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Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

You came to the right blog for Belize Resources and Information.

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March Winds and Learning the Art of Kiteboarding Belize

by tacogirl 09/03/2015
written by tacogirl 09/03/2015
belize sailing school

When looking for things to do in Belize, not many people would be willing to put themselves in a difficult situation where they may end up struggling and looking less than graceful.

That is what I decided to do when I booked at kiteboarding lesson with Kitexplorer at the Belize Sailing School located on the beach at Caribbean Villas Hotel. Thankfully I did not have to look very far to find someone willing to do the same. Kendall agreed to give it a try with me.

After booking our lesson, Andy, (the owner) assured me they provide beginners with a safe and relaxed atmosphere to learn. Wind dependent, the plan was to take us around back of the island to a nice shallow spot where there was nothing for us to crash into.

On the big day, the universe wanted to heighten the experience with a touch more apprehension and a little excitement. When we arrived there was talk of keeping us on the front side of the island and possible cancellation due to very strong March winds. Just what we needed while waiting – visions of flying towards docks faster than the speed of light 🙂

In the end, the original plan came to be, and my wish came true – we got to go to the backside of the island (one of my favorite places.)

As we were boarding the sailing school boat, we saw a couple of experienced kiters take flight. They were zipping back and forth with ease and clearly having a great time. That renewed a sense of excitement in me and I knew that no matter what happened on the other side, I would come out exhilarated and smiling.

Our teacher definitely had his work cut out for him trying to teach a dyslexic ADD tacogirl to remember the process. Which is a large part of why I was apprehensive – short-term memory is a dyslexia issue. I have little control over what gets retained properly and often it takes serious repetition. Knowing my skinny ass would be airborne and that I would likely face plant a few times were also reasons for my trepidation

Audrius is such an excellent instructor. He is informative, safety conscious and very patient. He made kiting easy to understand and gave us a super fun adventure.  He kept an eye on us while we practiced and politely pointed out our mistakes so we knew what to work on.

Learning how to properly control the kite takes some work. Knowing which way to steer and when to let go if you lose too much wind to recover is a big one. Without a doubt, I can say that Rose’s Pilates classes at Zen Arcade were an asset on kiting coordination. At the same time, it is more about technique than fitness… although fitness helps.

Due to a large amount of power generated by the kite and being a lightweight, I was airborne a few times throughout the session. Never high enough to worry and the kite flying me was definitely a thrill ride 🙂

Another thrill was practicing body dragging and we were instructed to fly like Superman and let the kite torpedo us through the water. That was fun. The occasional face plant was not so much but we survived them with smiles and thankfully no sand burn. I only ended up with a salt water taste on my lips, but not a mouthful 😉

It was a fantastic day and both Kendall and I agreed we will eventually be ready to take on the challenge of lesson number two and a board one day.

Overall, I didn’t think it was going to be as easy as it was and Kendall said same. In 3 hours, Audrius took us from totally green to almost capable and wanting more. In spite of it being easier than we thought, it is still challenging and not a sport for those who are extremely lazy or have aerophobia (fear of flying or drafts of air.)

There are a few variables that can affect your safety when you kite-surf and keeping those variables within the bounds that you are comfortable with is important at any level. For beginners, do not hesitate to interview your kite-surfing school before you let them slap a harness on you. If you are not satisfied with the answers shop around till you find an instructor you are confident with. For experienced kite-surfers renting gear, check the quality of the shop you are renting from and make sure they keep their equipment in good condition.

I did not need to do an interview, I knew without a doubt by the way the San Pedro Sailing School is run that founder Andy would not have a kiteboarding instructor onsite that was not world class.

When learning you want the following conditions:

  • Wind speed should be between 14mph – 21 mph. The gustier the wind, the harder it will be for you to learn.
  • You should be in a shallow open water space. That seems like a no-brainer but I have heard stories of rocks and blood.
  • The water should be flat with little or no chop.

Remember, if in doubt then don’t let your instructor take you out. Stay safe and enjoy good winds.

Top kiteboarding tip for Girls:

Wear a sturdy swimsuit 😉 The force of the drag when you face plant is enough to give you a streaker moment, thankfully it did not happen to me and my bikini bottoms held their own. I will likely opt for a full suit when the day comes that we get to practice on the boards.

To read more about our fun adventure check out Kendall’s post – Kiteboarding Adventures on Ambergris Caye – Reset and Restore Belize Blog.

hotels in belize

Departure from the dock at Caribbean Villas

Kiteboarding elizbe

Experienced kite-surfers

belize excursions

Audrius our instructor

Kiteboarding Belize

Kite b boarding boots

best beach in belize

Gorgeous weather

belize beach

Audrius Inflating our kite

best beach in belize

Audrius explaining the aerodynamics of our kite

belize activities

Audrius explaining mechanics

cayo espanto belize

Kendall and Audrius walking out to practice with Cayo Espanto in the distance

belize adventure

Gustavo and I walking out to practice area

kitesurfing in belize

Kendall practicing his body drag

kitesurfing in Belize

Audrius teaching me to fly

belize beach

Captain Melvin watching us learn to pack up

belize activities

Home sweet home and time for celebratory iced coffee and lunch at Amber restaurant

If you are looking for some adventure on your vacation, I highly recommend Kiteboarding Belize.

Related

tacogirl

Laure Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton! I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s... always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and... local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do... what everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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THE ORIGINAL BELIZE BLOG

THE ORIGINAL BELIZE BLOG

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation.

If you have any questions or want Belize discounts, Contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

3 childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age.Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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