Northern Kites

Fancy a bit of adventure to get that heart rate up (and maybe escape the Mrs’ shopping trip)? Liverpool has a load of great options for getting out of the house and into something fun. 

When kitesurfers start jabbering about wind speeds, it often sounds like a foreign language: ‘It was blowing 20 knots, perfect for my 10m kite!’ 🤔 Knots? Why not just say mph? And more importantly, if you’re new to kitesurfing (or thinking of learning), you’re probably wondering: how many knots do I actually need to kitesurf, and how much is too much? 

Pumpfoiling… it looks pretty wild, doesn’t it? No kite, no boat, just you seemingly levitating above the water on a foil. If you’re a beginner watching someone pumpfoil around a lake, you might think, ‘ I’d last two seconds before falling in!’ But is pumpfoiling really that hard for beginners? Let’s break it down in plain English and get you stoked to give it a go.

There are few better ways to end the day than with a sunset on the coast. And in Merseyside, we’re spoiled for choice. From wide sandy stretches to tucked-away viewpoints, here are six of the best spots to catch the sun going down that aren’t Crosby or Formby, the two most popular spots. 

Let’s face it, wind forecasts can look like absolute chaos when you’re starting out in kitesurfing. Bright colours, a mix of arrows, numbers and graphs… all before you’ve had your first coffee. But learning how to read the wind forecast is a huge part of becoming a confident, independent kitesurfer.

Here’s a round-up of some of our favourite windy beaches and hidden gems for spring kitesurfing in the UK. Read on to find your next fave spot.

If you’ve ever watched someone kitesurfing and thought, That looks incredible, but I’d probably end up face-first in the water, you’re not alone. Kitesurfing has a bit of a reputation for being tricky to learn, but is it really that hard for beginners? Let’s break it down.

So, you’ve decided to give kitesurfing a go. Excellent choice! It’s an incredible way to challenge yourself, enjoy the outdoors and experience the rush of harnessing the wind. But where do you start? Let’s break it down step by step.

I first discovered kitesurfing when I was 16, at the 2004 World Windsurfing and Kitesurfing Championships in Fuerteventura. I was on a post-GCSE holiday with my older sister and her friends, soaking up the summer vibes.