Tendance Kite

Tendance Kite is Xavier Dumas's kitesurfing school, based since 2013 at the Port Mahon water sports centre in Sigean, on the Bages-Sigean lagoon, within the Narbonnaise Regional Nature Park. Xavier Dumas is a state-qualified instructor who has taught kitesurfing since 2010; he is also a PE teacher and holds a sailing instructor diploma. The school is a member of AFKite.

Lessons take place in a learning area of the lagoon about five minutes away by motorboat, where the water is shallow and you can stand everywhere. The boat is used to reach the spot and for safety cover. Groups have no more than four students, each with their own kite and a radio on an individual channel. Kites are matched to the level: Flysurfer for beginners, Ozone for intermediates, North for advanced riders.

The programme runs from a first session to independence (courses of one to five sessions), then on to coaching: jumps, strapless and kitefoil, the latter in private lessons with a balance simulator. The school also offers supervised sessions, equipment rental, 4 to 5-hour downwinders on the lagoon (minimum 4 riders) and sea sessions from Gruissan or Port-la-Nouvelle; kitefoil lessons are also given at La Palme, La Franqui and Leucate in thermal wind. At the centre: changing rooms, hot showers and a snack bar.

The school welcomes riders every day at the Port Mahon water sports centre; no opening dates are published on the website.

Group lessons last 4 hours including preparation and the boat transfer: mornings 9am to 1pm, afternoons 2pm to 6pm. Private lessons last 2 hours, including 1 hour on the water, from 6pm to 8pm; group lessons take priority.

Sessions only go ahead, and are only charged, when the wind allows. Book online or on +33 6 62 09 17 03.