Following the wind from Mexico to Port Alberni, Nicole Eden and her family have once again parked their camper at China Creek Marina and Campgrounds for another season of kiteboarding.
Girl on a Board Kite School was founded in La Ventana, Mexico by Eden and her partner Fernando Gomez. With their two young children, Eden and Gomez split their time between Mexico and Canada—La Ventana between September and April and Port Alberni May through August. Last year was the school’s first season in the Alberni Valley and Eden said she’s excited to be back.
“The community and the town is beautiful,” Eden said. “I think on Vancouver Island [China Creek] is one of the best spots for beginners, you can launch right off the beach.”
Eden said Port Alberni offers perfect wind conditions for kiteboarding with about 20 to 25 days of wind each month.
Girl on a Board offers beginner and advanced kiteboarding lessons from professionals who have all been certified to teach through IKO international Kiteboarding organization.
“We’re also going to do specific camps, so we have a couple advance camps and some strapless surfing camps and I’m going to bring some other instructors from Mexico,” Eden said.
This year, one per cent of all sales from the kite school will go towards teaching youth in the Valley to kiteboard.
“I’m not sure how we’re going to quantify it yet, maybe it will be a contest or a recommendation,”Eden said. “We just started that in Mexico, so we’ve gotten to teach a local girl.”
Eden said learning to kiteboard typically takes about six hours over three days for instructors to give students all the necessary information.
“Day one you fly the kite on land with us right there, so we’re explaining the theory and explaining how things work while you get the muscle memory,” Eden said. “Day two we go in the water with you, so you get your body position and the kite, and there’s a couple other skills you have to learn. Some people on day two get on the board…for most people the kite in the water is enough and day three is on the board.”
This year instructor Danielle Gee, originally from Saskatoon, has made her first trip to Vancouver Island to teach kiteboarding with the Girl on a Board school. Her and Eden have been kiteboarding together for two years.
For more information on the kite school email girlonaboard1@gmail.com or visit girlonaboard.org.