Leijasurffaus.fi

Leijasurffaus.fi is a kitesurfing and snowkiting (leijahiihto) school based in the Helsinki area. It has been teaching for more than twelve years, summer and winter, at several spots across southern Finland, including Helsinki (Kallahdenniemi, Lauttasaari), Hanko and the island of Kemiönsaari in the open-water season, and on frozen lakes and snowy shores around Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere and Nummela in winter.

Lessons are taken in modules. They start with about 2.5 hours of online theory, followed by three practical days of about 5 hours each (technique, technique+ and technique++), depending on the weather. The instructors cite three decades of experience in the sport. Snow-to-water and water-to-snow courses make it easy to switch from one surface to the other.

The school is also an online shop and rental service: kites, twin-tips and foil boards, bars, harnesses, wetsuits and clothing, plus second-hand gear. Rental is reserved for students who have already taken a course and only happens when the team is on the beach. The 2+2 package includes 2 hours of guided riding and 2 hours on your own. SUP boards and a tent sauna can also be rented.

Brands offered: Crazy Fly, Cabrinha, Core, F-One, Harlem, North, Airwave, Slingshot and Mystic.