I want to take this opportunity to share a few things that have made previous kitesurfing trips all the more special and are worth thinking about adding to your packing lists:

UV rash vests - serious sun cream (P20’s our recommendation, not the factor, the brand) - UV lip cream - insect replant - sun cap/hat - sun glasses (strap in case required on water) - smart phone with Aquapack full waterproof protection - re-hydration salts/sugars - ibuprofen (gel and tablets) - vet tape or similar (self fixing bandage that’s good for sprains as well as cuts) - tweezers - ear plugs - booties - helmet - life jacket or at least an impact vest (must have one or the other) - summer suit or neoprene - kite spares (to include spare lines and repair patches) - board spares (foot straps/fins/screws) - kite knife - kite gloves – good quiver of kites - surfboards - any home comforts you’ll miss or will assist you when doing sport. 6-7m extension line ... can be a must specially in the Lencois when kiting between the dunes ...Spare screws for fins and straps, spare fins as its the things you will lose the most !
Spare safety leach (long one) ... i will show you why you so want to travel with 2 of them ! If you come with a surfboard, please make sure you have some straps as we are covering lots of distance and going strapless is not an option ... you will lose your board and spend lots of energy to recover it ! Waterproof backpack OVERBOARD… a good one (ask me for details). Gorpos and go pros attachment (as we won’t be able to film too much on the water … we will equip some riders and guides with go pros !

Having a well stocked medicine bag is a good idea, we’re not planning on ruining ourselves but extensive amounts of kiting can result in feeling a little run down, sore and physically stretched. Warm up/cool down muscle rubs are good, inflammation tablets and antiseptic solutions are a must, gloves or plasters to protect your hands, tweezers and re-hydration or sports drinks. If you’re spending a lot of time with your feet on the bottom of the ocean then booties are a must, some booties have near impenetrable soles, there will always be things you don’t want to stand on in the sea.

The most important area to look into is your kitesurfing kit, the majority of other bits can be bought at the airport. Check over your kit and make sure your lines are perfect, with no signs of fraying or knots, your pulleys are moving freely, the area your pulley runs on (the bridle) is free from any signs of stress, your bladders are free from leaks, the canopy itself does not have any small holes or tears, your safety system is working effectively, your fins, straps and pads are all in good condition and there are no areas of concern that relate to your kite, board or harness. Spare lines or a spare bar set up are recommended in case you’re to snap a line on sharp rock, shell or reef, clash your kite with another kite or just from over use. Repair patches are worth bringing along as can fix most minor kite problems. Spare foot straps, foot plates, screws and fins for boards have also been required on previous trips.
Kit wise, take what you can! The more toys the merrier, so pack all of the kites and boards you can get away with, if you need help making your decision, call me on Whatsapp +61 422 806 235. Many people use kites that are too large for the conditions and this prevents the kite from flying properly, makes unhooking or riding a wave impossible, can make going up wind much harder, body dragging upwind impossible and nailing new tricks difficult. Having a kite that’s not large enough for the wind on a particular day is frustrating, it’s far less fun watching everyone else kite, it can also make it very hard to go up wind and to learn new tricks.

Wind tends to vary from 15 to 30 knots, so based on a 75kg rider the best 2 kite quiver to bring would be 9m & 12m. A 3 kite quiver’s nice, some people will take 7m! Having a larger kite or board option is a winning formulae for any light wind days. If you’re gambling with a one kite quiver then you will miss out on sessions but a 9m or 12m is a fairly safe bet that will get you kite all along the trip; it’ll all depend on the kite’s design, your skill level and your board/s. If you weigh more/less than 75kg then recommendations change; give me a call to discuss: Cedric (lov2kitebrasil@icloud.com).

Safety gear, booties, life jackets and helmets are always recommended whenever kitesurfing but never more so than when kiting in uncharted waters and riding from point to point.

In terms of Navigation which is a key to not get lost and take the shortest way to arrive to destination i recommend to have a smart phone with waterproof pouch (Aquapack), load the following applications, ... Navionix is what we have been using in Australia, Brasil and Africa ... does not need to be online and can record your track, speed ... just have to download the local map first ... then loading the Google Earth app plus navigating on your phone when have wifi to load the images in the cash memory pretty accurate. We will have the Delorme InReach Explorer on the water and on the land so we can communicate anytime we want with the separated group.

Cedric Schmidt’s contacts: Whatsapp: +61 422 806 235 :: Phone Brasil: +55 88 98135 8602 :: lov2kitebrasil@icloud.com