Your Questions Answered: The 10 most common questions about kite Weeks
We’ve been running Kite Weeks on Namotu since 2012 and over that time they’ve grown and evolved. There are now a lot more trips each year (well, except 2020 & 2021) and we’ve refined our program to give people the best experience, whether they’re here to deepen their kiting or try it out for the first time. We also cater to people who may not even want to kite…
Read on and hopefully I can answer your question here too.
1. “I don’t kite in waves much, am I good enough to kite in Fiji?”
The most common question is, “am I good enough to kite in Fiji?”. No matter what we say about how user-friendly Namotu Lefts is or how much care we take take in accommodating all levels, I guess people look at the photos on social media and think they’re going to die at Cloudbreak.
What people don’t see are the shots of our guests kiting Namotu Lefts on small days and those incredible break-through moments when it all just clicks. It’s not Cloudbreak or bust, the real hero is our direct access to one of the world’s best waves for kiting: Namotu Lefts.
Namotu Lefts is such a friendly wave to kite and the Island has an incredible fleet of boats for support if you do get into trouble or the wind dies and you need a pickup. We’re always watching.
The weekly wrap video from one of the August weeks in 2019. By Stu Gibson.
2. “I’m a complete beginner kiter and I don’t really want to surf in the waves, is this trip for me?”
Yes! A good portion of our coaching students are first-timers or very new to the sport. We have all the gear (included) and the beach and north-eastern end of Namotu is perfect for learning. There’s nothing in your way for miles and miles, we have full boat and jet-ski support, incredible coaches and handy tech like two-way Bluetooth headsets so you can communicate with your coach while you’re in the water. There’s really no better place to learn.
If you’re not interested in the waves, this flat water is also great for tow foiling, SUPing and snorkelling.
3. “I’m not a great surfer but I’d love to try. Will there be waves for me?”
People see 20ft Cloudbreak or barrelling Restaurants and think that’s all Fiji has. This is definitely NOT the case and in fact Namotu has two of the best waves for learning right on its doorstep; Namotu Lefts and Swimming Pools. Of course Tavarua Rights and a few secret spots are also close by. So yes, Cloudbreak is one of the heaviest waves in the world (at times) but we also have some of the most mellow waves that are perfect for learning or improving your surfing.
4. “What’s the wind like? Will there be wind every day?”
Well, thankfully it’s rarely windy all-day, everyday. Because there are so many other things to do! Surf, paddle foil, stand up paddle (SUP), foil, twin tip, kite foil, fish, spearfish, snorkel, SCUBA dive. It’s not one of those places where you sit around when the wind’s not blowing; in fact, some of the best days are glassy! Just ask the guests who keep coming back every year.
5. “I’d love to bring my partner but he/she doesn’t kite. What can they do?”
No problem! We know kiting (and even water sports in general) aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But that doesn’t mean your non-kiting partner will be left out. Depending on the person, your partner might want to relax by the pool, join the daily yoga classes and do some snorkelling. Or maybe they’d like to try foiling, surfing or fishing; we offer all these things for all guests.
If they’d like to use the opportunity to seriously learn to surf, foil, SUP or fish then we’d recommend booking a coach who’ll take care of them all week while you get out and enjoy your day on the water. We also incorporate trips to Cloud9, visits to other islands and many more group activities that you’ll probably want to join as well. And don’t forget, the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down; every night we have delicious snacks around the bar, a weekly Fijian night and more.
6. “I don’t want to kite but I’d love to learn to surf, is that ok?”
Yes! These may called “Kite Weeks” but we specialise and bring coaches and guides who do everything from surfing and paddle boarding to paddle, prone and even wing foiling.
Swimming Pools is the perfect wave for learning
7. “If I bring my family, what can they do and when can I book?”
We have a special Family Kite Week each year that’s a great way to bring the whole family. Depending on the age of your children, we can offer the same things to children as to adults – surfing, kiting, foiling etc. We can also arrange for a Fijian nanny to care for younger children or those who may not be getting in the water too much. If your child is keen to get into some water sports we recommend booking a shared coach who’ll take care of their needs in the water so you can enjoy your time in the ocean too.
The weekly wrap video from the 2019 Family Kite Week by Stu Gibson
8. “What’s included in Ben’s sessions?”
My sessions cover the foundations of kiting and fundamentals of wave kiting. My aim is to give you the tools you need to take home and implement these changes at home. Whether you’re kiting Namotu Lefts or your home break, you’ll have the tools to understand when things aren’t working and what you need to do to change that. There are Q&A sessions as well as discussions on other disciplines such as foiling and wing foiling. Each week is a little different depending on the group and please ask questions! I’m here to help during the sessions, on the beach and in the water.
9. “Do I need to book a coach? What package should I choose?”
On one end of the scale we have guests who opt for a private coach, an expert who’s 100% dedicated to them. There are others who share a coach with another guest and some who don’t have their own coach but come to my group sessions and soak up knowledge and time on the water. These guests still have incredible boat support, planned activities and are looked after with the larger group.
Basically whichever you choose there’s always going to be someone looking out for you and advising you on conditions, technique and how to get the most out of your day. Let us know what you want to achieve, your level and we’ll advise based on your situation.
10. “What’s the difference between Kite Weeks and normal weeks on Namotu?”
Any week on Namotu is amazing but Kite Weeks take it to the next level. They’re an all-inclusive, larger than life experience. We bring a much larger team who are true specialists in water sports, a ton of gear, the jet-skis are included and food, photography and service is all a cut above. Plus you can get coaching – normal weeks don’t offer any instruction (kite or otherwise), just a helping hand and some advice on where to surf and when.