Our waves are disappearing fast
Remember that perfect session? Wind cranking at 25 knots, water flatter than your post-session beer and you finally nailed that kiteloop.
Fast-forward to this season: Half the beach is gone, a concrete resort’s now “reserving” your launch spot for weddings, and the wind? On an extended vacation.
Welcome to the climate crisis… kite edition.
When mother nature loses her chill
Once upon a time, weather had manners. Not anymore. Now it’s either: An insane storm with Big Air maniacs flying higher than their insurance covers, or weeks of windless, 38°C heat where even your wing foil looks depressed.
The reliable wind you planned your holidays around? Ghosted you. The butter-flat lagoon you bookmarked for freestyle? Flooded, dried up, or turned into a murky soup. Ocean temperatures are up, wind patterns are flipping, and those once-consistent thermals now behave like a Tinder date, showing up late, if at all.
Your favourite spot is having an identity crisis
And let’s talk about your go-to kite destination. The one where:
The wind was always on time.
The vibe was just right.
The local community welcomed you with open arms and fish tacos.
Now? That same village is facing water shortages, infrastructure collapse, and can't support the volume of kite tourists anymore. Your dreamy escape is becoming an environmental cautionary tale.
And it’s not just one place. Around the world, once-reliable kite meccas are being hit by:
Droughts.
Beach erosion.
Sea level rise.
And yes… the dreaded “NO KITE ZONE” signs.
Where did the waves go?
Here’s a twist: the waves are changing too. In some places, rising sea levels are flattening reef breaks and drowning sandbars, making once-perfect wave spots barely ripple-worthy.
In others, storms and erosion are causing crazy closeouts and unpredictable breaks, leaving even wave kiters going, “What the actual chop?”
Add in marine heatwaves and acidifying oceans messing with coral reefs and ecosystems, and suddenly, you’re not just dodging jellyfish, you’re dodging the end of your favorite wave session.
Concrete jungle, but make it beachfront
As if nature wasn’t already messing with our playgrounds, humans are tag-teaming the destruction. Luxury resorts, concrete seawalls, and infinity pools now stand where you used to pump up your kite. Public beach access? Being squeezed out faster than you can say “launch assist.”
Let’s be honest: We’re literally building over the places we claim to love.
And the irony? These fancy developments often use kitesurfers in their ads, but you try launching a 12m kite in front of a sunbathing influencer and see how well that goes.
Your next session might look…different
Here’s what the forecast looks like, beyond the wind meter:
Wind patterns? All over the place.
Water levels? Rising fast.
Lagoon depths? Inconsistent and unpredictable.
Wetsuit strategy? Confused. Roasting in July, freezing in September.
Water quality? Meh. Think algae blooms and seaweed cities.
The ocean’s mood swings aren’t just annoying, they’re dangerous. Gear behaves differently in high temps. Wind shifts are more abrupt. And freak storms? Not just for epic YouTube compilations anymore.
Kiters: Nature’s chaos managers
Here’s the good news. If there’s one group of people equipped to ride out climate chaos, it’s us. We’ve learned to:
Read squiggly lines on Windy like ancient hieroglyphs.
Pack a backup kite, foil, and mental breakdown into one car.
Adapt to conditions like champions, because we literally have to.
But now it’s time to use those superpowers off the water, too.
How to ride the climate storm
Here’s how to help keep your spots kiteable:
Support local beach cleanups and coastal conservation projects.
Choose kite trips that respect local ecosystems, not just your Insta grid.
Spend money with tour operators who give a damn about sustainability.
Vote for policies that protect coastlines and marine life.
Some kite spots are already innovating:
Floating launch platforms.
Artificial reefs to reduce erosion.
Smart zoning laws that keep beaches public.
Want to keep your favorite kite spot? Support the places doing the work now.
Forecast: Choppy, but still rideable
We’re not saying the end is nigh and you should trade your twin tip for a hydroponic garden. But we are saying this:
Your favorite kite spot is changing, the weather is changing and the whole sport might look wildly different in 10 years.
Will we adapt? Hell yes.
But we’ve got to protect what we still have, and be smart about where, how, and when we ride.
Time to read the wind
Climate change isn’t a distant problem. It’s already blowing through our kite communities. Every session is a gift, every launch spot is worth protecting and every kiter can be part of the solution.
So next time you check the wind forecast, take a second to check the bigger picture too. Because if we don’t act now, we’ll be telling stories about “that one magical spot that used to be perfect” while launching from a floating parking lot.
xox Berito