South Bay - La Bahia

La Bahia is suitable for any rider reasonably confident of staying upwind and is the best option for free-stylers. For beginners, intermediates and freestylers the open area of the South Bay provides relaxing and safe conditions and is where the Shinn Centre is based. This is where those new to kitesurfing can enjoy their first lessons, but is also where the vast majority of visitors launch.

South Bay is one of the only large expanses of sand to be found in Tenerife so offers the easiest and safest launch by far, added to which, the wind is cross-on from the left and with a safe lee shore to the right, if you experience any problems, you aren’t going anywhere but safely back to the beach.

Depending on the wind and tide you can expect anything from flattish conditions, to chop, to rolling swells. Head a little upwind to the left and you’ll find as much open space as you want, to practice your latest moves. Head to the right of the launch site, to the area known locally as Pig’s Bay, and you’ll usually find the local hot shots practicing their freestyle moves. Pig’s Bay’s largely sandy beach makes it ideal to re-launch your kite or sort out your lines when the latest handle pass doesn’t quite work out as you intended it to. This area can also pick up some fairly decent waves for on- shore riding when the conditions are right.