Has anyone kited in Aruba?

[xrdave]

Can anyone give me information on kiting in Aruba? My brother and I are thinking of going there this winter. The winds are offshore, which can be problematic when things go wrong - however it seems to be a big kiting destination,so I presume that tourists rely on the kiting schools for rescue services. Also wondering about how much of a problem the wind shadow from the hotels is.
thanks, Dave

[mdh01]

Dave,
I kited Aruba a few years ago. Below is a link to my posting from that trip: http://www.lakawa.com/post43327.html?hilit=aruba#p43327

I'll be back in Aruba the end of September for a friends wedding and plan to bring my gear along...

Mark

[xrdave]

Thanks Mark, sounds like it was bad the first day and then got better. Perhaps not an ideal spot for my kids; I know my daughter will get frustrated in the gusts. I am still interested in those harness shorts you are selling; perhaps I could come around after work one day?

[bscheig]

Dave

I have not kited Aruba but I have been to that area windsurfing. I am a recovering windsurfer and have been kiting for about 4 years. I've been to Aruba once, Bonaire 4 times and Margarita once. We much prefer Bonaire. It is less crowded and less touristy. There was an article in Windsurfing Magazine a few years ago about the 2 islands; Aruba gets 3,000,000 visitors a year, Bonaire, 60,000. The diving is far superior on Bonaire as well. The wind on Aruba and Bonaire is similar but the launch on Aruba has off-shore winds with lots of wind shadows from high-rise hotels. The windsurf launch on Bonaire is on the windward side and to the best of my knowledge, kiting is still discouraged in that area - Lac Bay. The kiting launch on Bonaire is south of the main city and hotel area with a side-off wind. We are planning a trip to Bonaire this winter, so I can give a Bonaire kiting report then.

Margarita had great wind for both sports. The pole benders and kiters share the same launch with a side-shore wind. Margarita is a little harder to get to. You have go through Caracas (sketchy) or find a charter; we flew a direct flight from Toronto on Air Transat.

Bill

[RobH]

I can echo what Bill stated, I took jibe lessons from Dasher on Christmas day in Aruba years ago. even then the wind shadows were noticable until you went way off shore all those years ago. It wouldnt be my first choice of islands but would definatly go kiting if I were going to Aruba. As Bill stated Bonaire kiting is also off shore, it also gets deep pretty fast so once your off the beach dont expect any shallows. Its been a few years since I have been to Bonaire but hope to go back as the diving is wonderful and can be done on your own schedule since so many of the dive sites can be accessed by land without the need of a dive boat. St Lucia has excellent kiting out of 2 elements and the Reef with good lodging choices from all inclusive coconut bay to nice low rent rooms and houses in walking distance, will be making a 3rd trip in late January. If anyone is considering ST Lucia I can hook you up with good contacts that provide nice lodging options. Barbados is also one of my favorites, however it can have tough shorebreak for less advanced riders, it offers great waves and abundance of resturants and nightlife.

[xrdave]

Thanks for the helpful information. Sounds like Aruba not the best place to go. Might stay home and work on the snow kiting skills instead. I emailed one of the schools in Aruba and learned that the restricted hours for kiting no longer apply - you can do it all day. But it sounds like maybe not a good location overall. They (the kite schools) claim it is a great place for kiting because of the shallow, flat water, but I think that to get the more steady winds you need to get out a long way from shore, into the deep water, and then getting back to beach unassisted could be problematic. I checked airfares to Bonaire - much higher than Aruba over the holiday period unfortunately. MIght have to look for some low season options to Bonaire instead.