Offers of Kitesurfing Norfolk

We’ve all enjoyed flying a kite at the beach at one time or another. It can be a relaxing activity, but when there’s a strong gust of wind, you have to hold on tight to stay in one place. Well, this is the point where kitesurfers start to get excited. Kitesurfing is the sport of letting the wind carry you across the water’s surface, using a board on your feet to stay afloat, and to pull off epic jumps and stunts. To get a kitesurfer going, you need an unusual combination: good winds and flat water. As high winds often bring waves with them, it isn’t a sport that you can enjoy just anywhere. But there are a number of destinations in the British Isles where the surf’s up, and one of them is Norfolk.

In the north of the county, there are 45 miles of beautiful coastline that stretch from The Wash to Cromer. Most of it is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the chief feature of the landscape is long, sandy beaches. Calm waters lap at the shores, and it’s possible to walk out a long distance into the sea without getting out of your depth. These are the perfect conditions for this sport. Whether you’re a beginner who wants to have a go at this cool activity, or an experienced kitesurfer, you’ll find locations here to bring out the best within you. What’s more, you can save the money on travelling to one of the better known kitesurfing destinations in the world, like the mediterranean or the Caribbean, by taking a staycation with a difference here.

Where are the best places to go kitesurfing in Norfolk?

• Hunstanton: This classic seaside town is also the home to Norfolk’s best kitesurfing school. Prevailing southwesterly winds sweep across a large expanse of flat, shallow water, parallel to the shore. Hunstanton beach is perfect for taking those first, wind powered journeys through the water, and once you’re more skilled and confident, the winds can take you on a real ride along the coast. There are two separate locations here, one at New Hunstanton, which is where the main town is, and the other at the old town, really just a village, which is known as Old Hunstanton. The latter is better for kitesurfers with some experience, because you have to be careful to avoid the cliffs.

• Snettisham: Along with the previous spot, Snettisham is one of the few beaches on the east coast of England where the sun can be seen setting over the sea. This is due to the fact that they are on the edge of The Wash, a large estuary that separates this region from Lincolnshire. Another benefit of being on The Wash is calm water, which is best for this activity at high tide.

• Brancaster: On the north facing coast, this dune backed beach of Brancaster is a huge expanse of golden sand. The sand forms dunes on the land side, and in the water there are sand bars which form lagoons with perfectly flat water at some moments in the tidal cycle. Beyond the sand bars, bigger waves than at other beaches can be found, so you can try some jumps and tricks with the help of the swell. The best winds at this beach are northwesterly to northeasterly, making this the perfect backup destination when the conditions at Hunstanton aren’t quite right.

• Heacham: This beach is located between Hunstanton and Brancaster. It’s shingly and not perfect in terms of the wind, but it has the advantage of a low tidal range, making it a good option for getting some practice in.

• Cromer: The beach of Cromer itself is fully fitted for holidaymakers, with a promenade, kiosks and a famous pier. All of this makes it unsuitable for kitesurfing, but in just 10 minutes you can walk to East Runton, a great option for this sport. Facing head on into the North Sea, waves make this a challenging spot for newbies, but kitesurfers who know what they’re doing can really get going here, and put some of the regular surfers who come here to shame.

What are the options for organising an experience?

- To make this activity work, you have to essentially use your body as the structure of a boat, connecting the sail, the kite, and the hull, the board. If that sounds tricky, it’s because it is, and isn't the kind of sport that you can pick up in an afternoon. However, the learning process is fun, and the rewards are well worth the effort. You can make it all the more enjoyable by taking lessons. A good way to start is a 2.5 hour power kiting session on the beach, where you get to grips with one of the fundamental elements of the activity without even dipping a toe in the water.

- Once you know your way around the kite, and you’ve got your head around terms like “wind–window”, you can get out into the water. Hunstanton beach is a great training site for this sport, and with an expert instructor, you’ll get up to your waist in the water and start the process of getting up onto the board and travelling on the water's surface. A full day course will get you making your first runs, whereas a 2 day course is enough for a true introduction to this sport.

- This is a great location to get some advanced level tuition as well. You can organise one-to-one or two-to-one sessions, where your instructor will help you refine your technique and get the most out of the local conditions for 2 hours or more.

Who can do this aquatic activity?

As we’ve mentioned, this is a pretty tricky sport to get the hang of and, though you don’t have to be an adonis to do it, it helps to have a certain level of physical strength. Add to that the fact that kitesurfers have to use the water responsibly, not interfering with other beachgoers, and you can see why there's a minimum age limit on training courses here of 16 years old. Don’t worry, it’s not all serious. You can have a lot of fun learning to kite, and one way to make it even better is by learning with your friends. Classes and courses can be organised as a group of 4 people, with one instructor, so you and your best mates can learn this new skill together and become the envy of the beach.

The beach is the place to be, and this is the coolest sport there. Come and have a go!