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Kiteboarding in Boracay
Can you learn kiteboarding in a week? The answer is a YES, if the wind speed is between 12 to 18 knots. My kiteboarding journey begun last year, where I had 4 days of good wind in Boracay Island, Philippines.
To my luck during my half-term holiday in Boracay, I saw some kite boarders setting up kites on the white beach, and seized the chance to look for an instructor. The first day had very weak wind, so my lesson was out of the water, where we studied the theory and practiced controlling the kite by the beach. The next day I practiced dragging myself in shallow water, side to side with the kite.
On the third day, the wind picked up and although I was unable to ride on the board for long periods of time, I was determined not to give up. I spent 4 hours that day skimming along the shore, gaining my confidence with the speed and timing of moving the kite. Towards the end of the day, I was able to confidently ride the board across the shoreline.
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The fourth and fifth days were great with wind speeds of 15 knots and higher. Although I had the occasional wipeout or entanglement with another kiteboarder, I felt like I was able to demonstrate my improved skills and add to my confidence on the board.
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What a great experience! I cannot wait for another chance to go back to Boracay and kiteboard some more! 11/15/20
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If you're interested in learning this sport, you can reach out to Jojo Tirol of Timog Kitesurfing +639177000470, whose team made kitesurfing fun and safe!
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My Second Wind
04/01/21
Our family relocated to Boracay after the news of a second lockdown in Manila. However, even within the island, we were limited to our own "zones" for safety reasons.
When the winds started getting stronger, I felt a sudden excitement, with my hopes rising up for the possibility of another kiteboarding experience. Three weeks into our stay the wind started to pick up in the white beach area. And out came the colorful kites!
Getting back onto the board after a few months without practice was a rough experience with lots of wipeouts. The waves this time were also much stronger, adding an additional level of difficulty.
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Thankfully, I had 4 days of steady wind speed above 12 knots and I got a lot of time on the water to work on improving my runs, turns and eventually jumps!
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