Rider weight, wind strength and board size all feed into it. A practical guide for choosing the right kite on this bay — and why you do not need to own one yet.
If you are taking lessons, this is a question you can safely ignore: we choose the kite for you and change it during the session if the wind shifts. But once you start riding independently, it becomes the decision that shapes your day.
The two inputs that matter most
Your weight and the wind strength. A heavier rider needs more power to get going; a lighter rider gets overpowered sooner. Everything else — board size, skill, water state — adjusts around those two.
Rough guidance for this bay
- Light wind days, around 12 to 15 knots: the biggest kite you have
- The common summer range, 18 to 25 knots: a mid-size kite for most riders
- Strong afternoons above 25 knots: size down, and expect to size down again as the thermal builds
Why Essaouira changes the answer through the day
Because the wind builds with the thermal, the kite that felt right at midday can be too much by five o'clock. Riders here often rig slightly smaller than the morning forecast suggests, knowing it will fill in. This is also why renting rather than owning makes sense on a first trip.
Board size matters too
A bigger board gets you planing earlier and can compensate for a smaller kite in marginal wind. Beginners ride larger boards for exactly this reason — it makes the water start far more forgiving.
During your lessons
All equipment is included and your instructor picks it. We renew our kites regularly, and as you progress you move onto performance gear at no extra cost. If you want to ride on your own, we also rent full setups by the half day, day, four days or week.
Ask your instructor what you were riding at the end of your course — it is the most useful starting point for your own first kite.
All gear is included in our lessons and in our kitesurf camps in Essaouira. Find out more about the school on the NaneaKite home page.
Ready to get on the water?
Tell us your dates and we will put together the right lessons or camp for your level.
