THE BEST KITESURFING LOCATIONS IN CROATIA

Kitesurfing ( kite surfing, kiteboarding) is an extreme water sport which combines hang gliding and windsurfing. Kiteboarding is considered as freestyle or wake-style, whereas kitesurfing is more "wave-riding" oriented.
Kitesurfing is new sport. 1998. is considered as the beginning year of its expansion.
A kitesurfer or kiteboarder uses a board with or without foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel himself and the board across the water. Except riding kitesurfing allows performing various acrobatics. Prolonged stay in the air follows after kitesurfer soars into the air, it is called hang time. After that he lowers down performing acrobatic jumps.
Kitesurfing equipment consists of helmet, belt, glasses, gloves, surfboard (kiteboard), kitesurfing trapeze, and a kite.
There are two kitesurfing competitions:
* freestyle – where the jump height, complexity, and the impression of landing is evaluated
* hang time - time spent in the air
As the interest in kitesurfing is growing, industry and investment in kitesurfing equipment is also growing, so kitesurfing is becoming a more and more safer sport.
Croatian Adriatic offers great opportunities for kitesurfing, as on many locations, during most of the day, summer winds blow, which become stronger especially in the promontories and channels.
In some locations you can rent kitesurfing gear, and pass kitesurfing course. Before you decide that kitesurfing is sport for you, it would be good to pass the course and learn basic techniques of kitesurfing and dangers to which you are exposed during kitesurfing or dangers to which others, who share the same space with you, are exposed.
Many shops that rent equipment also offer lessons and safety instructions, and most of them require from you to finish some of their courses before you rent the equipment.

The best places for kitesurfing in Croatia are:

Korčula – Island of Korčula

Canal between the island of Korčula and peninsula Pelješac is the place where very favourable winds for kitesurfing and windsurfing blow.

Viganj – Peninsula Pelješac

Viganj, a small place next to Orebic', is verz well known location for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Wind that blows through strait canal between island of Korc(ula and peninsula Pelješac gets double strenght in canal. Mistral often has a strenght of 5 bofors, sometimes it gains strenght of 8 bofors.

Estuary of Neretva

Suitable wind, with strength of 4 to 5 bofors, sandy beaches and shallow sea make this location extraordinary for kitesurfing, especially for beginners.

Bol – island of Brač

In Bol, there is a special beach for kitesurfing, school of kitesurfing and rescue service. Given the beauty of destination and a very favorable day wind (mistral), Bol is one of the best locations for kitesurfing.

Povlja – island of Brač

This place is suitable for kitesurfing only when northern wind blows. This location is very dangerous for unexperienced kitesurfers.

Hvar – island of Hvar

City of Hvar is soraunded with Pakleni islands (Hell islands), so in canal between those islands and island of Hvar very favourable daily winds blow. Problem is that there is a lot of traffic in this space.

Žnjan – Split

Sirocco and slight mistral, lot of parking space, but the beach for start is very small.

Pantana – Trogir

Shallow bay is very suitable for learning kitesurfing in the summertime. If sirocco blows kitesurfers are in the way of descending planes.

Jadrija – Šibenik

Jadrija was urban bathing spot of the town of Šibenik, today it is a large settlement and bathing place. Winds suitable for windsurfing and kitesurfing begin to blow here very early, because mistral blows from the northern Adriatic. This is the place where kitesurfing championships are held.

Beach in Biograd

Kitesurfing is possible only in off-season, when southern wind blows.

Nin - near Zadar

Kitesurfing courses are held on long and shallow sandy beaches near Zadar, in the lagoon close to city of Nin, where the conditions for learning kitesurfing are among the best in the Adriatic.

Punat – island of Krk

This is the best place for freestyle. The best wind for kitesurfing, which blows here is northern. During winter it is the northeastern wind. This place is good for beginners because of proximity of coast from all sides.

Klimno – island of Krk

Location suitable for beginners - shallow and closed bay, sandy beach, but only when northern wind blows.

Premantura – near Pula

This kitesurfing location is characteristic by open sea from 3 sides. All winds that blow here create favourable conditions for kitesurfing – southern, northern, tramontane and mistral in the summertime. Popularity of kitesurfing grows in this part of Adriatic.

Medulin – near Pula

This place is suitable for kitesurfing, when all the tourists leave, because of big sandy beach located within camp Kažela. Southern and southwestern winds blow here.

Bol - island Brač

Zlatni Bol apartments

Dubrovnik

Klub jedrenja na dasci MAKA

Kampor - island Rab

Vila Suha Punta

Kolan - island Pag

Wakeboard Cable Pag

Korčula - island Korčula

Villa Sole Korcula

Kučište

Crosurf

Lopar - island Rab

Hotelsko naselje San Marino

Nin

Kiteboarding Croatia
Surfmania center

Omiš

Spin sport

Perna - Orebić

SURF&KITE CENTAR PERNA

Split

Freerider

Viganj

Camp Ponta
Maritimo tours d.o.o.

KITESURFING EQUIPMENT

Kitesurfing is one of the newest extreme sports. Kitesurfing is a sport where the kitesurfer uses the power of the wind to manipulate the kitesurfing system on or above the land, snow or water. The most popular type is kitesurfing on water.
Parts of kitesurfing equipment:
Kite
Kite is any type of traction kite that is large enough to hold the weight of an average person. There are three major components that should be considered when choosing a kite. High performance which is defined by its capacity to facilitate up winding sailing and jumping above land, relaunchability which is the capacity of the kite to relaunch from water after it falls. And power control which is the capacity of the kite to provide the surfer with considerable degree manipulation.
There are several types of kites that have varying degrees of controllability, relaunchability and performance.
- The inflatable kites are crescent-shaped and could relaunch on almost all conditions except when the wind is just about 6 or 7 knots per hour. There are two types of inflatable kites: the 2 line which has the main advantage of stability and convenience of use and the 4 line which has efficient power control and better performance. Most manufacturers of kites these days distribute 4 line inflatable instead of the 2 line ones.
- Bow kites or flat inflatable kite is the more dominant choice of among kitesurfers starting from 2006 due to its advantages over other kites. For example, it could be fully de-powered. It could also provide larger wind range plus it offers fast relaunchability.
- Framed Single Skin Kite is more like the one used for windsurfing and like windsurfing it takes awhile for the kitesurfer to learn how to efficiently control the skin kite. It has reliable relaunchability and could surpass all types of kites in terms of performance when the kitesurfers masters the controls.
- Ram Air Foil Kites, unlike all other kites, has no definite shape since it has no rigid structures. It only takes its shape once it flies.
Flying lines
These are the lines that attach the kite to the kitesurfer. The flying lines must have a low stretch capacity and must be floatable. The line strength should depend on your weight. For example, 2-line kites should have a minimum strength capacity of 2 ˝ times of your weight.
The line length, on the other hand, is largely dependent on the wind condition and the size of the kite. The more common choices are anywhere from 20m to 40m. For overpowered kites shorter lines are more recommendable while underpowered kites should have longer lines.
Kite control devices
The control devices provide the kitesurfer the maneuverability of the kite, the direction of the kite and the capacity to maximize the wind window. Here are the general kite control devices used in various types of kites:
- Inflatable Control Devices and Depowering Systems
- Foil Control Devices
- Reel Bars
- Safety Systems
Boards
There are two types of kitesurfing boards - the directional and bidirectional boards. Skim boards, wake boards, water skis and windsurfing boards can all be used instead kitesurfing board. However, it is highly recommendable for someone to use kitesurfing board for the simple reason that this type is made especially for the demands and needs of the sports.

OFFER FOR KITESURFING

Bol - island Brač

Zlatni Bol apartments

Dubrovnik

Klub jedrenja na dasci MAKA

Kampor - island Rab

Vila Suha Punta

Kolan - island Pag

Wakeboard Cable Pag

Korčula - island Korčula

Villa Sole Korcula

Kučište

Crosurf

Lopar - island Rab

Hotelsko naselje San Marino

Nin

Kiteboarding Croatia
Surfmania center

Omiš

Spin sport

Perna - Orebić

SURF&KITE CENTAR PERNA

Split

Freerider

Viganj

Camp Ponta
Maritimo tours d.o.o.

OFFER EQUIPMENT

Nin

Kiteboarding Croatia

Split

7bofora
Surf&Snowboard shop

Zagreb

Surfmania.net