The mix of wakeboarding, surfing and paragliding experiences a huge boom and the technic as well as the material have improved a lot.
In generall, we recommend to visit Conil outside the main season, in order to fully enjoy the wind, waves and beach.
Kitesurfing is quite easy to learn, but we recommend still to go to a professional kitesurfing school to safely be thaught the basics and the safety aspects.
Spots for kitesurfing in Conil de la Frontera and Andalusia
Kitesurfen mit Westwind (Poniente)
The western wind Poniente arrives side-onshore and brings 4-6 Bft. depending on the time of the year. Small to medium size waves come with the Poniente providing perfect conditions for beginners and advanced riders.
For Poniente kites between 12 and 16m² are recommendable.
Kite-Spot: Cabo Trafalgar, Caños de Meca
This spot is a 10min car drive away from Conil, but definitely worth the effort. The bay on the left of the lighthouse of Trafalgar offers perfect kitesurfing conditions.
With western wind the water is absolutely flat on the inside of the bay and further out at the cape is where some clean waves break (especially in the winter time).
Some nice beach bars are also to be found at this spot, where you can eat and drink after an exhausting kitesurfing day.
Distance from Conil
12km
Time driving
10min
Beach length
1,5km
Beach width
150m
Best season
all year
Services
2 beach bars, breakfast cafes, restaurants
Installations
-
Directions
From Conil follow along the coast in direction Caños de Meca -> look out for the lighthouse of Trafalgar
Valuation
* * * * *
The most comfortable solution is to book one of the holiday accommodations right at the spot.
Here some recommendations for accommodation in Conil de la Frontera and at the Cabo Trafalgar:
While windsurfers love the strong Levante, kitesurfers used to avoid this wind in the early days of the sport.
Mostly, Levante reaches bewteen 6 and 9 Bft. and its direction is side-offshore from the left. Levante demands a very high level of kitesurfing skills.
With small boards and kites of the latest generation Levante can be still a lot of fun and a great challenge.
You should generally keep in mind:
Levante blows side-offshore (crossing against the wind is a must)
Levante more gusty than Poniente
Levante builds up quickly and gets very stong
Kite spot: Conil de la Frontera, Costa de la Luz
In Conil de la Frontera it's only allowed to kitesurf at the left side of the lagoon (past the bridge). Strong Levante in Tarifa will always show 1-2 Bft. less in Conil.
The wind direction is sideshore either way. Waves can be a challenge in the winter time between October and May.
Distance
1km left of Conil de la Frontera
Driving time
1min
Beach length
3km
Beach width
250m
Best season
all year
Services
Beach bars about 400m next to kite spot at the beach promenade, Kitesurf school
Installations
Showers, public toilets
Directions
left of the promenade, look where other people kitesurf
Valuation
* * * *
Kite schools and kite lessons in Conil de la Frontera - Andalusia
Over the last couple of years Conil has developed a good offer of kitesurfing shops that sell the latest material and also teach kitesurfing lessons.
Some kite schools work with helmets and microphones for communication and a zodiac for support in the water.
The level of equipment and know-how is extremely high in Conil.
Most kitesurf schools have a certificate of the International Kitesurfing Organisation (www.IKO.com). Optionally, others are certified by the VDWS (www.vdws.de), which is a German organisation.
Here same kite shops / kiteschools we can recommend:
Kitesurf shops in Conil de la Frontera
Kitesurf schools in Conil de la Frontera
Oasis Surf Shop, Chiclana
Maguila Surf Shop, San fernando
Eclipse Surf Shop, Cadiz
Kite2Fly.com, Conil de la Frontera
Inside out Kiteschool, Conil de la Frontera
We'll be pleased to help getting into this sport and can arrange the best accommodation for you.
The media likes to present kitesurfing as a sport that is easy to learn. In reality it is not that easy.
Kitesurf school like to promise to get in the water on your third day, but still you'll be far away from knowing how to kitesurf properly.
You'll need a couple of weeks for sure to learn the basic and reach a safe level for most conditions.
Own experiences kitesurfing in Conil
Don't try to impress other people
Take your time learning the basics
Ask the locals about the spot and its peculiarities
Test your quick release under real life conditions
Process quicker by learning with a kite instructor and skip the frustration
Think through emergency situations and how to react - in the water it'll be too late
Source: www.vwds.de
Look for the right spot to practice on land and water with enough space to start and land the kite. The proper practice spot must: - be free of obstacles like trees, rocks, cars, houses etc. for at least three tiimes the length of your lines.
Only go kitesurfing in conditions, which you can control. Don't overestimate your skills and choose the proper size of kite depending on the wind and your skills.
Avoid gusty wind and look for sideshore direction.
Check your board and kite on funcionality. Make sure the lines are not demaged and the kite is set up correctly. Check the saftey system.
Always use a funcional quickrelease for all connections and a safety leash.
Never go kiting without a wetsuit, helmet and floating support.
Make sure that no others get injured or endangered by your kitesurfing.
Obey the rules for environmental behaviour
Store your board and kite safely on the beach and only let experienced people help you launch or land tghe kite.
Never kite close to persons who are within the range of your kite.
Never kite alone and don't ride out further than you can swim. Make sure somebody knows you're on the water for sending help in the worst case.
Tipps for advanced kitesurfers
Have a lot of time to practice ;-)
Here a kitesurf video of the Worldtour PKRA in Tarifa 2007 (www.kiteworldtour.com, www.kitesurfworldcup.de)