Turks and Caicos Islander kiteboarder Hope LeVin on the waters at Grace Bay. |
Special thanks to local kiteboarder Hope LeVin for contributing to this
article.
Kitebarding is the newest and hottest watersport. It involves a big
kite, a board, and of course wind. Are you already a kiteboarder and
want to know the local spots? Or are you interested in learning? Read on
for more info.
Providenciales is home to a host of amazing kiteboarding spots. All have
crystal clear water and powdery sand, and most are deserted. It’s a
relatively undiscovered kiteboarding paradise. There are currently no
laws or regulations against kiteboarding on any beaches in the country.
The local kiteboarding ‘secret spots’
See our article on
Providenciales Beaches
for location information.
Long Bay – This is the most popular kite spot in the Turks and Caicos.
On a windy day, there is sure to be 5 to 10 kiters out. Long Bay is a
shallow bay extending out for miles with warm waters and consistent
winds. This beach is located on the south side of the island. Due to
this the wind has no obstructions and is gust free!
This is a great spot to learn as the shallow waters are perfect for
walking out in, and make teaching and learning kiteboarding easy.
Grace Bay – Located on the north side of the island, this beach isn’t
frequented by the kiteboarders as much as Long Bay. Many hotels are
built up along this beach, which adds to the disruption to the wind, and
many tourists sunbathe on the beach.
Unlike Long Bay, the water is much deeper, and is an average of 10 –
12ft a few metres off the beach. This leads it to be less inviting for
beginner kiters, but it is a fun spot nevertheless.
When kiting on Grace Bay take caution of the passing tourists and boats.
Wave Riding
Cuts along the barrier reef located on the north side of
Providenciales offer waves of 2-4ft. During storms the swell rises up to
10ft.
Depending on the wind direction, the reef is a 5 minute tack out. A
safety boat isn’t a necessity, but some caution should be taken when
riding the reef, as the changing tides expose reef. Let a buddy know
when you go out.
Beginners and Lessons
Heard enough about kiteboarding and now want to learn?!
Providenciales is the perfect spot. Long Bay offers warm shallow water,
and our two locals kitschools Big Blue Unlimited and KiteProvo take
advantage of.
Lessons are 1 – 3 hours, and initially involve learning how to fly a
small trainer kite. Once this is master the student moves one to the
real deal and goes into the water. Both schools offer packages, so
expect to be riding in 2 – 3 days. Depending on the school, lessons are
normally offered for ages 10 years and up and are approx $65 an hour.
Both schools also offer equipment for rental.
More
Kite safaris - Big Blue Unlimited offers eco-kiteboarding safaris to
kite spots only accessible by boat. This is an amazing opportunity to
explore spots that are rarely ridden.
Windvibes - The kiteboarding community hosts the yearly Windvibes
Kiteboarding Competition. This has been an annual event since 2007.