Crosswind Kite School

The wind on Hutchinson Island is the most reliable on the coast, an onshore breeze most afternoons from October to April that turns the beaches north of Stuart Beach into a kite school’s dream: shallow water, sand with nothing to hit and room to run. Beck Lindqvist has taught here for six winters, and the school is a trailer, a quiver of kites and a rule that nobody flies a big kite before they can fly a small one.

The three-hour introduction is on the beach and in the shallows: how a kite pulls, how to steer it, how to let it go. By the end you have body-dragged through the water behind a kite and understand why people do this. The nine-hour course adds the board and, for most people, their first ride. All equipment, the wetsuit in winter and the radio helmet are included.

Lessons are private or in pairs and run around the wind, so booking is for a day and the time is confirmed the evening before. No wind means no lesson and no charge. Most people need two days between lessons for their arms to recover.

Good to know

• The season is October to April; summer wind is too light and too stormy.
• Lessons are booked by the day; the hour depends on the wind.
• Swimming ability is required; nothing else is.
• Bring sunscreen and water; the rest is provided.
• Spectators are welcome on the sand and should stay upwind.