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Wednesday, 03 February 2016 17:00

Windsurfing St. Martin

Spot

The eastern coast of St. Martin is exposed to almost constant trade winds which blow side onshore from the left December to April (14-25 knots) and side onshore from the right June to September (12–20 knots). May is the least windy month. From the end of June to the end of October is a cyclonic period and the place can really rock at this time! September, October and November are well known for the quality of the waves and surf.

The sailing area is a one kilometer wide sandy lagoon with some standing areas, protected by an outer reef about 400m from the shore. The reef offers great wave riding conditions with breaking waves between 1 and 3m all year long– superb ! The water in the lagoon is warm, flat and safe – a perfect windsurfing learning environment as well as fantastic freeride and freestyle conditions.

Should that not be enough, FBC St Martin gives you everything to become a true water addict by giving you the opportunity to try, on the flat and then in the waves, a true Hawaiian Canoe, for more shared adrenaline and tons of fun !

St. Martin is the perfect all round spot for families, kids, windsurfers, surfers, SUPers and kiters of all levels. It is very rare indeed on this planet that so many can be satisfied at the same time – but trust us – St. Martin does it all! As for the colours, they are simply surreal and very addictive!

Instruction

FBC St. Martin is proud to offer windsurfing instruction by fully qualified team members. The equipment on offer, the conditions, and the transport available if necessary means that you will always be taught in optimum learning conditions for your level and aspirations.

FBC St. Martin really has something to offer all levels of windsurfing. The wind blows side onshore from the left or right depending on the time of year. The wind is quite strong in the morning, may drop between 12.00 and 15.00 giving a chance for lunch and the entry level lessons, and then picks up again and peaks right through until sunset. The water in the lagoon is warm, flat and safe – a perfect learning environment for beginners as well as fantastic freeride and freestyle conditions for intermediates to advanced. The reef offers superb wave riding opportunities with breaking waves between 1-3m and the owner Jean Seb will take great pleasure in teaching you in the waves.

If you really are a very advanced rider, you might enjoy the privilege of a guided session with private lesson by Jean seb himself on one of the amazing yet very radical wave spots nearby such as the infamous Wilderness (your level will be checked beforehand !)

CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED: Windsurfing – FFV (Fédération Francaise de Voile)

LANGUAGES: Courses are held in English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 17:00

Mountain Bike Fuerteventura

The island of Fuerteventura becomes an ideal place for mountain biking due to its semi-arid climate with an annual average temperature of 20 C. The island provides numerous mountain bike routes, roads, tracks and trails that exhibit the beauty of Fuerteventura`s deserted volcanic zones, the endless beaches, as well as long-stretched climbs through the western mountains.

FBC Fuerteventura works in cooperation with a professional biking company on the island called Life Cycles Fuerteventura, operating mainly in the North of the island. They not only offer excellent bikes for rental (with delivery service) but also professional guided mountain bike tours of varying levels to satisfy all needs and abilities and to offer you the perfect workout while experiencing the true beauty of Fuerte’s spectacular sceneries.

 

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 16:59

Kitesurfing Karpathos

Spot

FBC Karpathos Kite is situated directly at the beach of the `Luv Spot´ on the south west of the island. The Luv Spot itself is an authentic preserved area with the kite station and a taverna, so very little infrastructure around. Ideally, you will need a rental car or a scooter to commute between your main accommodation and the spot (5km approx).

The normal wind direction at FBC Karpathos is side-side-off from the right in the morning, turning slowly to side-side-on in the afternoon as the wind picks up. There is a mix of chops & flat water on the inside, rolling swell on the outside and proper breaking waves that can only be ridden in certain specific areas near the downwind reefs (advanced riders only).

The spot is generally not for beginners unless taking lessons, as the wind is strong, the beach is reasonably small, and there are downwind reefs. Be aware that this is not the easiest spot in the world to learn kiting so arm yourself with patience and energy and plan a full two weeks. However, the reward will be worth it !

All rentals should therefore have the ability to kite perfectly upwind to ride here.

Windsurfers and kitesurfers share the spot harmoniously, with a “windsurfing priority area” on the upwind half of the spot (right when looking at the water) and a “kitesurfing priority area” on the downwind part. The spot is never over-crowded as good riders enjoy going further upwind, just outside of the bay where the beach and center are located (further out and to the right than the windsurfing area). Full rescue cover is of course provided, and the center has 3 boats for rescues, service and teaching.

The team can also take you upwind so you can have a great run back to the center.

Please Note: You must be able to ride comfortably upwind and this will be checked at the center before you go on the water.

We recommend that you bring your own wetsuit, harness and shoes (if required). These are also available to rent at the center.

Instruction

FBC Karpathos Kite offers various training packages for learning and improving kitesurfing for pure beginners to advanced and riders looking to get into waves, as well as video analysis if required. Instruction is in various languages by fully qualified VDWS trainers. Courses are held by an international team of instructors. Supervision is also on offer as well as video analysis at a fee.

The spot at FBC Karpathos offers a mix of chops and flat water on the inside, rolling swell on the outside and proper breaking waves that can only be ridden in certain specific areas near the reefs. Any and every kiter can learn something here! Beginner lessons take place in the open sea outside of the bay, downwind from the reef, from a platform specifically built so that you can learn, train, rest and do it all over again! There is also always a boat at your side for the best personalized input from your instructor. Coaching for all (other) levels also happens from the teaching boat and the team can guide you into waves as well as into the most advanced freestyle tricks and big air moves you’ve ever dreamt of!

Please note that if every level will improve here, the conditions, especially in high summer, are more challenging for pure beginners than in other spots around the globe. There is no real standing area and Karpathos is well known for strong winds ! In order to guarantee the highest possible success, prepare your fitness and learn how to fly a kite in advance. What you will have learned in Karpathos will allow you to then ride pretty much anywhere else in the world afterwards though, and that’s definitely worth it !!

CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED: VDWS

LANGUAGES: Courses are held by an international team of instructors. German, English, Russian, Italian and Greek on offer.

SPECIAL PACKAGES: Various combos with lessons and rentals. Please contact your Tour Operator for more detailed info.

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 16:14

SUP GRAN CANARIA

Spot

FBC Gran Canaria has so much to offer and for sure you will stay active, wet and happy in all circumstances. Besides surf boards, body boards and wave kayaks, the center has a full line of SUP boards in various technologies (hardboards and inflatables) on offer. So ... no need to worry about any lighter wind days, or to ever get bored! Widen your horizons, while at the same time increasing your fitness and enjoying the surrounding nature as never before. Or you might even enjoy a nice wave breaking perfectly just in front of the center. Remember: SUP rocks … and surfing rules !

Instruction

You can learn the art of walking on water with us. Lessons (Introduction to SUP), rental and excursions at and around Bahia Feliz are offered all year long. LANGUAGES: Our courses are held in English, Spanish and Polish.

SPECIAL PACKAGES:

Get Wet SUP: 1 hr introduction lesson + 1 hour rental package

Lucky Rider: A super flexible package that provides you with a 10% discount on all prices (lessons, rentals, supervision) with an unprecedented day-to-day flexibility. You basically don´t have to decide how you will use your voucher in advance, you can spend it on rental and/or lessons, for windsurfing and SUP, while still enjoying a pre-booking discount.

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 16:14

Windsurfing Gran Canaria

Spot

The wind is usually lighter in the morning and windsurfing conditions are easier for beginners. More action for advanced sailors comes around noon when the wind picks up. Inside the bay there are perfect conditions to practice beachstarts and waterstarts, or some first jibes. Around 600m further out you will find bigger swell from 0.5 to 1.5m for wave riding and jumping. On the left side of the bay there is a cape which forms a clean breaking wave on some days of the year, perfect for front side wave riding.

The wave conditions depend on the actual tide level. The breaking wave will have more power at high tide than at low tide, and the standing area is reduced at high tide. The FBC Team is always there to give you a helping hand and to provide useful advice about the spot, wind and wave conditions. There is a 60% to 70% probability of winds over 4 Bft from October to April. In the summer months (May to September) the trade wind is more consistent but is more northerly. When the wind blows around the island, Bahía Feliz is sheltered and only light winds reach the bay.

For that reason we offer our very popular daily high wind excursions to many top spots !

For many years our center has been organizing high wind excursions to the northern top spots of the island like Salinas de Arinaga or Burrero, which are situated near the famous World Cup spot of Pozo Izquierdo. We also offer more advanced excursions to pure wave spots such as Vargas, Ketchup or even Pozo, but only after having checked your level!

Salinas de Arinaga is a very universal spot for different levels. Protected by a windward tongue of land it offers flat water on the inside, wind chop in the medium section (easy to jump) and some long swells outside. Arinaga has a pebble beach, but further into the water the base is mostly sand. The wind is usually similar to Pozo or Vargas, but because of the flat inside area it is perfect to train water starts, first jibes or other maneuvers, along with lessons for wave sailing or jumping (depending on conditions and your level). As the wind is mostly very strong, water start and some experience in high wind surfing are essential (only short boards available). If you are not yet water starting, don´t worry ... with a few lessons success is guaranteed! Owing of the challenging conditions, every guest participates at his own risk, being responsible for his own safety, and the equipment.

Last but not least, there is so far no kitesurfing on offer at FBC Gran Canaria. The team is actively looking into this to find the best suitable spots so this might very well change in a near future !

Instruction

Whether beginner or advanced courses, the FBC pro instructors are eager to use only the newest teaching concepts, with ongoing evaluation. Small groups with extensive support and individual feedback promise a fast progression, as well as safety and a lot of fun on the water. We cover all levels, from complete beginners and a basic introduction to windsurfing for active holidaymakers of any age. Also the young ones from the age of 8 years old can join the adventure with our special kids courses. They are designed to match the children’s needs, and with our special kids equipment we guarantee quick success thanks to its easy handling. However, we don´t stop there ... we offer you top instruction for all levels with intermediate lessons for those who already completed a beginner lesson, or you can join one of our advanced to expert lessons, from waterstarting to the art of jumping and riding waves, which is also a must on Gran Canaria! The courses content is mainly orientated towards the level of the participants and the wind conditions.

CERTIFICATION OFFERED: VDWS

LANGUAGES: Our courses are held in English, Spanish and Polish.

SPECIAL PACKAGES:

LUCKY RIDER: A super flexible package that provides you with a 10% discount on all prices (lessons, rentals, supervision) with an unprecedented day-to-day flexibility. You basically don´t have to decide how you will use your voucher in advance, you can spend it on rental and/or lessons, for windsurfing and SUP, while still enjoying a pre-booking discount

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 15:52

Kitesurfing Kos

Spot

FBC Kos Kite is situated directly on the beach at Horizon Beach Resort (Mastichari) on the north west coast of Kos, where beginner and intermediate kitesurfers can find ideal conditions to improve and enjoy the spot!


The wind at FBC Kos Kite is usually onshore/side-on shore from the right in the morning – the traditional Meltemi direction, and then often turns and blows more from the west in the afternoon, becoming side/side-onshore from the left. Ideal … and always perfectly safe.


The wind is lighter in the morning when the majority of beginner courses take place, making the spot also great for entry levels to practice. The wind gradually intensifies through the day and gives way with a bit more swell and small waves close to the shore in the afternoon. Whether you like to improve your basic skills, just cruise along on any type of board or practice the latest freestyle move, you have found the ideal playground !


The kiting area is large and safe, and there is dedicated baywatch and rescue service free of charge.

Instruction

Such an all-round spot enables FBC Kos to run a comprehensive training program across all levels. Should you already be able to ride on your own (upwind), you will still get the chance to discover new practices and equipment such as directional boards and foil !

Progress is guaranteed!

FBC Kos Kite runs very popular beginners kitesurfing course, from the beach. The more advanced kiters and the real experts can also learn all the latest maneuvers from our dedicated and addicted team of friendly instructors. Don’t be afraid to approach them about the move of your dreams and get THE tip that will turn frustration (and sometimes unnecessary physical pain) into control, understanding and total joy ! The lesson price includes all the equipment: the kites, the boards, the body protection and the safety equipment, as well as rescues. The lessons last one and a half to two hours with the emphasis on water time.
Possibility to use BB talk two way radios for advanced and private beginner lessons. Having fun, progression and safety are our priority!

CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED: Kitesurfing - IKO & VDWS

LANGUAGES: Courses are held by an international team of qualified instructors in English, German, Italian, and Greek (Russian and Polish to be confirmed).

SPECIAL PACKAGES: Excursions to other spots on the island or downwinders from the center – schedule depends on weather conditions.

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 14:44

SUP MARTINIQUE

The mangrove also offers the perfect environment for some SUP´ing, for a healthy fitness activity, or just to discover the fauna and the flora surrounding you in peace. A must alone or to share! So don’t wait any longer, grab a board at the center and discover life at your own pace, on top of the water. It’s all there for the taking.

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 14:44

Windsurfing Martinique

Spot

The north east trade winds accelerate across the plains of Lamentin and blow onshore at the launch area and at 90 degrees to the whole sailing area. The main wind period is from the beginning of December until the end of April, but FBC Martinique is open all year round and you can expect some great conditions in June and July which can be a perfect time to travel as hotels and flights are so much cheaper. There is a launching area in front of the center (30 m wide) with waist high flat water and soft sand under foot. This area is slightly protected from the wind and is excellent for entry level and kids. Outside this area is where the fun really begins!

The sailing area is large and safe with easy freeride conditions (flat water and bump & jump). You sail from the center in the direction of a deep green mangrove. Just before this (about 400 m from the center) is a shallow (waist high) sand bank, perfect for waterstart and jibe training, or even for taking a well deserved break!

A long wooden jetty runs from the main center building out to the sailing area and it’s a great place for watching the action and taking pictures as your friends fly past!

Last but not least, and should you get worried about inactive holidays, the center also has a powerful motorboat and are trained in all sorts of tow-in sports such as waterskiing and of course wakeboarding – you will have NO excuses for being lazy during your holiday!

Instruction

FBC Martinique teach all levels of windsurfing in a safe and friendly environment. They prefer to do their coaching in an exclusive way: only on a one-on-one basis, ensuring speedy progress, dedicated attention and value for money!

Windsurfing Beginners benefit from a wind shadow at the launch area where the water is calm and waist high with a sandy bottom. The wooden jetty on one side and the curve of the bay ensure a completely safe learning experience. Further out the wind speed increases and becomes more constant blowing at 90 degrees to the sailing area. The flat water and bump and jump conditions are superb for stance work and manoeuvre training, and the sand bank provides either a welcome rest or the chance to nail down your waterstarts and jibes.

CERTIFICATIONS: FFV (windsurfing)

LANGUAGES: Courses are held by an experienced qualified instructor in English, French and basic German.

SPECIAL PACKAGES: Video coaching available upon request (at a supplement)

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 14:44

Kitesurfing Martinique

Spot

Kitesurfers will find a dream playground.

The FBC Martinique center has an immense kiting area surrounded by beautiful greenery and mangroves, with a combination of flat water and chops, great for improving your level, practicing advanced New School tricks or simply enjoying super long freeride runs.

The north east trade winds accelerate across the plains of Lamentin and blow onshore at the launch area and at 90 degrees to the whole sailing area. The main wind period is from the beginning of December until the end of April, but FBC Martinique is open all year round and you can expect some great conditions in June and July which can be a perfect time to travel as hotels and flights are so much cheaper.

The launch can be tricky as the area is very small and the wind blows onshore here, but the team is always on hand to help, and less experienced kiters can be taken by boat to launch outside and make the best of the wind direction and safety offered. The team of expert kiters at FBC Martinique will look after you well both on land and on the water and are just waiting to share their enthusiasm with you, as well as providing top tips. You can even discover the joy of Kitefoiling at the center and learn this new riding dimension in all safety, so don’t wait any longer!

Last but not least, and should you get worried about inactive holidays, the center has a powerful motorboat and are trained in all sorts of tow-in sports such as waterskiing and of course wakeboarding – you will have NO excuses for not having mastered that move during your holiday.

All year round the water is warm and so is the wind – you can’t ask for much more!

Instruction

FBC Martinique teach all levels of kitesurfing in a safe and friendly environment. They prefer to do their coaching with a maximum 4 students in a group for kitesurfing (private also offered), ensuring speedy progress, dedicated attention and value for money!

The boat takes you to the place in the mangrove where the wind blows the best, and with tons of space around you to practice with all your wits.

CERTIFICATIONS: FFVL (Kitesurfing)

LANGUAGES: Courses are held by an experienced qualified instructor in English, French and basic German.

SPECIAL PACKAGES: Video coaching available upon request (at a supplement).

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 14:33

Kitesurfing Grenadines

Spots

The Grenadines is the most southern part of the Caribbean islands, and benefits from truly exceptional wind conditions. As for the many kites spots you will get to ride, they are also just p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Perfectly flat water is to be found in spots such as Union Island for beginners and hard core freestylers in magnificent surroundings. Mayreau will give you a protected lagoon opening to the ocean with nice little waves to jump and ride on the outer reef. The Tobago Keyes are also an absolute top freeride spot. The choices are plenty and will satisfy any and all aspirations and needs, including complete beginners. Better still, being on a boat does not only mean that you can pick the best spot daily, but it also guarantees some sick kitesurfing downwinders between islands, while the catamaran sails alone and always with the dinghy at the ready should you need assistance.

Generally, the wind is medium to strong ( 12 to 20 knots) throughout the season (European winter), and you will be using a wide variety of kite sizes, while also being able to ride pretty much every day on a 10m if you have a bit of experience ! You can expect super constant wind which makes life even better.

You will rarely launch directly from the boat, and most of the time the crew takes you to a beach right where the conditions are pumping. Some launching areas are quite small with tall trees close by, and the wind there often blows onshore (hence super constant!), but there again, there is always someone around to give you a hand and the right advice.

There are several highlights during a week on a FBC Grenadines Kite Surfari, but one of them is certainly Union Island, which offers two of the best spots, namely Frigate where most lessons take lace, and the spot situated right in front of the fantastic Jeremie Tronet Pro Center. A protected lagoon, standing area, perfectly flat water, impeccable wind patterns, and if that´s not enough, the center is super chilled and cozy and has a great atmosphere too! Try the Pina Colada while making the best of the free wifi connection. Just next to it is the infamous Happy Island that has been shown on so many videos and where yes, you can enjoy a drink straight from the sea ... with your kite at 12 and your feet in the water.

The list is long, but more incredible experiences, landscapes and magic sessions await you, and only your energy levels will decide when you stop and drop.

Instruction

For those wishing to learn the sport or develop new skills FBC Grenadines has a fully equipped kite school on board. With the latest DUOTONE equipment and a qualified instructor you will progress like you never could dream of: Your level will basically sky rocket!

Lessons take place in uncrowded kite spots with a safety boat under close supervision so your instructor is always at your side for real-time feedback. During a cruise we’re able to teach all levels of Kiteboarding except of total beginners. For the first experience with Kitesurfing we strongly recommend a couple hours of lessons in a land based Kiteboarding School. As soon as you have your basics dialled in, you’re good to go with us.

You can choose between several lesson packages and combinations either organised as a shared lesson with another student, or private tuition.

Supervision: All intermediate riding guests are constantly supervised for maximum safety and our rescue boat is close by. Whatever your level our instructor is at hand to answer questions and analyse technical problems.

Advanced/Video: We also offer video coaching for the more advanced riders, and generally for those looking to perfect their techniques. Sessions are recorded on camera during the day and you then sit down and watch the replay on the boats big screen at the end of the day. With a few tips from our instructor it is easy to get you where you want to go and master that move you were dreaming of.

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