Fuerteventura Flag Beach Kite Centre

[foiled]

Well just been back from a week in fuerteventura and just wanted to warn any newby thinking of going to flag beach - think twice! The beach is OK but a bit rocky and not suitable for beginners (as mentioned previously on the site) but the thing that really got me was the sheer igorance from the kite centre on the beach. I've never met a more miserable bunch of instructors in all my life. They very unhelpful and rude. Anyone else had the pleasure of meeting these wonderful peeps?

 

Saying all that I found that the local riders and other kiters on the beach were all good fun and helpful so all was not lost but really you would have thought that the only kite centre on the beach would try to seem a little more interested.

[Howard Marks]

My friend King Nerk (off The forum) came back and said the same thing. Big rocks that he dragged over and the people in the kite shack that don't give a toss about you or the state of the equipment they hire you..

 

They just slung him a board and kite with no help on setting it up...He also told me they were arogant and unhelpfull....(nice)

[jason mcgowan]

Very Rocky looked better in the south.

[BrianCalshot]

I went there 3 years ago and NOTHING has changed ... at first I thought it was just me!

 

The guys in the shack were @rseholes!

 

I have heard first hand that they let some guy drift miles and he had the insurance thing ..just cos they couldnt be @rsed to get the boat out ...he ended up swimming in!!!

 

I met them on my last night in the surf bar in town and put my hand out and the guy actually showed me his back!!!

 

However, fuerta isnt all bad...I understand Danny Seales did do or does do lessons and he takes his student a little further south and Danny is a nice guy! The surfers at El Cortillo are really cool and I will be in their debt forever! The guys at the surf center at Sorrevento are the complete opposite of the guys at kite beach!

 

Its a shame they havent got their act together after all this time!

 

Kite Beach isnt ideal for learning (the next bit is hear say)....the week before I arrived a guy some how ripped his back open from his anus upwards ... a girl had her ear removed with a kiteline!

 

The IKO need to shut this centre down!!!!!

 

You want somewhere safe to learn and play ....either stay in the UK where we have the RNLI and local rescue services plus instructors that give a damn or go to Colona, Egypt probably the safest place in the world.. instructors that look after their students ...2 rescue boats just for the kiters! And by the end of your holiday you would spent less than going to Fuerta. Fuerta self catering ...£120 ish .... Colona HB £270 ish!!

 

Honestly I hate slagging people off ... and my attitude is if you dont like something keep your mouth shut, do it yourself or dont use the service! But I feel so strongly about this that my personal rules dont apply ... imagine I was there 3 years ago and I am still annoyed about the damn place!

[foiled]

Glad I wasn't the only one, I really was shocked as to the lame attitude of the peeps at the shack. They offered me boat rescue at a price but forgot to mention that their boat was out of action anyway!!! Just thought I would inform people as I met a few UK lads out there all wanting a bit of help and got nothing just rude comments. Wish I got down to Sotovente but forgot my driving license so had to use buses which was also a bit of a problem as some of the bus drivers really don't like the idea of having kite boards on their buses (although apparantly body boards and buggy's are fine!!)

[nomad_alien]

My personal experience is also that Flag beach is for intermediate->advance riders, not just because of all the rocks but also because of the "helpful" flagbeach people.

 

When I was there a guy dropped his kite in the water(looking out to sea, on the left hand side going around the corner into the harbour).

Anyway, I was sitting on the beach with these guys, they saw the guy struggling and not getting his kite up. There's a lot of real nasty rocks on that side, if you get taken there, that's it, you and your kite are going to get some serious damage. Eventually the lifeguards(from a different beach) came driving up on their quadbike to inform these guys that there's a guy in trouble. FB response was.....we aren't life guards and that guy didn't pay for rescue.

Fair enough, they didn't wanted to just rush out and pick up the guy and charge him a fortune for rescue, but he was drifting/struggling a long time, heading straight for the rocks, and they knew there is this point of no return where you won't even be able to get to the guy in the boat and then he is straight onto the rocks. He eventually had his kite damaged on the rocks as he swam out. I was a bit ****** with the FB guys....and made damn sure I didn't get in trouble for the rest of the time, even though I did pay for rescue services.

 

If you don't already know what you are doing....then don't go there.

[gixxer1]

Phew. I'm heading to Corralejo for the 1st time shortly and was going to book lessons with these guys as there are 3 newbies with us. Does anyone have any feedback on KSF at El Cotillo or are there any other recommended outfits over there?

[BrianCalshot]

See if you can contact Danny Seales at Krunk ... (no idea if its still there or even he is!) but he is a sound geezer and if he cant help ...I am sure he will point you in the right direction... Bramblemet is showing 47.3 knots so I'm off to get wet!

[speed_freak]

I went there 3 years ago and NOTHING has changed ... at first I thought it was just me!

 

The guys in the shack were @rseholes!

!

 

Way back in 2000 I went there as a newb and it damn near cost me my life - seriously. I went there to learn - so I took the lesson at KB, great start on land then we were told to bodydrag through all the windsurfers and then come back to the beach just short of the rocks. Now being a newb I ditched the kite and after struggling for a few minutes caught a cramp, and accordingly sucked in a lingful of briney.

 

After a bit of screaming in mild histeria for help a friendly windsurfer rescued me and brought me back in, where I puked up a gallon or so it seemed. I only remember seeing my instructor after a few minutes having I believe gone to rescue his precious kite.

 

Just goes to show how much things have changed - NOT.

 

Avoid Kite Beach like the plague IMHO

 

Phil

[Howard Marks]

Has anyone done a website that lists all the popular world wide kitesurfing locations with the options of placing a user review and points system perhaps.

 

I was going to book flag beach ... but my mate tells me Lanzarote is better because it has less rock and a bigger beach..Not sure I want to put money in peoples hands that don't care about their customers or even the general saftey on the beach.

[BrianCalshot]

I have emailed Kite Beach ...offering a right to reply...

 

I think they should ...or at least they should be aware that kiters arent happy so they can possibly change their attitude or staff!

 

And that these arent isolated events and spread over a few years so its a deep issue!

[Jofski]

phew...

Thanks to all for honest advice. A NAME EM, SHAME EM and PRAISE EM post re: kitesurf abroad would be very helpful.....but no doubt difficult to compile honestly..

 

Brian - had a T-Shirt off you a year or so back ! howz trix?

[BrianCalshot]

phew...

Thanks to all for honest advice. A NAME EM, SHAME EM and PRAISE EM post re: kitesurf abroad would be very helpful.....but no doubt difficult to compile honestly..

 

Brian - had a T-Shirt off you a year or so back ! howz trix?

 

All centres have off days I am sure, the stresses of business etc. As far as Forums and kitesurfing goes this forum is bias towards the landside and yet even though this thread hasnt technically been running long, The Flag Beach Staff havent received a very good appraisal from its few customers that frequent this forum so its fair to say that there are other tales of woe. This isnt an isolated case its backed up with experiences since almost the birth of mainstream kiting 5/6 years ago. Something is seriously wrong at Flagbeach.

 

I prefer bigging people and companies up ..than slating them. They are doing their thing hopefully providing us a service or choice, they are risking all (sometimes) to provide that service and I respect that ...so there is nothing worse in my book than telling them they are cr@p.

 

I would very much like Flag Beach to get its house in order ...for them to visit Colona and see how a Kite centre should be run and you might just get repeat customers!

 

Teeshirts and hoodies are going well:D trying to sort out some new jumpers with a friend but its a Lost Cause!

[benjamin_vine]

Guys,

 

I went to Furte in Jan as a beginner, I did the whole shabang through Extreme Holidays, really nice guys, that take you to the best places and really look after you, the groups are pretty small, I was one of three. They also cater for all levels. Worth a look, I will be going with them again in the new year.

 

Ben

[slider]

All centres have off days I am sure, the stresses of business etc.

 

If only it was that, I went to Flag three years running, and if anything it got worse. the old instructor (Gunnar) was OK if you took time to talk to him -well, if you could pry him away from another ciggy break, but the rest of them were just pig ignorant. There used to be a great local bloke called Brian who worked in a bar in the evenings, who would look out for you on the water but don't expect any real help from the centre - even if you pay for it.

 

As to the spot, it's not ideal, but I've sailed worse. It depends when you go there an how busy it is. I've generally found hte other European visitors are friendly and co-operative, but heaven help you if you are sharing the water with the locals -'kin dangerous.

 

I agree with the other sentiments, go to Colona in Egypt, the best place I have ever kitesurfed. Its only about an hour further away, the weather is hotter, there's much better diving as an alternative - and the eating and drinking in the evening is much cheaper.

[Bob Monkhouse]

Teeshirts and hoodies are going well:D trying to sort out some new jumpers with a friend but its a Lost Cause!

 

Who are you Collin a Lost Cause ?

 

PS. When are you taking me to Colona then Bri ?

[Kite-Ski]

I have been there quite a few times, my parents did a level one course there. They really enjoyed it, a geezer named gunnar was their instructor, ( i think he rides for peter lynn now) he seemed really good, didnt let them go out when the tide was out going, and also kept an eye out for other people to warn them, that my parent etc were learning.

 

They also, took my dad out around 200 metres, and let him body drag in on an onshore day, i dont know if people think this is kinda sketchy but, they were following him in on the boat.

 

I didnt really pay much attention to how they were teaching, but they didnt seem to bad, the last few times we have been.

 

The centre should not be closed.

 

I not only kitesurf, but windsurf also, and it is a great spot when the weather is up; it is all good people saying shut the centre down because of the instructors, but it started as a windsurfing centre, and should remain that if they do decide to stop kitesurfing (i serverely doubt it!) There are more than just kitesurfers using the centre, this has to be recognised.

 

If you want to learn Fuerte is not really ideal to learn how to kitesurf, unless in Sotovento on the lagoon. The wind down south is predominately offshore, which is not fantastic when learning and even tricky for a competent surfer, when not using the lagoon.

 

I love fuerteventura, always will do, but usually, if the instructors cant help you or dont want to, it's up to us who visit there to help people out, if you see somebody in a dangerous situation, or are doing something wrong, help them out, as next time it could be you......

[kiteingcolin]

for the last 3 years i have stood almost all alone condemning flag beach for all the reasons above , but it is not just kiters that have been getting a raw deal, if you read my threads/posts on the area you will see i was a windsurfer for over 25 years and well before kitesurfing was invented i was a well travelled windsurfer, and believe me nothing has changed for over 15 years, i remember booking windsurf gear for hire and on arrival i was so disapointed with the kit and people, i hired a car and went south to sotavento, still a rude offhand bunch, but they did have good gear,

 

 

i am glad to see others have seen what i have been openly moaning about, i dont feel such a whinger now.

[scuddasteve]

I went this year... Nice Beach Apart from the Big rocks and the Little hidden Razor rocks !!!!

Wind like a switch..

 

**** compared to the Famara Beach on Lanzarotte, There is a schol there 1 on 1 kinda thing, i watched him give lessons for 3 days, uses helmet radio's etc.. Very attentive.

I would rec that one.

 

 

I cant wait to go next year with all my kit.

 

Famara wins hands down for me.... Its kinda like Westward Ho But more of a horse shoe massive bay. Kites fly up at the right by the mountains... If you screw up you drift into the bay due to the wind direction.. Job sorted.

 

Massive surfing community there too !

[Muzza1597507418]

I did a 3 day course on Flag beach about 2 years ago and all though i loved it - (obviously as i was learning to kitesurf),it was no where near as friendly as i would have liked.

the instructors were alright - that gunnar bloke did love himself a bit much. the conditions weren't fantastic at all, it didn't strike me as the perfect place to learn. i had to wait 3 of the 7 days i was there for the right conditions - which involved dragging myself out of bed at 9 o'clock every morning after a heavy night out!!! (not a pleasent experience!). but i don't wanna knock it to much, although the school wasn't the best, and the owner was dick, it was a really good week, nice beach and some good bars, probably not the best place to learn tho

[BrianCalshot]

Kite -ski ...i would hate for any centre to close but could we agree that the flagbeach staff need a training course on how to interact and be helpful to the rest of the human race?

And its nice to read that at least some people have had a good time at flag beach

[Kite-Ski]

Yeah true, im an instructor myself, windsurfing, you'd get the sack if you spoke to a customer like that. It is up to the person who wants to surf there i guess, to be honest i like the south better, nicer beaches.

 

Its good to give people idea's about centres, how they run, what they are like, you you could be saving them quite a bit of cash, that they would be spending on lessons at flag beach.

[sunset]

I have just come back from organising my first group trip to Famara and although the wind gods failed to oblige as they ought to a good time was had. The local guys are great and don't mind speaking their second language as long as you make the effort to be friendly to them.

I hope to put another trip on in April 06 . These trips are not for profit but a way of getting a load of like minded people out to a great spot as cheaply as possible ( 6am flight etc). You would need your own kit and be able to just get on the board as a minimum. Though I am an instructor these trips are aimed at a group helping each other and fun .If you won't share your kit or are a Poser do not apply!!!

[Airpowerd]

although the wind gods failed to oblige as they ought

 

so you photgraphed the NATURAL hazards eh! m8

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TgAcAxMYR8peP4pZ19ryGHS74omXlINzstZsER9KCAw3meV5GaqxTG8kHEB1tJOUcnlcxsUSdq9PPSIKzrCbjtmO*X3eE7JTT0fyYFZYgO7uA9d6uu1MKg/natural%20haz.jpg?dc=4675547235010904144

[marqueemark]

Phew. I'm heading to Corralejo for the 1st time shortly and was going to book lessons with these guys as there are 3 newbies with us. Does anyone have any feedback on KSF at El Cotillo or are there any other recommended outfits over there?

 

KSF is run by Fadi Issa, a pro rider who is on some of the early kitesurfinf videos (Awake is one that comes to mind). He is a really top bloke and should be able to sort you out, give him a call....

 

Unfortunately the asshole shack have exclusive rights to teaching Corralejo and they certainly use dubious teaching methods.....