Kite Surfing in Phuket ?

[iTravel]

Anyone now if there is kite surfing in Phuket. I will be at Karon beach and I would love to try it out. Will travel if needed. Any info would be great.

[Captain]

I've seen it done in Patong. Which beach doesn't make any difference I think. Question is if there will be enough wind (don't know how much wind you need).

[LivinLOS]

Phuket is actually really quite good conditions for kite surfing.. Theres a couple of schools and its also dangerous enough that you dont just rent and go like a windsurfer etc.

One based on the Chalong Rawai road run by a friendly hyperactive german guy.. I paid for a course for my brother as a present recently.

[perky]

There's a kite surfing outfit that operates on a couple of beaches: Phuket kitesurfing school Phuket Kiteboarding school

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Phuket is actually really quite good conditions for kite surfing.. Theres a couple of schools and its also dangerous enough that you dont just rent and go like a windsurfer etc.

One based on the Chalong Rawai road run by a friendly hyperactive german guy.. I paid for a course for my brother as a present recently.

Was your brother happy with it?

I've been debating learning for years now. Could be time to do it.

[LivinLOS]

well.. all in all yes.. but didnt think it was great value..

3 'sessions' actually boiled down to a couple of half day (couple hour really) and one half day to try to use the skills. For 15k it wasnt a great deal but fun anyway.

After thats done I dont know what the rental or just equipment use costs are as hes been off to bali and now france and UK.

[iTravel]

15k does not sound like a very good price. About the same it costs in Australia.

Thanks for the info.

[LivinLOS]

That was my thought.. Plus the lessons were not 1 on 1.. I think (I wasnt there) he had 3 students... 45k for 1.5 days work / hobby.

[iTravel]

3 on 1 is bad. 1 on 1 is the standard in Australia. Seriously I can't see how it can be done 3 on 1.

I watched them a few weeks ago. First the student sits on the beach with a little kite+harness and learns how the kite moves with the teacher sitting behind them. Then student moved to a normal size kite and in the shallow water again with the teacher just behind them yelling left,right,down,pull etc etc as the student gets dragged along by it. Rather amusing Then they get a board and they try to get moving. All the time I cannot see any room for another student let alone 2 without the teaching process taking a lot longer.

[LivinLOS]

I dont know.. maybe it was theory..

I have had paragliders and mates in holland had 4 line kits and beach kite buggys.. So done the controlling a sail part.. But combining that with balance on the board.. that looks tricky !!

[iTravel]

We have the buggy's down here to. They look like a fair amount of fun and they get up some decent speed. Not a lot of space where they operate around here.

[banger_chris]

Hi there!

I'm a Kite Surfer so always checking every place i visit. First of all. Forget Phuket for Kite-Surfing unless you want to learn and fly with a 20 sqm. Kite. (which is not fun, believe me...) The problem is: Theres just not enough wind around Phuket. Pretty much all the known Kite-spots around Thailand lack wind. (Phuket,Chumphon, Samui, Hua Hin).

The best time for Kite Surfing in Thailand is during the north east monsoon. Usually November till mid of January. And even then you have to cross fingers to get a decent breeze.

I will travel to SE Asia in just 4 weeks for a Kite-Holiday. I will visit Thailand (transit) and go to Vietnam. One of SE Asias Top Kite and Windsurfing Spots is Mui-Ne. Has perfect conditions till end of April.

Heres some Mui-Ne Video Footage on youtube:

YouTube - Mui Ne Madness

IF you need infos, pm me! I'm a Kite Addict!


hang loose,

banger_chris

[Denver]

I enjoy skimming through the waves on my waveyboardy thingy. I'm sewing a new improved kite as I type...........Big bugger too!

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by banger_chris

Hi there!

I'm a Kite Surfer so always checking every place i visit. First of all. Forget Phuket for Kite-Surfing unless you want to learn and fly with a 20 sqm. Kite. (which is not fun, believe me...) The problem is: Theres just not enough wind around Phuket. Pretty much all the known Kite-spots around Thailand lack wind. (Phuket,Chumphon, Samui, Hua Hin).

Less than ideal but not worth while to learn in Phuket? The wind is generally quite good for sailing why isn't that enough for kiteboarding?

The vietnam location sounds awesome once you are more advanced.

[banger_chris]

hi!

like i said "unless you want to learn kite surfing with a 20 sqm kite". for beginners learning to kite with material that big can be quite intimitating at least to speak. i dont have to tell you what unstable winds can do to you when youre attached to 20 square meters of sail 25 metres above your head.

its doable doh. a fun sport. check it out! you will love it once youre onboard.

from my own experience over the last seven years thailand wasnt the best place to kite. it just lacks the wind to go with "small" fun material (9 - 12sqm equipment).

have fun & take care

[LivinLOS]

Well it was blowing a good stiff westerly the last couple of days.. Strong winds..

[banger_chris]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Well it was blowing a good stiff westerly the last couple of days.. Strong winds..

when youre out and about for some practice hours then? if the wind is good its a must do! if im down the next time in patong we should go for some relaxed learning hours if some guys are interested. would be a fun day out!

cheers,

chris

[cyber_surfer]

like i said "unless you want to learn kite surfing with a 20 sqm kite". for beginners learning to kite with material that big can be quite intimitating at least to speak. i dont have to tell you what unstable winds can do to you when youre attached to 20 square meters of sail 25 metres above your head.

its doable doh. a fun sport. check it out! you will love it once youre onboard.

from my own experience over the last seven years thailand wasnt the best place to kite. it just lacks the wind to go with "small" fun material (9 - 12sqm equipment).

HI Guys,

im not too sure where your getting your info from banger_chris BUT.....was out yesterday from 7am - 12pm on my 12m Ozone, blowing 13 knots gusting 15 max, was staying upwind and jumping (although not very high) even seen a guy out on his 9m last week.

no school here will teach you with a 20m kite, all use 9 - 12 sqm, thats a fact!

Had about 15 days of GOOD wind last month and maybe 20 with winds you can teach in (dont need strong wind too teach) December was the same. November we went to chumphon averaging 15 - 20 knots daily !

Ive never seen anyone use a 20m kite here, maximum a 17m Contra.

If you want to kitesurf this time of the year dont even think about Patong, the wind direction is wrong, go to Chalong Bay, friendship beach resort early in the morning, its blowing right now 14 knots cross on shore!

sitting in Patong you will never feel it.

if the tide is low go to south end of rawaii beach

The wind here is not perfect but we do get wind, you will always find it here somewhere, ive found when the north easterly doesent blow you get a south westerly build up from the heat of the land in the afternoon around promthep cape, (this is when you will feel it in Patong or Karon) take a little longtail out to buddha island just off the shore and its blowing 20 knots!

Another tip is usually around cape panwa it is about 3-5 knots windier than chalong if the direction is more easterly, low or high tide there is a great spot that can have you on the water for hours!

Regarding lessons i would reccomend using Rogers kite school rather than the German guy! Roger charges PER HOUR, not per course, he is reasonably priced at around 1500 baht per hour and maximum 2 students per teacher, he is also the only school that can teach at low tide and a SUPER nice bloke, German guy just loves to shout! Roger usually does 3 hours per day until your ready, most of his students are up and riding after the 3rd day.

Also get yourself a trainer kite of you want a head start, they can fly in 6 knots of wind which we have here nearly everyday, they are small 2 meter or 3.5 meter kites and will give you good understanding of steering a kite and how the power of the wind window works.

Anyone need a trainer kite let me know i have some available to sell, also some second hand kitesurfing gear and some brand new kites from OZONE. The trainer kites range from 6 - 9,000 baht.

This sport is amazingly addictive so be carefull, very quick learning curve also once you get the kite skills down its just a matter of practice makes perfect.

Anybody got any questions PM me, also check out Welcome to KitesurfThailand.com
and Thailand Kitesurfing Schools Thailand Kiteboarding Schools: Phuket Kitesurfing school: Hua Hin Kitesurfing school: Chumphon Kitesurfing school

Good Winds!

[cyber_surfer]

The best time for Kite Surfing in Thailand is during the north east monsoon. Usually November till mid of January. And even then you have to cross fingers to get a decent breeze.

how about late feb - april in Hua Hin? they get trade winds there during this time, its the strongest winds of the year in the whole of Thailand over this period.

[iTravel]

cyber_surfer thanks for the info. Roger sounds like a O.K. price. Not a bargain but better than local prices in Australia.

[cyber_surfer]

iTravel,

actually the 1500 per hour price is for PRIVATE lessons, if its semi private with 2 people it costs around 1300 baht per hour.

just confirmed it with Roger.

[ATMwalking]

cyber_surfer - thanks for the info. I found it hard to believe we could run regattas but not have enough wind to kite surf. You've added a lot of good details.

Could be time for me to finally get going and give Roger a call!

[cyber_surfer]

ATMwalking,

would be great to see more people at it here actually, dont like going out on my own, can be dangerous in the wrong conditions and always better to have another kiter out there in case you get in trouble!

Maybe ill see you on the water! winds looking strong again tomorrow morning 7am - 12pm and the tide is right, take a jaunt to Friendship beach and have a gander, ill be watching also, got my feet cut bad on the reef 2 days ago so im out for a few days!

just my luck when the winds up!

[floppy]

on the same subject sea rescue just managed to find 2 kite surfers off the west australian coast after they set off a eperb or whatever its called , after setting off for couple of hours, trip down the coast ..no mans land....took 2 days to find them..

[cyber_surfer]

you gotta link to the article online?

heard this happening a few times, usually when guys go out on offshore winds.