faq.kitesurf.mt

Malta has a small but keen community of kite surfers. Most online discussion on the subject takes place on the Facebook page, and there are often repeated questions about conditions from people looking to visit. This page aims to answer some of those questions and point people in the best direction to safely enjoy kitesurfing in Malta.

General Info

Malta is an archipelago in the Mediterranean, just below Sicily. Whilst it is obviously surrounded by water, it does not necessarily translate to ideal kitesurfing conditions; beaches are often small, full of people, obstacles, and surrounded by rocks. On top of that the wind is not regular but comes with weather patterns that are not hugely predictable in winter. With the right equipment and knowledge, however, it is possible to kitesurf in some picturesque spots around Malta and Gozo.

More detail can be found in the answers to some frequently asked questions below;

FAQs

Kitesurfing can be a dangerous - do so at your own risk. Always use an IKO qualified instructor to gain the necessary knowledge and experience to kitesurf safely.

Reckless behaviour from novice or experienced kiters could be detrimental to the future of the sport in Malta.

Beginners

Q. Where are the kite schools in Malta?

A. There are no formal kite school locations in Malta, however a local IKO qualified instructor (only one at time of writing*) does provide lessons and can teach you safely when the weather complies. Try asking on the Facebook page for contacts. Do not attempt to start learning kitesurfing without instruction as this can be extremely dangerous for you and others (particularly in Malta - see below)!

Q. Is Malta a good place to learn kitesurfing?

A. Malta is not considered a great place to learn kitesurfing. It is possible if you have the time and patience, but there are several factors which affect this; most beaches are small and full of beach furniture (and often people and pylons). The wind is also not often consistent or predictable meaning it can be many days between kiting opportunities. Also note that all beaches are closed to kitesurfing during the summer months (May to October) so instruction on a beach during this period will not be possible at all.

Q. I'm a competent windsurfer/wakeboarder/snowboarder and/or have YouTube. Can't I just teach myself?

A. This isn't really the right FAQ for this, but short answer is no. The slightly longer answer is: especially not in Malta. Harnessing yourself into a powerful kite in high winds is extremely dangerous at the best of times. Additional hazards in Malta include (but are not limited to) the small beaches, rocks, oblivious beach goers, beach furniture, electricity pylons, gusty winds, buildings and buoys. Inexperienced kite handling and safety knowledge in these conditions can easily lead to fatal accidents for you and/or other people around you. Always use a qualified instructor to at least reach a standard where you are safely performing water starts and riding upwind.

Q. So where is a good place to learn kitesurfing close by?

A. Stagnone in Sicily is an excellent place to learn kitesurfing and is very close to Trapani Birgi airport, just a short flight from Malta (Ryanair currently* fly there). The wind is often consistent for almost the whole year, the lagoon is flat and waist deep, and there are a large (and growing) number of kite schools in the area that can be found with simple internet searches.

Santa Maria del Focallo is on the South coast of Sicily and very close to the ferry port from Malta. There are kitesurfing schools here too, though conditions are open sea and more variable than Stagnone.

Conditions

Q. When are the best times of the year to kitesurf in Malta?

A. All beaches are closed to kitesurfing in summer. This is determined by when the swimming zone lines are up at each particular beach. This is roughly June to October, but more attention should be paid to the existence of the zone lines than the exact dates. You could launch from rocks (though this is tricky) or a boat (if you have access to one) but actually there is not much strong wind during the summer anyway. The rest of the year (October to May) the wind can range from nothing to extremely strong, but there is little predictability about when it will be best for kiting.

Q. What obstacles should I be cautious of?

A. Many of the bays house a large number of boats in the summer months. The buoys and moorings for these are still in the water through winter and pose a snagging hazard. During warmer Autumn/Spring days there may also be a lot of tourists swimming in the water. Obviously care should be taken around people, whether kiting in the sea with them, or launching landing kites on beaches with families still enjoying the sunshine. Tourists are often oblivious to the dangers of an out-of-control kite and their presence and safety takes priority over our kiting ambitions. Also on the beaches can be beach furniture such as bins, umbrella bases, fences, electricity pylons and cafés. Do not ruin the reputation of the other participants of the sport with reckless or risky behaviour.

Q. Which beach is best to kitesurf on?

A. The beach most people will kitesurf on will depend on the direction of the wind, as generally an onshore wind is least gusty. There is a rough guide to locations found here: Malta Kitesurfing Locations

Q. What are the main wind directions in Malta?

A. The most common winds are probably North-Westerly between W and NNW. There is an Easterly wind occasionally, usually after a storm. Other directions are possible but not so common, however Kitesurfing in Malta is generally done with an onshore wind due to gusts and other affected conditions, meaning that there other wind directions do not have an obvious launch location.

Q. Are there waves in Malta?

A. With onshore winds, all beaches can have some small breaking waves near the shore with sizes depending on the strength of the wind. NW/W facing Gnejna and Golden Bay can have strong, foamy waves up to around 1m+ which can be challenging for some riders.

Q. Where are the flat spots in Malta?

A. There are no spots considered to be flat. Beyond the breakers the sea can be reasonably calm but with the onshore wind there is always likely to be some degree of swell and chop.

Q. Where can I get wind information from for the kiting spots in Malta?

A. The main wind forecasting sites (Windfinder, Windguru, etc) will have locations in Malta - it is a small place and most spots are going to show largely similar predictions. Luqa (the airport) might have the most reliable weather station, but you can also get real-time meteorological data from It-Temp in Mellieha when it is working.

Q. Are there any webcams of the popular spots?

A. The only spot with a webcam is in Golden Bay, which is only kiteable with a mostly Westerly wind.

Equipment

Q. I am an experienced kitesurfer visiting Malta in the winter, where can I hire equipment?

A. There are no formal locations from which to hire kitesurfing equipment. Generally if you want to kitesurf in Malta it is necessary to bring your own equipment, though asking on the Facebook group well in advance may yield results. If bringing your own kit it is advisable to check conditions just before dragging it on the plane as there is never any guarantee of suitable conditions.

Q. Where can I buy kites and boards from?

A. Some local kitesurfers are distributors for some of the biggest and best brands (RRD, Naish, F1, ...) and can get hold of the latest kit for reasonable prices. Ask on the Facebook page for more details. If looking for second-hand equipment then the best places to start searching may be on the Facebook group, or on Maltapark.

Q. What size kites should I bring in <name month here>?

A. All you can carry. There is no predictability to the wind at any time of year. You may find it stronger closer to the mid-winter months, but you could equally find light winds in any week.

Q. Do I need a full wetsuit?

A. It might be warm enough for a shortie in early Autumn/late Spring, but generally a full wetsuit is best to have.

Q. Do I need wetsuit boots?

A. Probably not if just for the warmth. Some beaches (e.g. Gnejna) do have rocks and stones under the shoreline, but generally if you can get going quickly you should be OK (and if you can't get going easily you should probably only be in Mellieħa which is soft sand). You may choose to wear them to protect from jellyfish stings at certain times of the year when walking or falling in.

Q. Boot or strap bindings?

A. Obviously a personal choice, but with onshore winds, waves and narrow beaches it could be difficult to start/land with boots on. Some shorelines occasionally have seaweed washed up that needs to be waded past before water starting. Most local kiters use straps*.

*at time of writing - 2018