THE WIND
The Algarve receives good wind all year round and for beginners there is always enough wind to kite. Atlantic storms deliver great wind conditions in winter, but thanks to the Nortada, the Algarve has great wind in the summertime too!
For experienced kitesurfers the Algarve has a lot to offer. In the summertime it's primarily a freeride/speed destination - the Nortada blows regularly from April to September and it's boardshorts-and-bikini temperature! In winter low-pressures deliver waves and strong south-west to south-easterly winds.
PORTIMAO - PRAIA DE ALVOR & RIA DE ALVOR
Home to the PKRA World Tour, Praia de Alvor (Alvor beach) provides some of the best freeride conditions in the Algarve. The North wind or Nortada, is further strengthend as it is funneled through the Serra de Monchique mountains and by 2 o'clock in the afternoon it can reach 25 knots). The wind here is primarily onshore to side-onshore.
in the Ria de Alvor (Alvor estuary), the conditions are generally perfectly flat because of the offshore wind and the Alvor East pier protection. The river mouth offers flat to choppy water and lots of shallow areas, perfect for beginners.
WHY THE WESTERN ALGARVE?
One of the big attractions of kitesurfing in the Western Algarve is the incredible consistency of the wind. You can kitesurf all year and the beautiful beaches, steep cliffs, pleasant water temperature and spots that work under various conditions all make this area a great kitesurfing destination. The popular spots get crowded when the wind is good, but there are literally dozens of spots to be found with a little exploration. For more information on the Western Algarve please see our 'Destination Guide'.
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WHAT'S ON OFFER?
We run 'Learn-2-kitesurf' courses for newbies & beginners and Kitesurfing Clinics for intermediate or experienced kitesurfers.
The Learn-2-kitesurf holidays are great for people who want to immerse themselves in the kitesurfing lifestyle and learn how to kite or perfect their kitesurfing techniques. You will learn to kitesurf on the beach or in the lagoon at Alvor and tere is a choice of accommodation in nearby Lagos or Praia da Luz. We offer Professional Kitesurfing Tuition backed by proven coaching techniques to anybody who's got the passion to learn or improve their kitesurfing.
If you are an experienced kitesurfer looking to push your personal performance, then you can join one of our Kitesurfing clinics.
MULTI ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS
The Zoco crew are completely nuts about boardriding. We love to kite, surf, windsurf, wakeboard... hell, if it involves speed and gravity, we're there!
To satisfy our need for speed no matter what the wind and waves are doing, we've managed to come up with a number of really cool multi-activity, multi-adventure holiday options in the Algarve, check it out here: Algarve Extreme
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WHO WILL IT APPEAL TO?
The excellent year round wind stats, pleasant climate, excellent tourist facilities and wide choice of accommodation options make the Algarve a suitable destination for all levels of kitesurfers, all year round.
Experienced kitesurfers who like a bit of wave riding will find a wide range of challenging conditions from autumn through to spring when the swells are bigger and the waves super consistant. For free riders and speed freaks, the summer months from May to September deliver flat water and weeks of back-to-back wind.
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Algarve
