Tourists by the millions come to Chile for backpacking, horseback riding, skiing, wine tasting and numerous other activities that would burst this article’s word limit, but nothing rivals the South American country’s kitesurfing scene
CAi, a Chilean kitesurfing club (now a company called Peaceful Winds), is one of the first on the Chilean scene to offer adventure ecotourism, but it is not the first to lure travelers to Chile, which is world-renowned for its natural beauty.
Chile is not only for laypeople: some of the most talented thrill seekers and daredevils in the world come to surf Pichilemu, hang-glide in the Andes, kite-surf down the coast, hydro-speed in glacial rivers and just about any other activity that requires a hyphen.
For $180, outdoor enthusiasts can jump at a chance to spend a weekend on a very windy beach on the Chilean coast. There would be a lots of sweat and sea salt, but little sleep.
After endless introductions in Latin style, the group members head down to the beach, gear packed in trucks, ready to brace the whipping wind.
The beach itself is gorgeous but the winds about the fiercest CAi has ever seen. A thousand sand flecks pelt the group like arrow. After everyone struggles into wetsuits and the teacher introduces everyone to a small kite, the lesson begins.
Controlling the kite is a feat in itself. A smidgen of pressure on the control bar, and the kite tweaked right, while another touch it whipped to the other side and lifts the surfer a few inches off the ground. One needs to be able to manipulate the kite without looking, just feeling. Getting the controls right takes at least a day.
The next day is likely to dawn just as windy. Students would be learning the body drag. Before anyone can stand on top of the board he has to be able to control himself with the kite in the water, salt stinging his eyes and the kite threatening to plummet to the surface or knock another kite. If the surfer is not careful and lets the kite whip around, he will find himself pulled out of the water and flung sideways.
This requires constant practice and can be extremely tiring. The stomach starts to grumble, the eyes start to sting from the salt, the neck starts to ache from craning up to check the kite, and the nerves start to be on edge.
Being at the mercy of intense winds for hours and days wears anyone out.
However, this exhaustion can be combated with a special technique for maintaining control of the kite: how to kick your legs out and stand in one smooth motion.
After a second’s solitude, the kite catches the wind and zooms back to the shore.
The muscle aches lessen away after a few days, but the beautiful memories made while kitesurfing are worth the pain.
In all the preceding practice, it feels like a battle. The wind is huge, omnipresent, moving wall with a million sandy minions. But in that moment, it certainly feels rewarding to overcome such a challenge. With some persistence and willingness to work with the wind, the kitesurfer no longer feels opposed. In this sense, the wind surfs the surfer.
Despite the initial obstacles of Chilean kitesurfing, the lessons learned, personal satisfaction and lifelong memories make it a worthwhile experience.
Kitesurfing is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it is an amazing experience.
For more information on Peaceful Winds, visit https://www.facebook.com/PeacefulWindsEco.
