“Warning Cabarete Local” graphics. –rr - The Kiteboarder Magazine

The fresh seafood and Greek cuisine is something you have to experience for yourself.
Andy braves the 35-40 knot conditions near the Paros Kite Pro Center.
The Trip Overseas
After a long flight, we arrived in Athens Greece, tired and hungry. We were
greeted by our guide, Bullis, a very enthusiastic Greek man who is full of
energy, life and love. He took us to our new home away from home for the
next 10 days, the Sofitel Athens, a gorgeous 5-star hotel which was literally
across the street from the airport. After a quick nap and shower we were off
to Bullis’ school, the Nissakia Surf Club, to check out the local kiting spot.
The Ferry to Paros
The morning after our arrival we met up with the rest of our kiting crew
including Joseph Carneiro, Joel Painter and Nissakia team riders Tattoo
Man (Andrea), Romeo (Agelos) and Lucas. We also had a professional
photographer in tow, Ethan Ford, an American kiter from Boston who
recently moved to Greece.
With only four hours of sleep, we immediately found out that traveling with
a large group in Greece can be a hectic experience. There is only one ferry
per day and ours was scheduled to leave at 6:30 am. With no time to spare,
the bellman from the hotel drove our car stuffed to the gills with gear and
people, as fast as he could following closely behind our crazy guide. Bullis
weaved in and out of traffic on his 250 scooter, driving on the opposite side
Emi gets her ride on at Paros Island.
of the road when necessary and completely ignoring all traffic rules.
With a kiteboard squeezed between his legs and a cigarette in one
hand and a phone in the other, he spastically waved at us to hurry up.
By some good stroke of fate, we made it. Our team was the last to
board the ferry to Paros.
Paros Island
Paros is the third largest island in the Cyclades island chain. Windsurfers
have been flocking to the island for years, accounting for its nickname,
Surfer’s Paradise. It is famous for its white marble, gentle landscapes,
picturesque villages and endless beaches. In July and August the island
is blessed with strong, steady winds.
Our team arrived just in time for the good wind and sunny skies. After
checking in at the Holiday Sun Hotel, we headed just a few blocks down
the road to Pounda Beach to kite, located on the western side of the
island, just opposite Antiparos. Pounda Beach is also home to The Paros
Kite Pro Center, host of the PKRA World Tour for the past several years.
The Paros Kite Pro Center is an ideal spot for kiters of all levels and has
a wide sandy beach with a nice shallow area for beginners. The wind is
usually strong and consistent between 12 to 35 knots.
Our visit was scheduled to be only two days, but was extended
another two because the ferries were cancelled due to the high
winds and rough seas. It was a kiters dream, and we all rode for four
days straight! The conditions were extreme; Andy was easily busting
50-foot airs on his 5m and Joseph was throwing powered mobes
on his 7m, awing the beach.
Back in Athens
An eight-hour, smoke-filled ferry ride brought us back to Athens. We
were all tired and in need of a shower and a hot meal, so we headed
back to the Sofitel for some rest and relaxation. The extended trip
in Paros threw our tour off schedule; we were actually supposed to
be at our next destination, Crete. We tried to catch an early morning
flight to Crete, but this time fate was not on our side. By the time everyone
arrived at the flight’s gate, the plane was gone. Luckily, there
was wind in Athens, so we all headed back down to Nissakia to kite.
The Nissakia Surf Club
The next day, The Nissakia Surf Club (NSC) and Arnette Sunglasses sponsored
a great weekend event. The team helped locals demo kites, answer
questions and showed off their riding for the crowd. The NSC is located in
Loutsa, 15.5 miles from the center of Athens. It offers lessons, equipment
and storage facilities for riders. This was Andy’s favorite places to ride. The
restaurant overlooks a bay-like area with a shallow reef that generates small
wave-like kickers. On the outside, two small islands create an ultimate
flat-water spot between their shores. There is plenty of room for kiters and
windsurfers alike. Andy enjoyed having a captive audience while he showed
everyone why he is nicknamed “the grasshopper”.
The Island of Crete
Crete was the last stop on our journey and is the most southerly of the
Greek islands. It is known for its clear blue seas, sandy beaches and glorious
sunshine. After arriving in the port of Chania, the team traveled to the
town of Platanias on the north coast of the island. The town of Platanias
bustles with many resorts, restaurants and shops, and is a popular tourist
destination for many Scandinavians. We checked in at the Mylos Little
Palace Hotel, a resort-type establishment with a stylish beachfront pool bar
and full five-star night club, and then walked into town to check it out.
The first day, we were greeted with head high shore break and light winds.
Despite the conditions, Andy rigged up his biggest kite, a 16m Waroo. He
charged the shore break and was able to get in a 15-minute session before
calling it a day. Joel also decided to attempt to ride, but his efforts were less
successful. Before even getting his board on, he was toppled over by a
head high wave. He was good a sport and we all enjoyed a good laugh.
The next day we took a day trip with some locals to one of the most pristine
kiting spots in Greece named Elafonisi. It took almost two hours on
winding mountain roads to reach it, but the trip was well worth the effort.
The sand was pure white and the water was a clear aqua blue. Everyone
rode for hours at this beautiful, hidden oasis frequented by locals but
largely still undiscovered by tourists. After a dream-like session, it was
time to head back to Athens.
Homeward Bound
Once back in Athens, we had two last nights at the Sofitel. A new friend
of ours, Mike and his dog Surf, took us on a “local’s only” tour of historic
downtown Athens. The architecture and history of the city is incredible
and should definitely not be missed when visiting Greece.
Andy and I were both sad to leave our new Greek friends and family, but
Florida and the USA were beckoning us to return. Our trip to Greece was
not just another kiteboarding trip. The people we met and the places we
kited are memories we will cherish forever. If you are looking for an amazing
adventure, make sure you put Greece at the top of your list!
Emi reads her book while Andy takes a break between sessions.
Climate/Wind
The Greek islands tend to have long and dry summers and
mild but rainy winters. The Dodecanese, Cyclades and the
Cretan coasts are usually rocked by dry north “meltemi”
wind which blows the strongest between June and September.
For the Aegean Islands of Loutsa and Lefkada, August
typically offers the most consistent winds. The mainland
works on a thermal influence, making June and July the best
months.
www.meteo.gr; www.windfinder.com; www.beachreport.gr;
www.noa.gr/forecast/bolam/index.htmforecast.uoa.gr
Currency
Greece has now converted to the euro, which replaces the
former drachma. Changing money from other currencies
into euros can be done at banks or post offices. We found
that using ATMs to directly withdraw euros was the simplest
and easiest way to obtain cash. We don’t recommend using
traveler’s checks; they were hard to cash!
travel
For international guests, the Athens Airport is probably the
cheapest and easiest starting point for your Greek adventure.
Most islands can be reached either by chartered or
Greek domestic flight, or the less expensive ferry ride. Our
advice is to find out which islands you plan on visiting and
then speak with a travel agent to find the best plan. Although
the ferries are frequent and inexpensive, they can be very
long and are filled with cigarette smoke.
resources
www.kiteboard.gr; www.kitesurfing.gr; www.ferries.gr
kite schools
www.nissakia.gr; www.milosbeach.gr; www.paroskite.gr;
www.paroskite-procenter.com; www.naxos-windsurf.com;
www.airtime-kitesurfing.com; www.windsurfing-rodos.com;
www.prasonisi.com
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