in the water etc…

For more details visit www.kitecenter-medano.com

 

Any type of extreme sport can be dangerous, therefore taking formal lessons is of utmost importance.

 

WIND SURFING

 

Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a mast, wishbone boom and sail.

 

 

Here are a few words of Wind Surfing Jargon and basic manoeuvres etc:

Piloting the Kite

Kite Surfing entails piloting the kite and manoeuvring the board. 

 

Launching the Kite

Know the different techniques in successfully launching a power kite and releasing a power kite into the air.

 

Launching the Kite Alone

Every kite surfer should have assistance when launching. However, if you dare to try launching alone, observe the necessary measures in order to have a safe launch.

 

Landing the Kite

After you have successfully launched your kite and surfed among the waves, it's now time to return to the beach. Learn some safety guidelines when landing.

 

Water Re-launch

There is always the possibility of crashing into the water even if you have exerted energy not to.

 

Depowering

Depowering can be done either by linking the lines to form different knots or by using a strap which affects the tension on the center lines. 

 

Body Dragging

Kite Surfing without a board underneath your feet is not only possible but immensely popular as well. This technique is called Body Dragging. 

 

Waterstarting

Waterstarting is all about stabilizing the kite while being attached to a board. A kite surfer should also know the power of the kite and the amount of traction needed to pull him onto the board.

 

Jumping

Jumping is easy to learn and it is one of the techniques that will make the sport more exciting. 

 

Toeside

Surfing toeside enables you to do transitions. It is also similar to riding on the toe edge in Snowboarding 

(all photos from www.windsurfingtenerife.com)

Finals of the 2011 Tenerife Kite Masters

 

The finals took place in El Medano in August where there were five days of action in which to pick the best male and best female riders who got into the finals.

 

Official Results of the 2011 Tenerife Kite Masters:

 

Results Men Freestyle:

 

1. Youri Zoon (NED, Slingshot)

 

2. Tom Hebert (FRA, North)

 

3. Ariel Corniel (DOM, Ozone)

 

Results Women Freestyle:

 

1. Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone)

 

2. Angela Peral (ESP, North)

 

3. Cristina Resinas (ESP, North)

 

Interesting facts:

Kitesurfing - French kitesurfer Sebastien Cattelan became the first sailor to break the 50 knots barrier by reaching 50.26 knots on 3 October 2008 at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia. On 4 October, Alex Caizergues (also of France) broke this record with a 50.57 knots run.

 

Kirsty Jones set a distance record for a kiteboard when she travelled 225 km (140 mi), crossing solo from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to Tarfaya, Morocco, in about nine hours on 13 May 2006.