Archive for the 'Freedom' Category

Kitesurfing in Knysna

Life Kitesurfing Coach Stuart Barnes enjoying time in the air.
Life Kitesurfing Coach Stuart Barnes enjoying time in the air.

Kitesurfing in Knysna is world class. It’s a dream. The wind works well throughout the year. Summer season from spring all the way through mid summer to autumn has fantastic South Easterlies. The wind tends to be a lot more moderate than the Cape Town winds. Bigger kites and boards are therefore recommended to make the most of the conditions on offer. 10 m, 12 m and 14 m are usually good size kites. That said, we do have our stronger days too so 8 m, 7 m and even 6 m kites are sometimes perfect.

The Knysna Lagoon is tidal so the water depth varies. This can be quite dramatic during spring tides on full and new moon and more moderate during the neap tides. There are quite a few spots with sand banks of standing depth which makes learning easier. Hydrofoiling and wingfoiling / wingsurfing work best on the highest of spring tides or in the deeper channels at lower tides.

There is nothing like the guidance of experienced local knowledge so booking lessons is the best way to have the most fun learning whilst keeping safe.

Join coach Stuart Barnes for lessons on Knysna lagoon and many of the other lagoons, estuaries, lakes and beaches along this pristine Garden Route coastline.

With over 16 years of kitesurfing coaching experience in the region we pride ourselves in strict safety standards and expert world class coaching. Our training is super fun and it will accelerate your learning.

email onreturn@gmail.com or call 060 757 4414 or contact us for more information about kitesurfing in Knysna, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

2018 Autumn and Winter Lessons


Coach Stuart Barnes enjoying flying in the evening light

Now is the perfect time to start learning kitesurfing here on the Garden Route!

The autumn light is beautiful, the days are still warm and the winters are mild. Most importantly, there’s plenty of wind for learning!

Join coach Stuart Barnes for lessons at Myoli Beach in Sedgefield and many of the other beaches, lakes and lagoons along this pristine Garden Route coastline.

With over 11 years of kitesurfing coaching experience in the region we pride ourselves in strict safety standards and expert world class coaching. Our training is super fun and it will accelerate your learning.

email onreturn@gmail.com or call 060 757 4414 for more information, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

Knysna and Sedgefield Spring Lessons

Welcome to spring! Awesome flying and riding conditions so far!

Join coach Stuart Barnes for lessons at Myoli Beach in Sedgefield and many of the other beaches, lakes and lagoons along this pristine Garden Route coastline.

From Plettenberg Bay to Knysna lagoon to Lake Brenton to Buffels Bay to Myoli Beach, Sedgefield to Wilderness to Great Brak to Little Brak to Hartenbos to Mossel Bay – we have all the spots covered. We ride, fly and coach at all of them.

With over 11 years of kitesurfing coaching experience in the region we pride ourselves in strict safety standards and expert world class coaching. Our training is super fun and it will accelerate your learning.

email onreturn@gmail.com or call 060 757 4414 for more information, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

Brutal Firestorm Winter

Each winter I monitor forecasts and track every major storm that sweeps our Garden Route coastline, hoping to ride the most furious ones that come through. In early June I saw a massive 40 – 50 knot storm on the radar. I was determined to ride it and started to get my body, mind and gear ready. There was a feeling of some chaos and disruption on the day of this storm and there were some logistical issues getting to the beach from Knysna. I had heard that there were a few fires in the morning and was concerned due to the magnitude and duration of the forecast storm. But I had no idea of just how devastating it would be. I did my yoga and meditation practice and headed out for a quick ride. It was a bit gusty but nothing really too intense. Nothing over 40 knots when I rode and I was quite comfortable on a 5.5 m kite. After my session I did a quick trainer kite flying lesson with my assistant. Then someone in the Sedgefield Myoli Beach car park said the road to Knysna was closed and the fires were raging out of control. What a devastating disaster it turned out to be. Deep condolences to those who lost lives. Material things can always be replaced. We let go of what we have lost, we learn and we move forward.

Summer 2015 / 2016 Lessons

Myoli Beach Kitesurfing Summer 2015

Summer is here! It’s the perfect time to learn kitesurfing here on the Garden Route.

Join coach Stuart Barnes for lessons at Myoli Beach in Sedgefield and many of the other beaches, lakes and lagoons along this pristine coastline.

With over 9 years of kitesurfing coaching experience in the region we pride ourselves in strict safety standards and expert world class coaching. Our training is super fun and it will accelerate your learning.

email onreturn@gmail.com or call 060 757 4414 for more information, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

Spring to Summer!

Kitesurfing Lessons Garden Route

Spring is here and so are the spring winds! It’s the perfect time to learn kitesurfing here on the Garden Route.

Join coach Stuart Barnes for lessons at Myoli Beach in Sedgefield and many of the other beaches, lakes and lagoons along this pristine coastline.

From Plettenberg Bay to Knysna lagoon to Lake Brenton to Buffels Bay to Myoli Beach, Sedgefield to Wilderness to Great Brak to Little Brak to Hartenbos to Mossel Bay – we have all the spots covered. We ride, fly and coach at all of them.

The mostly moderate winds make it a magical place to safely introduce yourself to this awesome sport.  For intermediate riders, the conditions are also perfect to comfortably work on your jumps and turns in the waves or at one of our local flat water spots.  Waveriding conditions along the coastline are truly epic and our uncrowded downwinders are almost endless!

With over 9 years of kitesurfing coaching experience in the region we pride ourselves in strict safety standards and expert world class coaching. Our training is super fun and it will accelerate your learning.

email onreturn@gmail.com for more information, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

Winter Fun

Winter Fun

Kitesurfing and surfing lessons continue throughout the winter season here on the Garden Route. Conditions are excellent for safety training and beach-based flying lessons – brilliant preparation for the coming summer winds. Soon it will be spring.

It’s wonderful to get outdoors and keep active through the mild winter and the weather is still fair and warm most days.

email onreturn@gmail.com for further information, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

See you on the beach and in the water!

 

Awesome Autumn

Awesome Autumn

Coach Stuart Barnes enjoying a bit of air time at Myoli Beach, Sedgefield last week. Shot by Lisa Greyling

 

Beautiful autumn light of late all along the Garden Route.

I’ve been enjoying some nice Westerly winds and winter swells that are starting to hit our shores.

Last week we had a classic summer South Easterly with some solid winter swell. It was a super fun session.

Kitesurfing lessons continue throughout the autumn and winter seasons here on the Garden Route. Conditions are still great for learning. It’s wonderful to keep active through the mild winter and the weather is still nice and warm.

email onreturn@gmail.com for further information, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

See you on the beach and in the water!

Autumn in South Africa

Stuart Barnes Wakeboarding in Aqaba  Shot by Jolinda Cath

Stuart Barnes Wakeboarding in Aqaba
Shot by Jolinda Cath

I’m back (a little earlier than expected) in South Africa and available for lessons in Cape Town and the Garden Route.

The Middle East was wonderful for yoga, meditation, diving, kitesurfing and wakeboarding.

The autumn is one of my favourite seasons and it’s great to be back.

I’ve been testing some of the latest kitesurfing gear over the past few months. 2015 has seen some giant leaps in performance and some wonderful subtle and sophisticated refinements to the kites and boards that I ride and teach with.

email onreturn@gmail.com for further information, to chat about your lesson or make a booking.

See you on the beach and in the water!

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Happy 2015 to everyone!

After 8 years of teaching surfing and kitesurfing I’m taking a bit of time to travel, reflect and study. I’ll be back later in the year with even more efficient and fun lessons.

Wakeboarding lessons continue in my absence through most of the year and these are highly recommended to improve your surfing and kitesurfing.

Surf/ kitesurf bookings are open for the Southern spring season (from September 2015 into summer of 2016) in Cape Town and the Garden Route region of South Africa. As I’ve found myself becoming more nomadic over the years, I’m also open to suggestions to travel to meet you at your dream destination.

While I’m away you are most welcome to get in touch with any questions or to request recommendations for learning surfing, kitesurfing and yoga.

email onreturn@gmail.com for a chat about lessons, gear or advice.

I hope to see you out there somewhere soon enough!

Have fun 🙂

Stuart Barnes