KITESURFING

Learning to Kitesurf on Spain's Windiest Shore

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22/07/2019


The most southerly point on mainland Europe and a stone’s throw from Africa, the Spanish town of Tarifa sits at a crossroads of continents, culture and oceans. The town has always had an exciting energy and has seen a colourful array of life pass through its waters; including Romans, hippies, submarines, whales on their annual migration journey, Phoenicians, and even (some say) UFOs. Besides the reported extra-terrestrial encounters, Tarifa is renowned as a mecca of water sports. The Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans meet on its shores and strong winds from all directions gather over the peninsula, ideal for kite surfers who harness this power to propel them across the water. I spoke to our instructors and Jaime, a local, about learning to kite surf in Spain’s windiest town.

 5 min read

I first visited Tarifa was I was 18. After a 1 ½ hour drive along the Andalusian coast from my home in Malaga, I looked down on the fishing settlement from the hill behind Los Lances beach, just west of Tarifa’s centre. Looking back from where I had come, it was all familiar; dark beaches and flat ocean. The change in landscape around Tarifa was drastic and the Atlantic influence was striking; golden sand stretched up the coast in front of me, the sea was alive and full-bodied and mountainous sand dunes rose up from the shoreline. 

The town is perched on the southern tip of Spain –the very last stop in Europe before the African continent. On a map, Tarifa looks like it is reaching out towards Morocco, almost touching its shores.


Since the 1980's, Tarifa has been a hotspot for watersports. It's notoriety is staggering, and for good reason. I had a chat with local resident Jaime González Zabal, self-proclaimed wind addict, about Tarifa’s allure. “It is so special for water sports fanatics,” he said, “because it is the exact point where the high mountain ranges of both continents tighten into a point. Both the Spanish peninsula and the hilly north African coast funnel the winds that blow across the oceans from East and West, creating this golden spot.”

These legendary Atlantic winds sweep in surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers from every corner of the world, all eager to test their skills. This community of adrenaline junkies has given the ancient 
Roman settlement a laid-back international vibe and bohemian charm.

Kitesurfing lessons and courses in Tarifa:

Our kite surf instructor in Tarifa, Pau Fuente, describes how Tarifa benefits from ideal conditions: “We have warm weather throughout the year - in winter it doesn’t really get colder than 18C, although the waves get much more powerful so it’s exciting for more experienced riders. From March to Christmas, the conditions are perfect for beginners.”

The mountainous landscape funnels the winds from East and West, creating the perfect spot in the middle: Tarifa

This is why, all year round, hundreds of kites and sails can be spotted on the ocean around Tarifa. Jaime explains that most of the year, there are winds with higher force than 4 (expect wind speeds of around 18mph) on the Beaufort scale. For anyone who isn’t familiar with wind measurements, that is an impressive rate and perfect for wind and kite surfers.

I remember that first visit to Tarifa when I was 18, standing on the shore and watching the kite surfers launching into huge aerial manoeuvres, pulling freestyle tricks as they hung suspended in the air, before quite gracefully hitting the water again, carving tracks in the frothing sea and flying over the waves. I didn’t dare try it then, but our instructor Hector who offers kitesurfing lessons on Dedico, assures me now that everyone can kite surf. “Anyone who knows how to swim can kitesurf,” he said. “If kitesurfing and windsurfing were brothers, windsurfing would be the stronger, bigger older brother. Kitesurfing isn’t as physical or as demanding on the body as windsurfing because all the power from the kite passes through a harness around your waist. The muscles in your arms don’t work as hard, that’s why you see people from 10 years old to 70 kiting.”

Although everyone can do it, it is possible that some will take to the sport quicker than others. Pau says that anyone with experience snowboarding, skateboarding or surfing has an advantage when learning to kite surf. “It’s about the balance,” he explains. “You instantly have a feel for the board under your feet and an instinct for manoeuvre.” Similarly, Hector suggested that paragliders often find that kitesurfing comes naturally to them. “Windsurfing,” he said, “is a different sport, it is more about sailing. Like paragliding, kitesurfing is more like flying!”

Pau’s tips for beginner kite surfers:

  • Don’t be intimidated by the sport: it’s all about technique, which you can learn. 
  • Practice first with a trainer kite on shore, this will help you gain confidence in your control of the kite.
  • Ensure you are aware of self-rescue procedures in the water and what to do if you are in trouble. 
  • Relax! Although it is a risky sport, that’s part of the fun. When you learn, your instructor will put your safety as the main priority.

Hector described how a standard beginner course is split into three distinct steps. First and foremost, any kitesurfing lesson will begin on the beach. Instructors will go through all the theory of kiting, how it actually works. The learner then practices kite control from the shore, gaining confidence in their ability to steer the kite. The second part of any beginner lesson takes it to the water for ‘body drag’. You learn how to move yourself in the sea, relaunching the kite, controlling it’s power and how to react when you cross other kiters. The third and final element is the most technical. Here, you learn the water start: you pull together all the exercises you have been practicing to finally stand up and ride.

Tarifa’s geographical positioning means more than exceptional wind conditions. The Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow corridor of water separating Spain from Africa, carries whales on their migratory journey between the middle east and the Atlantic. You can spot orcas, sperm whales and fin whales, as well as dolphins, by taking a local excursion which sail from the port in Tarifa.

Tarifa’s beauty is not limited to its waters. I took a day to explore its mountainous dunes and pine forests, even stumbling across a spot where locals went to rub the mineral-rich clay on their bodies. It was a surreal sight; small groups of people wandering around in the middle of nowhere, covered from head to toe in clay. In the town itself, take time to visit the medieval Guzman castle and wander through the labyrinth of walled streets. Tarifa has loads of buzzing hang out spots. Evenings spent soaking up the atmosphere in one of the many surf bars and meeting other water sports enthusiasts are a great way to pass your time out of the water. 

While Tarifa offers more than its water sports, the majority of people travelling to the Andalusian town arrive with a thirst for adrenaline, and it certainly delivers what they come looking for.


Mariano Galán is a co-founder of Dedico. With a Bachelor degree in History of Art and MA in Multimedia Design, he likes being involved in our arts and creative content. He is also a water guy and has been surfing for almost 30 years.

Why learn to kitesurf in Tarifa?

  • It is a world class kitesurfing spot
  • The town attracts the best kite surf instructors
  • Enjoy the natural coastal paradise
  • Mix sports with Andalusian culture, food and weather
  • It is a hotspot for kitesurfing brands: find a range of shops selling gear, clothing and products

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