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Best Schools Premier Destination: Lake Garda, Italy
Limone sul Garda:
The lake is surrounded by mountains dropping steep into the water. In the spring you can still see some snow on the tops of the mountains. Limone is a small town in the North. It is the most northerly town, on the west side of the Lake, where it is allowed to kitesurf.
In 2 hours and you are in Venice, 1.5 hour and you are in Milan, 1 hour and you are in Verona. Also local you find lots to do. Specially sports: mountainbiking, hiking, climbing and paragliding.
The wind and temperature:
In the morning the Peler blows. This strong North wind blows all season. In April, May, September and October it can get super strong. And you’ll need a 5, 6 or 7 meter kite. The other month a 7, 8 or 9 meter kite is perfect. In the afternoon we have the Ora. This medium South wind blows best from May to the 20th of September. The kites used: 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13. The water is in April cold, you need a winter wetsuit or drysuit with shoes. From May the water warms up. In the summer time you need a shorty in the morning and your boardshorts in the afternoon. The air temperature is in April and October around 20 degrees and in high summer around 30 degrees. So you can always do some sunbathing on the beach.
The kite spots:
We are the closest one to the best spot of the lake: Capo Reamol. Capo Reamol is the spot where the morning wind starts the first and last the longest. The wind is strong and stable and it’s the most flat/ not to choppy spot in the morning. There is no beach to start from so you only find a limited amount of kitesurfers who get a drop off from a boat. In the afternoon we have more good spots to choice from: Capo Reamol, Navene, Campione or sometimes just the middle of the Lake. Wind Riders is located in the middle of all the spots. So if there is a big sailing event in Navene, than we select another spot. On the weekends Campione is sometimes to full, so we go somewhere else. In the beginning and end of the season Capo Reamol works quit well as an afternoon spot. You’re experienced instructor or supervisor will decided where to go, and for sure you’ll find good kitesurf conditions.
The kite school:
Wind Riders is founded by Maayke, who has been working on the lake since 2004. With her degree in teaching she has great ideas for teaching techniques. Young, positive and passionate are the ideal components to make a difference. You see this in Wind Riders it keeps developing and growing with the latest equipment and teaching techniques.
Rental and boat lift service:
For experienced kitesurfers it’s a beautiful surrounding to kitesurf in. But there are no beaches to start from. This means that you use a boat service. This service offers the drop off, pick up and safety while you’re on the water. Starting from a boat is very easy. Your instructor pumps up the kite with a compressor. You hook yourself up, go in the water, the instructor drives the boat to the edge of the wind window. You check your lines, the instructor checks your bridles. When you both give the signal: ok, he let go of the kite and you steer it up in the air. Then he brings you your board.
Lessons:
We offer everything from test lessons, basic courses to advanced lessons. For an advanced lesson like jumping we recommend private or pair lessons. Your instructor will explain, demonstrate, give feedback and will film you. So that later on the beach you can see your progression and understand the feedback even better. Our 4 day basic course is very complete. You learn the set-up, downwind bodydragging, water relaunch, upwind bodydragging, upwind bodydragging to your board, upwind bodydragging with your board, the waterstart, consistant downwind riding and the self rescue. Sometimes students already learn the turn or upwind riding with the basic course. Your instructor looks at your level and gives you the new exercise as soon as you are ready for it.
Holiday packages:
Wind Riders offers completely holiday packages. We organize your stay at the camping (with your own tent or in a Wind Riders tent, bungalow or caravan) or in a hotel. In Limone you find hotels for everyone. Cheap and basic to luxury 5 star hotels.
Wind Riders philosophy:
We guarantee quality: With our 4 day course you are consistent riding your board. If you do not reach this you get a 5th day for free.
Teaching from a boat is very efficient. No walking back on the beach and a lot of direct feedback. Our instructors are experienced IKO qualified instructors. Every 3 months brand new kites, so you will never experience equipment failure during your lesson. Our kites relaunch super easy, this will make you learn faster and feel more confident and independent. You have your own kite (and board) and spent the maximum time in the water. Your instructor coaches you with the radio helmet, gives you demonstration and answers your questions. We have boards in all sizes, from 164 cm to 125 cm. We teach our completely beginners on big boards downwind riding. But if you’ve started your kitesurf lessons at another school with other sized equipment than we continue the way you started. For example: with a medium board, cross wind riding.
