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Kitesurfing / Kiteboarding in Mauritius |
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Kitesurfing / Kiteboarding is rapidly developing
in Mauritius and is bound to become one of the
island's attractions. With its flat surface on one side
and huge perfect swells on the other, the spot of Le
Morne is the kitesurfers' favourite and is the site
selected by some brands for their promotion videos. However,
Mauritius (and Rodrigues) offers several other
great spots of flat surface with side-on winds almost
all year round.
Kitesurfing schools and rentals
Mauritius now counts around 8 registered kitesurf
schools and rentals. Many of them are located within
hotel premises but give kitesurfing lessons to
outsiders as well as residents. These schools are able
to deliver IKO certificates as their main instructors
are IKO certified. View our list of recommended kitesurfing
schools in Mauritius.
Most of these schools also propose kiteboards rentals
per day or per week. This service is meant to allow those
who have finished their starter courses to keep practising
kitesurfing during the rest of their stay. Equipments
are usually very recent, updated and well-maintained.
Free kitesurfing in Mauritius
Many confirmed and semi-professional kitesurfers now come
to Mauritius regularly; mainly to ride the now famous
waves of "One Eye" Le Morne but also to enjoy the lagoon-riding
and crossing possibilities around Mauritius.
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Although
there is a certain lack of publicly accessible
launching and dropping spots, the climate and
configuration of the lagoons contribute in making
Mauritius one of the most enjoyable kitesurfing
destinations in the world.
Some kitesurfing schools propose exclusive downwind
and lagoon-crossing trips for small groups
of kitesurfers willing to kitesurf around Mauritius.
These 100 % fun trips being complex to organise
owing to security / rescue issues, they must be
booked well in advance.
Confirmed riders can ride in Mauritius pretty
easily but we strongly recommend taking advice
with as many local riders as possible before choosing
your launching spots as many places have their
peculiarities that can become hazards to the uninformed
riders. For a detailed overview of the different
kitesurfing spots of Mauritius, we invite
you to view our map
of the kitesurfing spots in Mauritius. |
Wind and climate conditions
Kitesurfing in Mauritius is possible almost all
year round for the locals or for those who spend relatively
long stays but chances of enjoying good kitesurfing conditions
during a 10-day stay are greatly increased during the
austral winter months of June to November. Furthermore,
to fully benefit from favourable conditions, one must
be prepared to drive around the island and select the
spot that works under specific conditions.
Put very broadly, kitesurfing conditions are as follows.
During austral winter (from June to November,) Mauritius
is under the influence of the South-East Trade winds,
generated by a path of anti-cyclonic cells off the Antarctic
belt, moving from West to Right. Owing to its position
on the edge of this path, the wind in Mauritius experiences
cycles of 7 days. As the cold front reaches, the wind
picks up from the South / South-East (gusty) for about
1 day, the wind then intensifies to reach between 20 and
25 knots in a South-Easterly direction for about 3 days.
It then turns East in a slight moderation (16 to 18 knots,)
for another 2 days. There is approx 1 windless day in
between 2 anti-cyclones.
Around the summer solstice (December and January,) a similar
pattern can be observed with the direction varying from
East to North East and a wind force range 10 to 15 knots
with days without. Despite the fact that the wind becomes
"uncertain," it is the most enjoyable period for kitesurfing.
Days are longer, sea is warm and owing to the landscape,
there is consequent accelerations of the wind in certain
places, namely in Le Morne spot, offering good moderate
wind and flat surface conditions for great riding.
Choosing a region
The pure wave riders will stick to Le Morne... Of Course!
For free riders, Le Morne remains a sure bet between June
and November as the acceleration from the landscape gives
almost a guarantee of wind, at least as from 11.00 am.
Le Morne is also a wide lagoon to enjoy but is a fairly
busy place to launch and drop or to ride where everyone
else is. Le Morne is windless between February and May.
The North (North-East) is "rideable" almost all year round.
Although a bit gusty and too "off shore" in winter, the
lagoon of Anse La Raie / Calodyne offers wonderful conditions
between November and January and in April / May, several
days a week.
The East & South-East coasts count some excellent spots
for the pure winter; the wind being "side / on shore"
it is far less gusty along the East coast than elsewhere.
Kite sizes
Based on the good old C-shaped Kites, we would say that
the average 80 Kg lagoon rider would need:
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Le
Morne |
East
coast |
North
Coast |
June
to September |
7
to 9 m² |
10
to 12 m² |
9
to 12 m² |
October
& November |
7
to 12 m² |
12
m² |
12
m² |
December
& January, April & May |
9
to 12 m² (When “it’s on”) |
Little
or no wind |
12
to 16 m² |
See our kite
photo gallery
Visit Bookmauritius.com
for Kiteboarding
Holiday Packages.
Updated
in July 2007
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