Swiss Kitesurf

Swiss Kitesurf (Swiss Kitesurf GmbH) is the kite school of the Mulets sports centre in Silvaplana, on the shore of Lake Silvaplana in the Upper Engadine, at almost 1,800 m. Its founder, Stefan Popprath, opened a kite workshop in 1993, gave his first snowkite lessons on the frozen lake the following winter and started kitesurfing lessons on the water in 1999; the company is now run by co-owner Yannick Galbinec. In summer the thermal Maloja wind usually blows 3 to 5 Beaufort, side-onshore, over clear fresh water, and a large sand-free meadow is used for land training.

Lessons follow the VDWS syllabus and every student receives a VDWS licence. Kitesurfing is taught in groups of up to four, in semi-private lessons, in private lessons with radio helmets and in kitefoil lessons; wingfoiling in groups of four, semi-private and private lessons. In winter, snowkiting is taught on the snow-covered fields next to the centre, on the frozen lake and on the Bernina Pass, with foil kites renewed every year; students bring their own skis or snowboard. In summer, 5 mm wetsuits, boots, vests, helmets and harnesses are provided and a rescue boat is on standby. The school rents out and offers tests of around sixty kites, some twenty boards and foils, rents SUPs on a self-service basis, runs guided SUP tours and organises camps abroad (Egypt, Sicily, Kenya).

The shop, open since the school was founded, sells Slingshot, North, Duotone, Core, Flysurfer, Naish and Ozone kites, boards and foils, and Mystic, Ride Engine and ION wetsuits and harnesses; the online shop (shop.kitesailing.ch) adds F-One, Cabrinha, Armstrong and SABfoil, as well as second-hand gear. The workshop repairs kites (sewing, bladders, soft-kite cells), boards, foils, SUPs and surfboards. Swiss Kitesurf also manages access to the Kitebeach: independent riders must join the members' club set up with the municipality of Silvaplana, paid at the school (VDWS level 4 or IKO 3J and third-party liability insurance covering kiting in Switzerland required); membership is included in any equipment rental. The website lists Surfside, in Ebikon (canton of Lucerne), as its partner shop.