Kiteboarding the Island of Tahiti- Tahiti Sun Travel Network

Kite spots: The island of Tahiti has a few good kiting spots:

1) "Venus Point": This spot is actually known to the locals as Motu Martin and is probably the most kited spot of all the islands of French Polynesia. The reasons for this include fairly reliable and consistant Easterly tradewind conditions and a rather convenient proximity to Papeete, among others. (Many locals working in Papeete manage to shuck off work and get out to this spot in about 15 minutes if the wind is blowing...)

Specifics: You'll kiteboard between the beach and Motu Martin directly across the way where the winds accelerate. There's minimal chop and you can sometimes even play in the (small) waves near shore... Also, it's never particularly crowded even on the best days. (at least not yet...)

Launching area: Large, semi-soft, black sand beach without coral... Some grass to pump up your kite on... Also, you can drive your car right up to the launchspot and there's relatively few obstacles to avoid.

Getting there: Take the main road out of Papeete downtown going East toward Papenoo. (away from the airport.) Go roughly 12 miles until you pass the "Venus Point Market" and road to Venus Point park. Don't go toward Venus Point, but rather continue just a bit farther until you see some fresh fruit stands on your left and then look for a small paved road taking you towards the ocean... Note: Ask a fruit stand person if you can't find the road...

1) "Sapinus": Another good spot to kiteboard on Tahiti, this is where the flysurfers go when the winds blow from the Southeast.
Launching area: White sand beach with some rocks... (More details coming as soon as we can get them)

Getting there: Take the main road out of Papeete downtown going West towards the airport and Punaauia. Travel roughly 18 miles until you see Le Meridien Hotel and resort. The road is just past the hotel.

Winds:
     Average winds: 15-25 knots. Best time of year to kite: USUALLY, June through September during the Mara'amu. (See our Winds: An overview for all Polynesian islands section for more insight)

Local flyers:
    There are roughly 40 active kiters on Tahiti. Names we can think of include: Thierry Tching, (the local F-one importer and kitegear dude), but not many more... More names if and when we get them...

Island kite particulars worth noting:
    Dependable winds, some waves, a good kite school, access to kite equipment, access to nightlife (Papeete) apre kiting for beers and boasting, high skill level of kiters...

Things to do when the wind's NOT blowing:
    See: www.papeete.com/todo.html

Where to stay on Tahiti:
    See: www.papeete.com/tostay.html

Other Society Islands:
(Launch spots, local conditions, tips, what to do when the wind's NOT blowing, where to stay, and more...)

Note: If you don't find the answers you're looking for on these pages, it may be because we just dont know the answer! We don't claim to know all the details of Tahitian kiteboarding, but merely try to be a good general guide for now... As time goes on, this site will get better and more informative.

WE'RE OPEN TO KITER'S SUGGESTIONS, EXPERIENCES AND NOTES! If you go to French Polynesia, (or live and kite there) and have a kite experience or knowledge that would help this site out, please let us know and we'll post it for the benefit of the next Tahitian bound kiter!

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