![]() ![]() After a few lessons, I finally felt the thrill of actually putting it all together-the kite, the wind, the board, the balance-and off I went gliding atop the water. Once you program your mind and body to roll with the punches, the rewards just keep coming. It requires patience (did I mention I have very little?), stick-to-it-ness, and the fortitude to get back on the board after a major face-plant that has such force that it literally pulls you clean out of your bikini bottom-I know this firsthand and was assured by Noortje that it’s a rite of passage (along with a good nasal cleaning). She is also one of the best female kitesurfers on the island, winning several amateur competitions including placing first two years running in the long distance category at the Aruba Hi-Winds, a popular international competition event for windsurfers and kitesurfers, as well as earning the top position in long distance and freestyle in other local competitions.įirst things first-this is NOT an easy sport to learn. I decided to delve a little deeper into their world beyond the beach tennis courts, and even took a few lessons with Noortje Derksen, one of my beach tennis partners who also moonlights as a kitesurf instructor when she is not busy with her day job as a physical education teacher at a local high school on the island. If you take up kitesurfing, do you just intrinsically become cool? Their passion for kitesurfing outweighs their passion for beach tennis, and I was always envious to hear of their tales of the kitesurfing culture that transcended the water to become a part of their lifestyle off the water as well. Two of my beach tennis partners are also kitesurfers, along with several other beach tennis players. It took me 15 years to attempt the sport-not because of the fear factor associated with a high-intensity sport in the water, but because I am a technically challenged individual with very little patience, and all those strings and gadgets, and taking the time to untangle and lay out all the lines, blow up the kite…yeah, forget it!įor several years I have played beach tennis-I enjoy the sport, and more importantly, I forged friendships with some really cool chicks along the way. Today, kitesurfing dominates the water, and women have joined the pack. Actually, back then it was something rather new to Aruba, with just a small handful of men enjoying the sport. Windsurfing I was familiar with, but kitesurfing (also known as kiteboarding and kiting) was something altogether new. When I first arrived on the island some 15 years ago, I was fascinated by the colorful kites skirting the horizon as I made my then-daily power walk along Palm Beach and Fisherman’s Huts. Kite gear is like any tool the better the tool the better the end product.Text by Tina Causey-Bislick / Images by Steve Keith Living and loving the kiting lifestyle Gear plays a huge role in your safety and progression which is why we guarantee that you will always be on the latest and greatest when it comes to gear. This also helps speed up your progression as coaches get to give live tips as you need them. We use radios during our water lessons which will give you the comfort of having your coach there at any time you need them. ![]() It’s a game-changer not having to walk up the beach or reset after just a few runs. We use the beach to get super comfy with kite control and then move into the water with boat support for the next stages of progression. ![]() We run a hybrid model of time on the beach and time in the water which results in quick and safe progression. Our goal is to make learning as fun, safe and easy as possible. ![]() The entire Kelsick Kiteboarding team consists of the best kite & foil coaches around the world. ![]()
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