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There are plenty of great places to
kiteboard around cape town, suitable for the beginner and the experienced
kiteboarder alike. If you
are thinking of starting to kiteboard, taking lessons is important because
it teaches you the safety aspects of the sport.
Lessons will make you aware of certain
precautions that you can take to kiteboard safely. Kiteboarding is not just
about your own safety, but also about those around you. Kite lines are
dangerous and when it powers up under tension it cuts like a knife.
Kiteboarding schools also have a
selection of gear that you can try before. Many people think that lessons
are expensive, but taking a lesson will get you on the water a lot sooner
than someone that didn't take lessons. Not only that, but you would have
learnt the fundamentals that will help keep you kiteboarding safely for a
long time, whereas someone without lessons will not be aware of the dangers
involved in kiteboarding.
What will you need to Kiteboard
You will need a kite, a board, a
harness, a control bar with lines and a wet suit. A helmet is only necessary
if you use a board leash as the leash can catapult your board back to you,
but a helmet can't do any harm if you choose to wear one anyway.
Places to Kiteboard
Langebaan and Shark Bay
The Main Beach at Langebaan is a great place for learners and intermediates,
with the top guys going off of the point. THe wind grows throughout the day
and there are not too many days of the year that you cannot kite. Most
afternoons the winds come in at 4pm whilst the rest of the Cape is
breathless.
Shark Bay is an ideal place to learn with shallow, warm waters and plenty of
space.
Kitebeach
Very popular site for kiteboarding in South Africa. But beware, there is a
mean shore break and the waves can get pretty big. If you get past the shore
break there's plenty of flat water to play in.
Other things to do is to do a downwind from Sunset Beach (about 3 km's
upwind from kitebeach), or to a downwinder from kitebeach to Big Bay (about
1.7 km's away)
Cape Point
Cape Point has got to be one of the most beautiful spots in the world - and
it has huge potential for kitesurfing. The Poleboarders have been going to
Cape Point since the eighties and now more and more kiters are waking up to
the fact that we have a world-class spot 85km's from TableView.
All information from
www.ikiteboarding.com | 
