The
camp was expensive for an average Sri Lankan just out of school. A month,
actually about 2 months salary was ‘invested’ to attend the camp. Was it worth
it? Perhaps if we actually got to Kitesurf! We didn’t know at the time, but if
you wanted to learn the sport you actually had to enroll for a course. So we
watched from the beach, the guys kitesurfing…
I
think they felt sorry, so I was given my first go in a powered kite. Just to
fly it felt really nice. Marcel who later I got to know quite well, showed me
how it was all done. Once that experience was over, I knew that I had to try
the sport. Even before lessons, I ‘investment’ or shall I say borrowed money
from my mum in order to buy my first 12M kite, Harness, Boards. If the camp was
expensive, the gear was even more expensive!
.
The
plunge was taken and the next logical step was to be introduced to an
instructor. I remember calling and meeting Mischi who drove down in the 4WD and
talking to me. His first Lankan student I think. I remember his words of
caution, ‘you must chose, a girlfriend or kitesurfing’, ‘this sport can ruin
your life’. I did take it lightly, but
in retrospect, whoa Mischi, it certainly
is true!
.
So
the journey began, with lessons in Kalpiitya. A crazy little place far away
from Colombo. All I knew about the place was that it was very volatile. The war
in Sri Lanka was still on and Kalpitiya highly guarded. I remember the heat
exhaustion due to pushing myself too hard for the sport and not drinking water,
I remember the ambulance coming and giving me a jab on my bottom – I was too
knocked out to even feel a thing! I remember puking all the way back to Colombo
with Tassilo and Cora in the vehicle, I remember the long long bus journeys on
the days I couldn’t get a ride to Kalpitiya.
.
Wake
up at 4.00 AM, carry your kite, boards etc to the top of the road and then hop
bus 1 from Mount Lavinia to Fort Bus stand. The security check all the luggage
(was still in the height of the war and bombs actually did go off in public
transport). You thought Kitesurfing was a risky sport, try travelling in busses
during the height of the war. I remember 3 distinct check points on the
journey: Colombo, Near Chilaw, Kalpitiya. Each time everyone had to get off the
bus which all gear, show it and then proceed. The journey to Kalpitiya took
around 5 – 6 hours by bus then.
A
savior was introduced to me one day in Kalpitiya, Julian Bolling, swimming
great of Sri Lanka incidentally also was a fellow waterman like me and was into
the sport of kiting. He has wheels, which was a luxury! One trip together and
slowly we realize the common passions we had for a number of things. The
journey’s became easier travelling by car, what a relief!
.
Julian
was one of the first local kiters in Sri Lanka. Well, one of the first who
attempted the sport. His busy schedule stopped him from really progressing
fast. Now that I pestered him every weekend (yes, I didn’t want to take the
bus!) he also got a chance to practice a lot thus improving!
.
I
soon became accustomed to Kalpitiya, I remember the lodging we had at Gabriels’
Lagoonside. Later on when I met Mike & Chunky we stayed at Harin’s
bungalow. Those Rotties were awesome!
.
My
first big taste of downwinders was when Hannes asked me to join him in the
ocean! To this day I love kiting in the ocean way more than flatwater! Thanks
Hannes!!!
.
Kitesurfing
Sri Lanka was then started just with a view of putting Sri Lanka on the map for
the sport. Initially we didn’t quite tell where all this kiting happened but
later on the world started to hear about this awesome new spot we had in Sri
Lanka.
.
The
first kite I flew was Faith and then Caution, I can’t remember when exactly but
I was invited to be part of the Faith Team. It was a blessing. For an average
person, kiting gear was expensive, being a rider enabled me to get discounts on
gear, thus I slowly increased my quiver!
.
Faith
was instrumental in molding me into the kiting buff I am today. Thanks to the
brand, I was exposed to the wonderful opportunities there are as a kiter. In
2011 I got my Instrutor License from the IKO and in January 2012 I went on for
my first Kiting Competition! What a long way since the humble start taking the
bus from Colombo.
.
It
was two years ago that Leo contacted me through my blog, I gave him all the
information needed for the sport. He went on to run a kiteschool in Sri Lanka
and in 2012 we joined hands to run Kitesurfing Lanka.
.
With
the background we have had. The experiences we got from the sport, the
hardships, we understand your situation. We want your kiting experience to be a
memorable one. We have experience the joys of kiting in this island paradise
and certainly want you to have the same experience. This is what Kitesurfing
Lanka is all about.
.
The
most fondest experiences Kiting in Sri Lanka are;
The
big downwinder with Hannes and Marcel where we ended at Dutch Bay. As soon as
we landed the kites we see Indo Pacific Dolphins swimming just a few meters
from the shore!
The
amazing kiting sessions Leo and I had in the South of Sri Lanka and also very
recently in the new Dream Spot discovered by Leo and myself.
The
downwinder with Graham and Anny on the main lagoon.
.
One
year since I started writing this account, I sit in the ‘old camp’ with the
‘new camp’ in on the left of me. Wow, Kalpitiya is now on the map and
Kitesurfing is here to stay in Sri Lanka. Join us in this amazing journey!
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