I don’t even need the alarm clock to wake up in time for the six o’clock tide. The wind is already blowing, but not enough for kitesurfing yet. Another three hours’ sleep, then it’s back to kitesurfing in Fiji. At ten o’clock we take the boat out again to the safe kitesurfing spot at the Sandbar, 2 kilometres from Nananu-i-Ra.
The wind was already strong on Nananu-i-Ra, and at Sandbar the wind is blowing at 30-40kmh. Strong gusts make kitesurfing even more difficult. An absolute killer for my 12 nitro with 30% depower. At least I know that before I go out kitesurfing. It’s always a bad omen when you can barely keep contact with the ground on land.
Sotos is doing training for a little New Zealander. Her 12-year-old brother is riding like God after only 2 years: a quick double backflip here, frontside there, 360 there. I go out. The very first gust lifts me into the sky. Fortunately, the kite carries more in strong winds, so the impacts are also milder.
After an hour, I’ve lost half a kilometre of height. Kitesurfing is no longer fun in this wind strength, with my 150 light wind kiteboard I’m just bouncing from wave crest to wave crest. It’s no longer possible to press the edge because the kite keeps accelerating me to over 30 km/h in no time at all. Fully depowered, the kite pulls me out of the water up to my hips after every fall. After a massive power zone crash, I let myself be rescued for the first time.
Around two o’clock we want to do a downwinder back to Nananu-i-Ra. Sotos rips it in half on the first jump, the line wraps around the kite and he is pulled onto the reef. Fortunately without consequences. After a few laps I’m hit by another strong gust, which first pulls me up and then my front line apart. On the plus side, at least now I know that I’ve never kited in more wind. On the negative side, there are no new kite lines to buy anywhere in Fiji, not even far away.
Tips for kitesurfing in Fiji
Kitesurfing in Fiji: With its relatively reliable trade winds, Fiji is generally well suited to kitesurfing. The wind strength fluctuates between 10 and 20 knots from May to September. The winds vary greatly depending on the island and can be very gusty. From November onwards, strong areas of low pressure build up with heavy rainfall. Either too much wind or no wind at all.
Kitesurfing in Fiji: the spots Almost all the islands are surrounded by sharp coral reefs. Be sure to take surfing gear with you. Only a few islands have no reef in front of the beach. One of the best spots is Nananu-i-Ra, a small island north of Viti Levu. The trade wind flows unhindered side-onshore onto the beach here. Medium swell. At low tide the water over the coral is too low, at high tide the beach is very narrow. Safari Lodge charges a hefty €43 for the transfer and rescue boat to the nearby sand bar. There are also said to be some good kitesurfing islands on the Yasawa group (Mana Island). More on this as soon as I’ve been there.
Kitesurfing in Fiji: The first choice of equipment should be a 12-point kite (75kg kite). As far as I know, there is not a single kitesurf shop in Fiji. Bring everything yourself. Don’t forget spare lines. Equipment hire is slightly cheaper than in other countries, but at €80 per day still quite expensive and only available at a few spots. Kiteschooling: 100 € / 2h incl. material. The water is between 25 and 30 degrees all year round, wetsuits are not necessary. Fiji is close to the equator, so bring plenty of sun protection.
Frank Woelky, born in 1973. Kitesurfer since 1998. Since 2006, I have been combining kitesurfing and web design on trips lasting several months off the beaten track.