Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing / Kiteboarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. At Pigeon Point we have been at the forefront of developing kitesurfing in Tobago. In December 2000 Rikky brought the first Ram Air kites to Tobago. In May 2003 he became an International Kiteboarding Organisation (IKO) instructor. After teaching experience was gained he advanced to become a level 2 instructor.
Over the last 5 years we have taught many people to kitesurf. Kitesurfing in Tobago is taught in a three or four stage process.
Stage 1: You learn to fly trainer kites on the beach, these are normally Ram Air kites or small C-kites. Areas such as safety, set up, launching, piloting the kite, landing, water re-launch and self rescue are covered.
Stage 2: Body Drag. This is where the fun really begins and we increase the size of the kites and enter the water. As the term describes, you body drag through the water using your kite to pull you along. During stage 2 you really get the feel for the kites, you will be flying either C-kites or Bow Kites. Your instructor will follow you and coach you from a jetski or boat. Inevitably you will crash the kite in the water, but the skills learnt in the first stage will enable you to re-launch the kite from the water, and get back having fun flying the kite.
Stage 3: This stage will vary depending on your board skills. If you have wake boarded, snow boarded, skate boarded or surfed, you might advance to a big board and kite. If you have no boarding experience we suggest taking a wake board lesson. With the skills learnt on a wake board lessons the transition to the kite board is usually smoother and easier. Once up and riding we will teach you the correct stance, piloting of the kite, getting up wind, recovery of your board, turning and much more.
The Pigeon Point beach area is a great calm water location to learn to kite surf. Beach training is conducted on Pigeon Point beach or No Man’s Land. 
Body dragging sessions are started on either beach before entering the water, and then you are collected by jetski or boat at the end of the session by the instructor. With such a large sailing area and the use of a jetski or boat we are able to keep away from other sailors.
For the 2007/2008 season we have purchased five new Best kites. These kites will compliment the range we have for kite surfing lessons in Tobago. With the advances in kite design, the new bow kites are reducing the time it takes to learn the sport.
Happy Kite Surfing!
