Kitesurf Centre Tobago

Kite surfing / Kiteboarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. At Pigeon Point they have been at the forefront of developing kitesurfing in Tobago. Over the last 5 years they have taught many people to kite surf. Kitesurfing in Tobago is taught in a three or four stage process.

The centre also offers kayaking, waterskiing and wake boarding, hobie cat sailing and towable rides.

THE SPOT

The Pigeon Point beach area is a great calm water location to learn to kite surf. Beach training is conducted on Pigeon Point beach or No Man’s Land. Body dragging sessions are started on either beach before entering the water, and then you are collected by jetski or boat at the end of the session by the instructor. With such a large sailing area and the use of a jetski or boat we are able to keep away from other sailors.

INSTRUCTION

Stage 1:
You learn to fly trainer kites on the beach, these are normally Ram Air kites or small C-kites. Areas such as safety, set up, launching, piloting the kite, landing, water re-launch and self rescue are covered.

Stage 2:
Body Drag. This is where the fun really begins and they increase the size of the kites and enter the water. As the term describes, you body drag through the water using your kite to pull you along. During stage 2 you really get the feel for the kites, you will be flying either C-kites or Bow Kites. Your instructor will follow you and coach you from a jetski or boat. Inevitably you will crash the kite in the water, but the skills learnt in the first stage will enable you to re-launch the kite from the water, and get back having fun flying the kite.

Stage 3:
This stage will vary depending on your board skills. If you have wake boarded, snow boarded, skate boarded or surfed, you might advance to a big board and kite. If you have no boarding experience they suggest taking a wake board lesson. With the skills learnt on a wake board lessons the transition to the kite board is usually smoother and easier. Once up and riding they will teach you the correct stance, piloting of the kite, getting up wind, recovery of your board, turning and much more.

EQUIPMENT

They have purchased five new Best kites. These kites will compliment the range they have for kite surfing lessons in Tobago. With the advances in kite design, the new bow kites are reducing the time it takes to learn the sport.