Kitesurf School 66 is the kitesurfing school of Arnaud Degives, an instructor from Brussels who earned the French state kite instructor diploma (BPJEPS glisse aérotractée) in 2017 at the national sailing school in Quiberon. A former freestyle competitor, he worked as an instructor and technical manager at UCPA Le Barcarès before setting up his own business, a sole trader registered in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer (4 chemin de Claira). He teaches in French, English and Dutch.
Despite its name, the school mainly teaches on the La Palme lagoon in the Aude, on the border with the Pyrénées-Orientales: a shallow, open stretch of water that works in both the tramontane and onshore winds. It also mentions the Salses-Leucate lagoon and the Leucate and Le Barcarès spots. The exact GPS meeting point is sent on booking, and a text message the day before confirms the time and place.
Each lesson takes two students at most, with radio coaching. Four formats are offered: beginner (kite control, safety, body drag, first runs), intermediate (riding upwind, speed control, independence), advanced (jumps, transitions, freestyle) and preparation for the entry tests (TEP) of the BPJEPS kite instructor course. Equipment is provided: kite, board, harness, wetsuit, buoyancy vest, helmet and radio. Lessons are open from age 12 and 35 kg, provided you can swim 50 m; an FFVL licence is compulsory.
2026 prices per person, equipment and wetsuit included:
Payment on site at the end of the session, by cheque or cash. If the wind drops during the lesson, you only pay for the time spent.
Lessons all year round depending on the wind, with separate prices for the low season (weekdays outside school holidays) and the high season (weekends and school holidays). The tourist office lists the school as open from 1 January to 31 December 2026.
A lesson lasts about 3 hours for two students (welcome, briefing, practice, debrief and packing up). In bad weather it is rescheduled to suit you.
Book by email, phone or the website form; the instructor usually replies at the end of the day, after his sessions.
Comments 0
Login to commentNo comments yet.