KITESURFING IN BUZIOS
If
you are in Búzios for your holidays, imagine this situation:
you are back home and your friends and relatives will ask you how was
your trip and what did you do. You can answer that you saw beautiful
beaches, had some fish for dinner or drank some caipirinhas; but you
can also proudly answer: I learned how to kitesurf!
Yes, this is possible, anyone that knows how to swim and is willing to learn it, can do it. Kitesurf is a new way of sailing and can be practiced safely if done on the right place and with the help of a professional instructor.
We spoke with Eduardo Graf, Head Instructor at Búzios Kitesurf School, to know more about kitesurfing in Búzios.
BS: How much time someone needs to learn how to kitesurf?
Eduardo: It depends a lot on the student, his past experiences with sports, how much he is willing to learn, etc. Someone that is not sure if he or she really wants to practice this sport, can start doing an Introduction Course of one hour, where the student will learn how to fly a training kite (small) and some of the theory of the sport. A person really wanting to learn it, should do a Basic Course (10 hours), where the student will be sailing at the end of the course.
BS: Is it true that anyone can learn how to kitesurf?
Eduardo: I have taught already over 450 students and all of the students,
from children to guys on their 60,s or 70,s, that finished their courses,
learned how to sail with a kite, and many eventually bought their own
equipment and are currently kitesurfing.
Of course, surfers, windsurfers, snowboarders, paragliders or anyone
practicing board sports will learn it faster and find it easier, but
in the end what counts is your will, how much you want to learn it,
even if it might take a little longer for you to learn. The pre-requisite
is to feel comfortable out in the ocean or in a lagoon and to be in
good physical conditions.
BS:How are the courses and the learning process?
Eduardo: The student first learns the theory of the wind window and learns how to fly a small training kite on land. After that we start using bigger kites until the student can master a traction kite and we also start doing exercises in the water. In the last part of the course we will learn how to stand on the board and control the speed of a four-line kite. Anyone interested in detailed information on our courses can call us or visit our web page at: www.kitenews.com.br .
BS:Is kitesurfing dangerous?
Eduardo:Yes, it can be dangerous if the person tries to do it own his
own, without instruction, on places that are not appropriate for kitesurfing,
and if the person does not follow the basic safety rules, like kitesurfing
during storms or strong and gusty winds.
I would say that its like riding a bicycle for instance, you can use
it as a way of transport, for your leisure, but you can also use it
for radical maneuvers like jumping high or going downhill at more than
60km per hour. The same goes for kitesurfing, I know of families doing
it on weekends and professional kitesurfers using it to jump 15 meters
high on days with very strong winds.
BS: There are two kitesurfing schools in Búzios and many more in the other cities around, how can someone decide where to learn.
Eduardo: Kitesurfing is like sailing, paragliding, surfing, etc, you have to learn it with an expert. Many people are training guys how to teach and opening schools everywhere, taking advantage of the huge amount of people interested in learning this new sport. What happens than is that we have people that last year were working on a shopping mall or whatever and suddenly they become kitesurf instructors. A good kitesurf instructor must be a waterman, someone involved with the ocean all his or her life or at least for many years. Someone that can sit with you and talk about equipment, meteorology, places to kitesurf around the world, how to deal with waves, how to get out of difficult situations among many other things. The owners of those schools might even be watermen, but they are usually too busy taking care of many employees and business and you will probably not even meet them. What you are looking for is an experienced kitesurfer next to you when its time to learn not a businessman. Besides that, we are the first and for sure best equipped kitesurf school in Búzios and our lessons are in English, which is also a big plus, if your Portuguese is not good enough to understand everything the "instructor" is saying.
BS: Your school has some kind of certification?
Eduardo: Yes, I took a course to become a Certified Instructor back in 2002. We also issue a Kiteboarder Card from IKO, for the student interested. We have first aid certificates and skippers license. This is good for our school as many people look for us because we are a certified school. But in my opinion, this doesn't makes much difference, I know of many schools that have all kinds of certification and their instruction is very bad, not to say something else. What the person interested in learning has to do is talk with the person who is going to teach them, before closing packages, for lessons that might not be what you expected.
BS: And how is the wind and climate in Búzios?
Eduardo: We have a wind season from July to November more or less, during the winter and spring, when its dry, that's when you will find winds ranging from 17 to 30 knots. But this doesn't mean it will not be windy the rest of the year. If you are coming during our summer or fall, give yourself some extra time, as you can come during a rainy week and you might have to wait for the wind to arrive. Bring big kites for this time of the year 16m or more as the wind will average between 10 to 15 knots. Best thing to do is plan your trip according to the forecast. The temperature goes from 16 C to 35 C more or less and the water is always warm at Rasa Beach.
BS:What can you say for kitesurfers visiting the city?
Eduardo: The best beaches are Rasa Beach and Tucuns. You will also find people kitesurfing at Geriba and Manguinhos , but those beaches can get very crowded and are dangerous. With winds coming from E to N, go to Rasa Beach, when is S to E, Tucuns is a good option for advanced kitesurfers. Enjoy your stay, need some help, give me a call or pass by our school!
BS: What is kitesurfing for you?
It's a lifestyle and almost everything for me. I got involved when I saw a friend doing it in Rio, and I never thought I would be able to do it some day. I would like to thank him very much , for helping me getting started, it changed my life!
Eduardo Graf - info@kitenews.com.br
(Eduardo is involved with kitesurf since 2001 as the editor of kitenews.com.br, is an IKO instructor level 2, speaks english fluently and is responsible for Buzios Kitesurf School).
