Author: Tantrum

Performance Kitesurfing in Tarifa, Spain.
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Playa Valdevaqueros, Tangana’s – Tarifa

Tangana Beach Bar - Tarifa

Playa de Valdevaqueros

Set on Playa Valdevaqueros, Tangana is a great spot to kite, windsurf or just chill on the beach and pass the time away with a cold beer in your hands.

When the Levante wind blows this is the perfect spot to set your kite up and have a great day riding as the angle of the wind combined with the layout of the bay means you can ride safe in the knowledge you shouldn’t (if you are careful) end up in Morocco if things go wrong!

The spot works well in Poniente days too as if the weather gods are on our side a great thermal wind can kick in during the afternoon created by the massive sand dune that over looks Punta Paloma.

There’s really no hazards to be careful of at first glance, but a closer inspection reveals a few things to be wary of. The Levante wind can be fickle, not only can it shift direction quickly but also has a tendency to change direction as you get further away from the beach, slowly moving to blowing more offshore. This is especially true the closer to the point of Punta Paloma you get (the point to the right as you look out to sea from the beach). Keep an eye on your angles and this wont be a problem. The point itself is a great measure of this, draw a line between the source of the wind, you and the point…if you were to be blown by the wind and would miss the point you’re too far out…simple.

As the wind backs and blows more offshore it gets more gusty as the mountain of La Peña blocks its flow and causes it to become turbulent, in this Tangana’s becomes a little sketchy for beginners as that line we we’re talking before means you’ll now miss the point, for this reason on more offshore days many beginners tend to crowd together in the bottom corner near the sand dune where the curve of the bay offers a safe landing even if things go wrong.

Tangana Beach Bar - Tarifa

As you move West down the beach, towards the dune, the wind generally becomes less strong and more gusty as it starts to rise over the dune. Conversely as you head East (back towards Tarifa) the wind gets stronger as cleaner as you get closer to the bunker (an old WWII machine gun pill box). For this reason many head slightly upwind after launching from Tangana’s in a Levante.

Levante can also die suddenly, this tends to happen at the changing of the tide (no one has offered me a convincing explanation as to why this should be so, so if anyone knows anything leave it in the comments please!) and at the end of the day. Many is the time when we’ll be packing up and see 10’s of kites literally kilometres out, ditched in the water with no wind to relaunch (despite the fact it was blowing 30 knots a second ago) and a long swim back. While the current will generally return you to the beach (in it’s own sweet time) it’s a real pain in the backside especially if you went out at midday in board shorts!

Parking wise, the best place to park is obviously Tangana’s itself. However this gets VERY busy in the summer so get here early. You can also park at Club Mistral which is about 200m back in the direction of Tarifa. Again this place gets busy but they have tonnes of space, they do charge (around 2 €) for parking though, but have a great chill out lawn and kit rental facility. The other place to park is Punta Paloma, right in front of the dune. This parking is free and so fills up quickly. Also a favourite spot for the kite schools so if you don’t want to be dodging beginners probably better to stay away!

You’ll find it hard to find another spot around as good that combines a great beach, good wind and awesome facilities, you won’t want to leave even if there’s no wind, and the fact the Tarifa Kite Masters was held here says it all really.

Playa ValdevaquerosGOOD POINTS:

  • Clean wide beach
  • Great riding in Levante wind.
  • Flat water combined with strong, strong wind. Awesome Chiringuito to get a cold beer and good food.
  • Windsurf and Kite surf equipment available to rent.
  • Can work well in Poniente especially if the thermal kicks in.

BAD POINTS:

  • Can get quite gusty due to the wind shadow of the surrounding hills (we like gusts though!)
  • Gets busy at weekends and in the summer.
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Kitesurfing in the UK

Kitesurfing Dover

Kitesurfing in the UK can be a frustrating experience!

As a small island you’re pretty much guaranteed there will be wind somewhere within reach of you on any given day. Finding the time to get there at the right time, on the right tide before the wind dies can be more challenging!

That said the UK does have some truly world class kiting.

All the major pro tours (including the windsurf tours) used to stop here, until too many of the pro’s complained about the cold and cried off! The UK has produced Aaron Hadlow and several other kitesurfing superstars who all considered a UK beach their home spot during their years of training.

The range of conditions and the often spectacular backdrops are amongst the finest I’ve ever ridden.

If you’re relying on one spot for all your kitesurfing you could be in for some extended ‘dry’ periods as the UK doesn’t really have any guaranteed wind systems…unless you head up to the North of Scotland…only for the brave and thick of wetsuit! Most of the UK relies on low pressure systems pushing through from the Atlantic Ocean and these are notoriously fickle.

Kitesurfing UK

If however you’re prepared to travel and you have a load of free time in which to do so I think you’ll find the UK a real treat. With a massive range of conditions from some of the most awesome wave spots along the East and SW coast to the balmy, almost tropical conditions of Tiree the UK really does have it all and in bucket loads.

Marry the Local Beauty Queen…or not.

The UK also has one of the friendliest kitesurf scenes I’ve found anywhere in the world. Rock up at a new beach with a kite and within minutes you’re being invited to BBQ’s, getting beers forced in your hand and being offered the local beauty queens (who’s always the daughter of some local kitesurfer) hand in marriage…well OK I exaggerate but it is a friendly scene.

Kitesurfing UK

Birds and Beaches

Do be careful however as much more than in mainland Europe, us Brits are funny about our beaches (and in fairness rightly so). On many beaches you will need to purchase insurance or club membership to be able to ride there, on others you may need to prove your level before you’re allowed unfettered access. Still more have restrictions in place at certain times of year, generally either for sunbathers or birds (no not topless sun-kist beauties…mmmmm) but the real thing, birds, ducks and other things people tend to ‘spot’ that may require the use of the beach (as it’s their natural habitat…the cheek!)

Best advise is always to check in the local kitesurf shop if you can as they’ll be only too happy to fill you in on the state of play in their area. The reason for all of this hoo haa is that local clubs and kitesurfing businesses are very concerned with protecting the right to ride of all kitesurfers. Being only too aware that it only takes one idiot to cause a nasty accident which is then reported to the local council who then ban kiting on that beach…something non of us want. So respect these restrictions for what they are, ie intended to protect you and the entire kitesurfing community.

I’m sure many of you will have you’re own experiences, comments, whinges and tales of epic heroism to tell about UK Kitesurfing…let us know in the comments below:

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A Beginners Tale Of Learning To Kitesurf

I can’t breathe.

Darkness envelops me as every sinew in my body fights against the pull.

I still can’t breathe.

I don’t know where I am as the pressure develops. My heart beats faster; panic sets in.

My body spins like a rag doll in a washing machine, tumbling and tumbling. What’s this, dizziness now, through lack of oxygen, great…how long have I not been breathing, it feels like hours, days, weeks even.

I battle harder and harder before suddenly, I see light at the end of the tunnel.

An opening. A chance to breathe, to stay alive and I’m free…

Finally, I have my wetsuit on!

waterstart

It’s safe to say I wasn’t born to Kite Surf!

Which surprises your author, I’m a man who likes to think he can do most things, and without fear. I am a man who once tried to body surf Pipeline for instance for the ‘craic’ before getting rightfully, and with hindsight thankfully, chased out the sea by some annoyed surfers! But with kite surfing not only couldn’t I do it…it scared the b’jesus out of me!

It looked so simple.

Standing on the beach that first day, watching the riders in the waves effortlessly glide across the water before launching themselves into orbit with ease. A thing of beauty, a stark contrast to me in my wetsuit I hasten to add, think beached whale.

But as soon as I grabbed the kite for the first time the fear set in! Thoughts like,

‘What if I take off and end up in Mongolia? I don’t want to live in Mongolia! Especially with a smashed pelvis and neck accompanied by soiled underpants’

raced through my mind within seconds. Madness I know, Mongolia is a beautiful place for a start and the worse that could happen would be an accidental ‘jaunt’ down the beach! But I couldn’t get thoughts like these out of my head!

Learning To Kitesurf

I was so tentative with the kite.

Not wanting to do anything with it ‘just in case!’ Just holding it on my own was enough. Then I’d glance around me and see young kids throwing them around without any apparent fear, kite looping and sliding along the beach, grinning from ear to ear, and my embarrassment would set in.

Man up!

I’d tell myself. But I couldn’t. What should have taken hours took what felt like weeks (that’s because it was), and we hadn’t even got to board starting yet, what would that entail? Pain, that’s what, but more about that later.

For some reason my brain seemingly would forget everything I was being taught and just when I’d think I was over the fear, it would come back, stronger. Every new day was like starting all over again. Much to the frustration of my instructors and myself too. After a lot of practice though I finally got the hang of it, and could fly the kite, without dropping it at least, now for the water!

Body dragging, in the scheme of my kite surfing career came relatively quickly to me, no problem; it was actually a lot of fun. I say quickly I of course mean slow, cities are built quicker compared to my ability to learn. But I got it, which was a breakthrough. If just a small one.

It was when I was given a board that my brain decided to stop. Getting on it or should I say in it, was fine, starting on the bl**dy thing was a very different matter.

I knew what I had to do; I just couldn’t do it.

Something inside me prevented me from carrying out the actions needed to get moving, and I couldn’t get over it no matter what or how hard I tried. Not enough power, too much power, bringing the kite down too low, not bringing it low enough, drifting it too far back not drifting it enough, you name it I did it.

My ‘Mongolian Fear’ as I like to call it came back in floods, even if I didn’t realise it, it was there and it crippled me.

Learning to Kite

After numerous wetsuit tears, bumps, bruises, broken toes, and some mighty fine Superman impressions (Kites are my Kryptonite I’ve decided) which lasted for weeks and I mean weeks I still couldn’t get up and going.

Put this into context, a student at the school I was learning at was up and ‘riding’ by the end of their second day! Special is not the word for me. I’d like to point out that the student was a young fit teenager who was semi – pro at windsurfing and snowboarding, I’ve done neither and am a porky back pain riddled old man (30 is old in my eyes), he was always going to do better…well that’s my excuse anyway, and I’m sticking to it.

Mastering the ‘pop-up’, I use the term mastering loosely, finally came to me after what must have been the longest process in kite surfing lesson history, the ‘feeling’ came to me and my muscle memory kicked in and before I knew it I was coming up every time.

Whoop whoop!

Success at last. The trouble was I had no idea what to do next…

If you can relate to this come and join us in our Facebook group where we’ll get you up and riding in no time with expert advice, tips and tricks to get you up and riding 3 x Faster. Click the link to join…it’s FREE!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/tantrumkitesurf/

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Kitesurfing at Paddys Hole in Redcar

Paddy's Hole

View on Google Maps

Paddy's Hole

Set amidst a blade runner esq industrial backdrop this is perhaps one of the most atmospheric places I’ve kited. With flaming towers and billowing smoke pouring out of the local steel works industrial chimneys it makes for an amazing photo shoot. All that industry (there’s a chemical works round the corner as well) does of course raise questions about the cleanliness of the water, but I’ve been assured by several people that because of the highly industrial nature of the area the water quality is highly monitored and actually very clean. If you believe that is up to you, but I kited there for a solid 3 hours and didn’t feel any the worse for wear.

At low tide the spot is little more than the mouth of the river … and a shipping channel to boot, at high tide the water washes ups over a vast beach and transforms into a huge flat water, waist deep lagoon. Literally 500m off the beach your still not getting your nipples wet…(I have lovely pert breasts!). In fact so shallow is the water, that the biggest problem you have is getting far enough away from the beach to stop yourself catapulting into a (highly amusing for onlookers) graceless faceplate…or as I found out removing a fin from you mates board!

Paddys Hole - Kitesurfing

Wind Directions

The true beauty of Paddy’s is that it is one of the few places on the East coast that works in a westerly wind. In truth it works in anything from a SW clockwise round to a NE, with NNW being onshore. Westerlies and South Westerlies do tend to be a bit gusty, but when your only other alternative is a 3 hour drive to the West coast…I’ll take gusty every time.

Kitesurfing Redcar

Access is easy with free parking provided on a road running the length of the peninsula (from which the place takes its name, as this part of the river mouth was mainly built by Irishmen) overlooking the beach. The beach and launch spot is literally 2 seconds from the car park.

Facilities are few and far between so bring your own lunch! Redcar is 5 mins drive away in case of emergency beer crisis.

Let rip on Paddys Hole

Hazards

  • The rocks at the Eastern end of the lagoon are definite kite killers (wouldn’t do your knees much good either)
  • The wind around these rocks can be pretty flukey, so launch well clear of them.
  • There is a wreck located about 100 metres to the west (the sandy side) of these rocks and about 500 metres out from the road. It is submerged at high tide so keep an eye out.
  • The power lines that run along the side of the road are a definite hazard especially at high tide when you are forced to launch close to them.

 

I did consider titling this review “Tearing up Paddy’s Hole” but the image that created in my mind was far too eye watering.