Which gear is right for me?
The right kitesurf gear depends on five things: your level, your weight, the wind at your home spot, the water (flat, choppy or waves) and your riding style. A kite that a pro loves in the waves can be too much for an improver.
The good news: modern freeride kites are so well developed that they do almost everything well. You do not need specialist gear for your first years.
Kite types explained
Almost all kites on the water are tube kites (LEI): an inflatable leading edge and struts give the canopy its shape, and the kite floats on the water. The main types:
- Freeride / all-round (usually a 3-strut design): lots of depower, easy relaunch, forgiving. The best choice for beginners and most riders, for example the Airush Lithium or CORE XR.
- Freestyle (C kite or C hybrid): direct feel, lots of pop and slack for tricks and unhooked moves. For advanced riders.
- Wave: turns quickly and drifts steadily while you ride the wave. Usually few struts.
- Big air (usually 5-strut kites): lots of height and long hang time for jumps. Needs experience.
- Light wind and foil (single strut): few struts or just one, so light that it flies in very little wind. Ideal for hydrofoiling.
Foil kites (soft kites / mattresses) have no tubes and fill with air as they fly. You see them on the water too, but they are more for foiling or for jumps with long hang time and old-school tricks.
Boards: twin tip, directional and foil
- Twin tip: the standard board, ridden in both directions. Beginners learn on a slightly larger board because it planes earlier and rides more calmly.
- Directional / surfboard: for waves, with or without straps. The next step once you ride confidently.
- Foil board (hydrofoil): the board flies on an underwater wing. Rideable in very light wind, but it needs its own learning phase.
We stock twin tips and boards from VÆRIAL, Airush and CORE. We are happy to show you which board suits your weight on the beach.
Which kite size do I need?
The right kite size mainly depends on three things: your skill level, your weight and where you will mostly kite. The stronger the wind and the lighter you are, the smaller the kite.
- Windy spots such as Tarifa: smaller kites. Often 9–12 m² in Poniente and mostly 5–9 m² in strong Levante.
- Inland lakes with little wind, such as the Steinhuder Meer in Germany: larger kites, often 12 m² and up, or a foil to get out in light wind.
- Your level: beginners are better off slightly smaller and in control, advanced riders use size deliberately for jumps or light wind.
These are just examples. Talk to us: we ask about your weight, your level and your home spot and pick the right gear for you. You can try all sizes in our rental first.
Bar, harness and wetsuit
- Bar and lines: go with a kite of the same brand. Make sure you can release the quick release blind.
- Harness: waist harnesses are standard. A seat harness does not ride up and supports your back, popular with beginners. Try both on.
- Wetsuit in Tarifa: the water is around 15–22 °C over the year. A 3/2 mm suit is often enough in summer, a 4/3 or 5/4 mm in winter.
- Safety: a helmet and impact vest are a good idea after your course too.
My first kite gear
Your own gear pays off as soon as you are sure: kitesurfing is my sport! Usually that is once you ride upwind on your own and get back to where you started. For that we always have good second-hand and new gear ready for you. We are a school and a shop in one, and we are happy when you trust us with buying your gear too.
- Talk to your instructor. They know your level, weight and style and can tell you which sizes and board make sense.
- Start with freeride gear: a forgiving all-round kite in the size you will use most, plus a twin tip that is not too small.
- Test before you buy: with Test & Buy you ride kites and boards from VÆRIAL, Airush and CORE. If you buy, we credit 2 full rental days.
- New or used: we have both, good second-hand gear and new kites and boards. Used gear from recent years is a sensible, affordable start.
In our shop at the station, the Tarifa Surf Club & VÆRIAL Flagship Store, we advise you in person. From home, browse our online shop.
