Think Caribbean. Think Kiting. Think Tobago

A Unique and Safe Kiting Destination

KITING IN TOBAGO?

No man is an Island, but Tobago is! Surrounded by water Tobago's exotic and fabulous beaches are a no brainer when one thinks of kiting almost as important as breathing. You know who you are!

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Not only avid kiteboarders will enjoy this destination but also all levels because the waters and the wind are a perfect combination for whoever ventures out to experience it. What is more, the Minister of Sport is investing in kiting in Tobago. The ministry chose to partner with the IKO because it is determined to promote safe kiteboarding for all local citizens, young and old as well as for their beloved tourists. 

Together with the IKO, the Ministry of Sport in Tobago and Sport TT are working to make Trinidad-Tobago the next up and coming kiteboard destination in the Caribbean.

TOBAGO IS AN IDEAL KITE DESTINATION

Tobago has a huge full horseshoe-shaped barrier reef in the southern part of the island that creates eight breaks or waves. These are reef waves not beach breaks. Beach breaks are characterized as dumpy. These reef waves are about 1.5 miles away from land and are peeling like a proper wave should. The wind direction works in tandem with these waves.

Tobago 2012 Carnival Regatta. Image source: JJ Slater found at http://www.youtube.com/user/SlaterProductions55?feature=watch.

Inside the reef is a very calm and perfect environment for wave riding, freestyle, distance and endurance riding. The reef makes it possible for this island to yield all genres of kiteboarding most of the year starting in December through July. The height for wind and waves is December through April. After April, the wind will fluctuate until July. July through November is a rainy season with stormy conditions.

The popularity of kiteboarding is growing in Trinidad and Tobago in areas such as Pigeon Point and Lambeau. The most popular spots include: Tobago; Manzanilla; Mayaro; Los Iros; and Moruga.

MINISTRY OF SPORT IN TOBAGO

In case you did not know, the Ministry of Sport is similar to the park and recreation departments in the USA. “Park and Rec” departments organize a variety of non-competitive sports to make all sports available to its citizens especially to make them safe and affordable for children and families.

The great thing is that this gives children a chance to rise-up in a sport where they might not have had the opportunity otherwise because of lack of finances and/or proper instruction. If a child shows potential, then s/he can be coached with a chance to join the national team that will first compete regionally, and then progress to international competitions. To accomplish this, the ministry sent its top kiters to islands just off the coast of Venezuela to get IKO Certified and to establish rules and regulations for kiting in Tobago. See the movie of this Instructor Training Course here. The cooperation between these islands has been unifying. Kiting unites people.

SIGNIFICANCE OF VISIT TO VENEZUELAN ISLANDS

This visit to the Venezuelan islands became a nice cultural exchange where Tobago kiters were kiting with locals. This exchange is significant because the Ministry of Sport in Tobago has a goal to raise-up high level kiting champions in their own area similar to those they saw kiting on the islands of El Yaque and Coche. While local kiting experts of Tobago have been kiting for years, bringing this level of skill coupled with the IKO Safety Standards is a new initiative with the goal of organizing the sport and making it safe even for the tiniest of children.

HOW VENEZUELAN ISLANDS BECAME ACCOMPLISHED

Kiting was brought to these small islands off the coast of Venezuela by European kiters with the foresight and compassion to sponsor the building of kiting schools. This made it possible for even the youngest of school children to display awestricken abilities and skill level in kiting. El Yaque has produced a five-time defending world kiting champion. 

TOBAGO INSPIRED BY KITEBOARD ACHEIVEMENT

The kiting model off the coast of Venezuela has become the inspiration of the Ministry of Sport to make Tobago a premier kiteboard destination and home to kiteboard champions. No barrier exists for this to be accomplished. Tobago has the perfect conditions to become the best kite destination in the world.

Tobago 2012 Carnival Regatta. Image source: JJ Slater found athttp://www.youtube.com/user/SlaterProductions55?feature=watch.

Because of this and the commitment of the Ministry, Tobago is able to raise-up local children to have the highest level of kiting skills and to become world kiting champions. The kiting future for Tobago looks bright. Look for Tobago to yield our future kiteboard champions.

TOBAGO SELECTS IKO SAFETY STANDARDS

The Trinidad and Tobago Kiteboarding Organization is a local kite organization that has registered IKO Members with many years of combined kiting experience. Because of this, IKO was already known and had a built up a reputation among the local kiters of having the best Safety Standards. For this reason, the IKO Standards and training methodologies were chosen as the standard for kiteboard training in the area.

By choosing the IKO, the ministry provides more value to kiters by educating and training kiting instructors.  IKO certified trainers transfers the Standard in kiteboard safety to its students. While kiteboarding may be an extreme sport, IKO safety Standards make it so that the sport is safe and fun for everyone to learn of all ages, shapes and sizes. Hence, the IKO is the perfect organization to help the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago turn extreme sporting practices of kiteboarding into a mainstream and signature sport for the country.

IKO IN TOBAGO

IKO welcomes the opportunity to be a part of making Tobago a fun and safe kiting destination for families and avid kiteboarders alike. Very soon, look for IKO Affiliated Centers teaching IKO training methodologies to be popping up in Tobago. At the pace that Trinidad and Tobago is progressing, this should be easily accomplished within 6 months.

READY TO KITE IN TOBAGO?

Tobago is ready for you to come and learn kiteboarding. IKO Examiner, Robbie Anderson, recommends the IKO certified instructors there with the highest of recommendation, stating that they have years of great experience to offer. Now, that they are implementing the IKO methodology, they are more than able to give any student a safe and fun kiteboard learning experience.

Tobago 2012 Carnival Regatta. Image source: JJ Slater found at http://www.youtube.com/user/SlaterProductions55?feature=watch

Additionally, the local YMCA works in conjunction with kiteboard trainers on the islands by offering swimming classes. The YMCA is funded for a swimming pool and instructors. If a student cannot swim, they are first sent to the YMCA’s swimming course.

WHEN TO GO TO TOBAGO?

The best time to kiteboard in Tobago is between December and July. A great time to go is during the The Tobago Carnival Regatta, which will be held at Pigeon Point, Tobago, March 2014. The Tobago Carnival Regatta is a three-day global competition of traditional Tobago bumboats, optimists sail boats, wind surfing and radical kiteboarding. Competitors come from as far as Europe, South Africa, North and South America and the Caribbean Basin.

• For more information about the Regatta, stay tuned and keep checking the Facebook page here.
• To see highlights of the 2012 competition, click here.
• See a great video showcasing Trinidad and Tobago, click here.

OTHER THINGS TO DO AT OR NEAR DESTINATION TOBAGO

In case all of the above has not convinced you to make Tobago your kite destination/vacation here are a few more reasons:

• Luxury Rental Villas
• Museums & Cultural Landmarks
• Carnivals
• Special Events
• Fantastic Local Eateries
• Shopping
• Sporting
• Amazing Attractions
• Great Beaches

Activities:

• Kiteboarding & Windsurfing
• Boating
• Nature Trails
• Fishing
• Outdoor Activities & Sports
• Biking
• Bird Watching
• Unique Shopping
• Turtle Watching
• Diving, Tobago Heritage Festival, Goat and crab racing

Come On- Let's Go to Tobago!

Article commissioned by IKO at ww.ikointl.com written by Dawn Goldman