Kitesurfing + motorhome = a perfect combo!

Guest post in collaboration with Gusty.se

Although a rare sight on our Swedish roads, the iconic image of a Volkswagen T1 with surfboards on the roof is a sight that has hardly escaped anyone. Beachcombing, surfing and a relaxed lifestyle remain a dream for many. But the fact is that it is there, more accessible than ever, albeit in a slightly different form.

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A new dimension to camping holidays

The primitive T1 has been replaced by more comfortable motorhomes and the surfboards have been replaced by less bulky kitesurfing equipment! Now, the message of this article is not to abandon your comfortable motorhome for a decadent life on the beach, but to enlighten you on the possibility of adding a dimension to your camping holiday by becoming a kitesurfer.

The sport of kitesurfing has steadily grown in popularity over the past decade and is practised by young people and retirees alike. The closeness to the sea and the forces of nature, the wonderful feeling of freedom of surfing on the water, physical activity, togetherness with like-minded ...

The combination of kitesurfing's many endorphin-boosting elements is simply unbeatable. So what exactly is kitesurfing? Is it difficult to learn? What equipment is needed? Where can I kitesurf? Read on for a better understanding and an insight into the kite world.

Kitesurfing - an old phenomenon in a new package

The father of kitesurfing, George Pocock, was the man who used kites to propel carriages on land in the early 19th century. The reason for using kites was to avoid the horse tax, but that's another story.

As far back as the 1970s and 80s, the first experiments in developing kites for travelling on water in canoes and on water skis began with limited success. Years of hard work by determined and creative engineers have brought us to today, where these kites are more efficient, safer and more durable than ever.

Kitesurfing is a relatively new sport, but it is definitely here to stay. The most common form of kitesurfing is that of surfing the water while standing on a "twintip" board, a symmetrical board similar to a snowboard or wakeboard board which gives the practitioner great variety to not only surf the water but also to jump and do different tricks.

If you prefer a softer riding style, the twintip board can be replaced by a regular wave surfboard or a hydrofoil board to minimise stress on knees and joints that may no longer be in top condition. However, you don't have to be 20 years old to kitesurf. There are 80-year-olds who kitesurf, so with motivation and patience, just about anyone can learn.

How do you learn to kitesurf?

Few people would think of getting into a car and driving on a busy road... Like driving and many other activities, kitesurfing is an activity where things can go very wrong if you don't learn the basics and don't handle the kite equipment properly.

Therefore, it is important that anyone who wants to learn to kitesurf goes to a kitesurfing school and books a kite course where they learn the basics so that they can continue training on their own. A standard course usually lasts two days, which is enough for a good kitesurfing instructor to teach you the basics and for you to gain enough control to handle a kite on your own after the course.

What equipment is needed to kitesurfing?

A board, a kite, a harness and a wetsuit are all you need for kitesurfing. If you buy everything new, it will cost you a fortune, but on the second-hand market you can find a wide range of second-hand equipment at a good price. The equipment is durable and if you take good care of it, it will last for many years.

The thing that wears the most is the wetsuit, which you probably prefer to buy new anyway. The boards are made of durable material that is almost impossible to destroy unless you drive with the board on rocks. Similarly, the harness is difficult to wear out and you can easily use a harness for years before it starts to get damaged.

When it comes to kites, it's mainly lines that can wear out over the years, so check them for fraying and knots if you buy a second-hand kite. However, just like windsurfing, there are different sizes of kites. If the wind is light, you need a large kite and a smaller size the more it blows. With only one kite, you are therefore limited to kitesurfing in a certain wind range. As a beginner, however, it is recommended to kitesurf in moderate winds, which is why a kite of a reasonable size may be sufficient.

Where can you kitesurf?

Along the coasts of Sweden, and especially in Skåne and on the west coast, you will find places that are well suited for kitesurfing. It is advantageous to kitesurf where there are generous areas to rig, launch and land your kite. It is also desirable to kitesurf where the water is shallow and has a fine sandy bottom. If the water is deep, it is more difficult to get out into the water and if the bottom is rocky, you can injure yourself if you crash the kite. In any case, the number of so-called "kite spots" is large and kite surfers rarely have to travel far to find a kite spot.

However, it is important to check the weather forecast before going out on the water. Kitesurfing requires little wind and, for beginners, preferably not too much wind, between 6 - 10 m/s is a good range. The direction of the wind is also crucial. If the wind is blowing from offshore, kitesurfing is not an option because you will drift out to sea if you have an incident on the water.

If you own a motorhome and like to visit different places, kitesurfing is perfect as you can simply camp near great kite spots. To mention a campsite in Skåne, Habo Ljung is by far the best campsite as it is located right next to a beach with optimal conditions for kite surfing and where you can also take a kite surfing course.

Around Sweden, Europe and in many places around the world, kite surfing is popular. For many people, travelling has taken on a whole new meaning as it is easy to bring your kite equipment to kitesurf in different destinations and several organisers arrange "kite trips".

Kitesurfing at its best

Kitesurfing is an activity suitable for all ages. Jumping and doing different tricks takes practice and practice, and most people can only dream of being as good as the pros. Nevertheless, it is inspiring and fun to see what is possible with a kite. Words can't really describe the feeling so in conclusion I want to share this video that I myself have seen an uncountable number of times, I simply love it 🙂 /Gustav

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