About Me

I am from Camas, WA a small town nestled close to Portland Oregon and within an hour from Hood River. As a Windance Boardshop Ambassador, I ride North Kiteboarding kites and Mystic Boarding apparel. I am stoked to be part of this community and represent Windance around the world!

I am the oldest brother in an international family of kiters. Outside of the US, I have kited in Mexico, Spain, Belgium and most recently Aruba. After recently moving to the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area, I'm excited to use kiting as a way to explore the Caribbean, Latin America, and South America.

The Trip

I vacationed in Aruba with three kite friends who I met in Southeast Florida. The group consists of three advanced riders and one who is progressing quickly. With Aruba just a 3-hour flight from Miami, it made for an easy 5-day getaway during Memorial Day weekend.

Aruba Crew, left to right: Jess, Ryan, Jordan, Holly

Aruba is a trade-wind island in the Dutch Caribbean. I visited Aruba at the end of May and it was windy from the moment we landed until we departed. While the wind allowed us to kite every day, the different kite spots each have some quirks. Before going to Aruba, I found it difficult to find what kiting in Aruba would be like. Below is my breakdown of the main kite spots on the island and what you can expect from each one.

Spot Guides

Boca Grandi

Best spot on the island

I went to Aruba with three other kiteboarding friends, and we unanimously agreed that Boca Grandi was the best spot on the island. The clean, onshore wind and outer reef transform the open-ocean swell into playful waves, making it an incredible place to ride. The consistently strong wind also makes Boca Grandi the premier big-air spot on the island, and the sunsets made for some unforgettable evening sessions.

I highly recommend staying within the bay while kiting (circled in the image below). The bay offers deep water, fun waves, and sandy beaches if you get pushed downwind and need to walk back. Although it isn't a huge riding area, it comfortably accommodated the 6–8 riders who were typically on the water.

One unexpected bonus was the self-launching "kite stations" (see the image below). They were perfectly positioned and already rigged with ropes, allowing us to launch and land without relying on other riders.

While I did see a few beginners practicing here, they often had to walk back upwind after drifting to the edge of the bay. Because the riding area is relatively compact, beginners may find it difficult to get much practice before reaching shore. I'd recommend this spot for intermediate and advanced riders who can comfortably stay upwind.

Fisherman's Huts

Best for lessons and flatwater

While “The Huts”  lived up to its gusty reputation, this spot was actually pretty fun. Once you learn where the wind shadows are and where the wind fills in, this spot becomes much more enjoyable. I am a flatwater enthusiast and gliding across the beautiful clear turquoise water of the Caribbean was incredible.

Given this spot has offshore wind, it is important to stay in the area where the kite schools can see you. In the event of any issues, a kite school will rescue you in a boat if you are unable to get back to shore. Aside from it being shallow in some spots the only other hazard was the shipwreck up north to watch out for. Also, this spot is wide so be sure to ask a kite school for all the up-to-date information on where to kite and possible hazards. 

My friend Holly used Vela Kitesurf School while riding at Fisherman's Huts. She started with lessons, where the instructors followed her in a boat and communicated through a wireless radio because of the offshore wind. The boat also allowed them to bring her back upwind between runs, giving her more time riding and less time walking. Since Holly brought her own gear, they discounted the lesson price. By the last day, the instructors recommended switching to the less expensive "supervision" option and even adjusted their schedule to make sure she could get on the water despite limited staffing. While I think Fisherman's Huts would be a challenging place to learn, Holly said the gusty conditions ultimately made her a more confident rider.

Other Spots Worth Knowing About

Other spots on the island which you may see online include Baby Beach and Grapefield Beach. While we kited at Baby Beach one day, Jess and I concluded that we would not consider this a kite spot for multiple reasons. First, this beach gets very busy with tourists. Locals recommended that we get there at 7am and be out by 8am before the tourists have a chance to take over the spot. While we were there, the tide seemed low which exposed rocks in the middle of the bay which caused me to stop kiting. Lastly, this spot is small, like really small, and if you get swept downwind getting out would be difficult due to rocks and bushes. The only redeeming quality was that it made for great photos. Jess and I both agreed that this isn't a kite spot. Ryan, however, had a blast at the spot. He didn’t mind the rocks in the middle of the bay so now we get to tease him asking if he wants to ‘rig up’ anytime we see rocks. My recommendation: don’t kite at Baby Beach.

Another spot you might hear about is Grapefield Beach, which is just north of Boca Grandi. From what we heard, you need an off-road vehicle to get there if you want to launch right at the spot. Locals also mentioned you can kite there from Boca Grandi. I did kite in the area between Boca Grandi and Grapefield but noticed large coral heads, some of which were exposed (small scratch on my board from this unfortunately). While this may depend on the tides, the locals recommended staying close to the beach on the way to Grapefield to avoid the coral. I heard that Grapefield is good once you get there, but I would ask locals at Boca Grandi for information before kiting there.

My Gear

As an ambassador for North Kiteboarding and Mystic Boarding with Windance Boardshop, my preferred kite is the North Reach. The Reach is North's all-around kite and the one I use most often. I use it for everything from big air and freestyle to foiling. My favorite features are the smooth, progressive bar pressure, along with its forgiveness in gusty conditions. Along with the Reach, I use the North Navigator Pro as my kite control system which has an auto-unwind feature that's especially helpful during kite loops. I love my lightweight Mystic Stealth Harness which supports my back thanks to its stiff carbon fiber construction.

Community

While this was my first time to Aruba, the kite community there seemed tight-knit. Most of the people were from the Netherlands as this is a Dutch island. Everyone we met was welcoming and friendly. We stayed closer to the city of Oranjestad which offered excellent restaurant options, nightlife, shopping, and tourist attractions. With the island being so small, I would recommend staying closer to the city. Between the reliable trade winds, diverse riding spots, and welcoming community, Aruba offers a great kiteboarding destination with something for a wide range of riders.