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Adventure seekers take heed – Mauritius is also a Kite surf paradise! Up to a few years ago, surfing, waterskiing, windsurfing and sailing were just about the most extreme one could get over water. This, until a young Mauritian-born sea lover, Nico Kux, discovered Kitesurfing through one of his customers who had brought a small contraption to the island. This was enough for Nico to tuck away his windsurfing board and adopt the latest craze in water sports – Kite surfing. The sport launched in Europe by two Frenchmen, rapidly gained popularity. In Mauritius, in just a matter of a few years, the sport has been growing by leaps and bounds and is gathering momentum rapidly amongst the younger generation. Understandably, what other sport can offer you to slide over the waves, glide over the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean whilst taming the elements of space and water? |
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This rapid development of the sport has been possible because Mauritius offers more breathtaking kite surfing spots than many could imagine. All around Mauritius, the coasts are dotted with dream locations – Le Morne and La Prairie in the south west, Belle Mare and Pointe d’Esny in the east and Cap Malheureux and Grand Gaube in the north and north east. Each of these locations has their specifics and wind characteristics. It is therefore advisable to catch a short course from one of the three or four excellent schools around the locations mentioned above. With its reefs, winds and waves, Mauritius has all the assets for you to discover some new and powerful sensations. So goodbye windsurf and hello Kite surfers of the world! Come and experience one of the rare spots in the world that could make the Hawaiin champions turn green with envy! |
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Windsurfing In Mauritius The history of windsurfing in Mauritius dates back to the seventies – in Trou aux Biches and Belle Mare beach. One sunny morning a Swiss born windsurf enthusiast – Aloï was his name – asked the hotel Management to use the beach immediately in front of the hotel to teach and popularize a totally new sport in Mauritius. After offering the guests and the hotel sport’s team a free demonstration – he proposed a partnership to the Hotel to create the first ever windsurfing club in Mauritius. It comes as no surprise that Aloi would have chosen Trou aux Biches as his first teaching ground as it is fairly obvious that the lagoon presented one of the best locations on the island. The bay has good steady wind (but not too strong) and perfect water conditions, with an almost 3km. stretch running from Pointe aux Piments to Pointe aux Cannoniers. Besides, those watching could have a premium view on the windsurfers as one has an 180° vision just standing anywhere on anyone of these beaches. |
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Those who have practiced the sport know that the beginnings can be extremely frustrating! However, apart from the humiliation of spending the first lessons falling over in the water every other minute rather than gliding along in the bay, succeeding to move a few metres is just utter magic! For the enthusiast, once these very painful beginnings are over there is no coming back. From enthusiast you will rapidly grow into an addict of the sport. The development of the sport was geometric and Aloi is to be commended for his patience and pioneering work, without which none of the windsurfers’ clubs around the island would have known such popularity. Years have passed by but the sport has gone on flourishing unfettered. Clubs exist in each and every hotel and even Mistral (one of the pioneering brands in windsurfing) has created its own clubs in partnership with some major 5 star hotels on the island. So if Kite surfing seems slightly on the extreme side of things for you, windsurfing is surely the next best alternative for having fun and enjoying this fantastic feeling of being free to glide over the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Whether a beginner, child or professional, there is a spot for you where you can take your board to the extreme side of what you consider a perfect holiday of sport and adventure. Besides, staying at one of our beach hotels will even make this even more pleasurable – windsurfing is free for all – all day long!! |