There are many factors that influence the practice of kitesurfing, but the wind is undoubtedly the most important, and it will depend on it even the size of the kite you are going to use. So today we want to explain what should be the strength and direction of the wind for kitesurfing.
Wind force for kitesurfing
Wind force can be measured in kilometers per hour or meters per second, but in the kitesurfing world we prefer to measure it in knots. The movement of the air is very important, as it is in charge of lifting the kite.
That is why different wind levels require different size kitesurf kites. In addition, certain wind levels are suitable for beginners and others are dangerous for anyone who is not an expert.
In this sense, you must learn to identify the strength of the wind and what can be done with it; we offer you a guide for this.
| Wind Speed (knots) | Description | Recomendations |
| <1 | No wind, quiet sea | The kite cannot be lifted. |
| 1 – 4 | Ventolina, movement at sea. | |
| 5 – 7 | Very weak breeze, movement of leaves. | Very difficult to lift the kite. |
| 8 – 11 | Weak breeze, small swell. | Use very large kites or foil kites. Good for learning to handle the kite on land. |
| 12 – 16 | Moderate breeze, tassels on the sea. | Ideal for beginners, large kites are used. |
| 17 – 22 | Fresh breeze, moderate to medium swell. | Wind for all levels, medium sized kites are used. |
| 23 – 28 | Strong breeze, big and breaking waves. | Medium or small kites. Recommended for intermediate or advanced kiters. |
| 29 – 34 | Strong wind, rough sea and rough sea. | For advanced kiters only; small kites. |
| 35 – 41 | Hard wind, big waves that break strongly. | There may be dangers when navigating. |
| 42 – 48 | Very strong wind, poor visibility. | Kitesurfing is not recommended. |
| 49 – 56 | Temporal, white sea surface. | Impossible to kitesurf. |
| 57 – 64 | Squall, super big waves and poor visibility. and poor visibility. | |
| >64 | Hurricane, very dangerous. |
Wind direction for kitesurfing
On the other hand, you will have to return to land after kitesurfing, so not all wind directions will be convenient. Of course, so that you don’t have to worry about the direction, the ideal is to have a rescue team to bring you back to land in case of any unforeseen event, but this is not always possible.
In this sense, if you are going to return by your own means, you will need to know where the wind is blowing you; that is to say, which is the direction of the wind with respect to the beach. In general, you will find three types of winds in which it is possible to sail.
| Wind direction | Description | Recomendations |
| Side Shore Wind | This type of wind blows parallel to the coast or shore. | Recommended for all levels. |
| Cross On Shore Wind | A wind blowing offshore at a 45° angle. | Ideal for all levels, recommended for beginners. The best direction for kitesurfing. |
| On Shore Wind | The air is directed towards the shore at a 90° angle. | Only recommended for intermediate and expert levels. It is important to stay upwind so as not to constantly return to land. |
We will also find two types of offshore winds, Cross Off Shore (45°) and Off Shore (90°); this wind flow takes you away from land, so it is not recommended for kitesurfing at any level. However, there are advanced kiters who use it; in this case, it should be done with the support of a boat, since any unforeseen event can take you out to sea.
I’m Sergio Turégano and I’ve been practicing kite for 10 years. Since I was little I was passionate about the sea and I started to jump into the water with boards since I can remember, I’ve tried body, surf and windsurf but kitesurfing is my passion. I was champion of the Kitesurf TT:R Open World Championship in 2017 and I have been runner-up of Spain in the Junior category. Now I dedicate my life to enjoy kitesurfing as much as I can and teach others how to practice this amazing sport in Tarifa. I love to write about it and share all my tricks, tips and secrets about the kite world.