Fancy trying out an activity that sends you soaring? Kitesurfing is a sliding sport practised on the surface of the water, on a board propelled across the sea and into the air by the power of the wind.
Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, and particularly the Plage des Rochelets, just a stone’s throw from your campsite, is the biggest kitsurfing spot in the Pays de la Loire. We give you three tips on how to start kitesurfing safely.
Tip 1: Know what kitesurfing is before you start, and find out if you can do it.
You don’t need to be in top physical condition to enjoy kitsurfing. This sport is practiced with skill and finesse. Towed by a specially adapted kite, kite or sail, kiteboarding is a gliding sport that involves riding a board on the surface of a body of water.
As with paragliding, you need to learn the safety rules and the basics of piloting before you set off. A traction wing is piloted with one or two fingers on each hand. But that’s easier said than done!
Kitesurfing is accessible to the greatest number of people, although beginners will need to be supervised by a kitesurfing school. It’s open to anyone who can swim with a minimum of difficulty to avoid the dangers of deep water, increasing wind and so on. Let’s not forget that kitesurfing is classified as an extreme sport, as there are risks involved. That’s why it’s important to be accompanied from the outset.
Tip 2: Know when and where to kitesurf on the Atlantic coast
Welcome to the Pays de la Loire! Saint-Brévin-les-Pins is the biggest kitsurfing spot in the region ( Loire-Atlantique department), with regulated zones reserved for kitesurfing. The breeze is steady and the wind moderate. Ideal for beginners!
Open all year round, the Plage des Rochelets, close to your campsite, is the place to be for kitesurfers. The weather is essential for kitesurfing. Especially the wind, which is very fickle. It’s often difficult to predict its strength accurately. That’s why you should regularly check the latest weather forecast to avoid any surprises.
Tip 3: What’s in it for me?
Feeling light, fast and powerful are the sensations experienced when kitesurfing. This activity, similar to surfing, goes one step further thanks to the sail that lets you take off with the wind. And it doesn’t take much… Speeds can reach 80 km/h and jumps 18 metres high! Kitesurfing brings self-confidence and serenity to those who dare to try out new experiences and move forward. But it’s also beautiful to watch from the beach…
Photo@Dimitris Vetsikas/Pixabay