Bex in Moz

Kite surfing in paradise

We have just had a fantastic week-end. Our good friends Carlo and Suzanna, owner-managers of the beautiful Il Pirata and Pirate Kites in Murrebue, hosted the Pemba Open: Mozambique's first ever kite-surfing competition. Anyone who knows me will be able to confirm that I am not an avid sports fan. I just about do World Cup footie and the opening ceremony of the Olympics. But this was different: 18 kiters from Pemba, Maputo, France and South Africa, a beautiful beach, an enthusiastic crowd, and - on Sunday at least - perfect conditions: 20 notts of windpower and a bright blue sky to set off the colourful kites. There were high jumps, long jumps, fancy tricks, spectacular wipe-outs, speed, foam and lots of laughs. The deserving freestyle winner was a local friend's cousin on holiday, but the Pemba crew did themselves justice by winning the course race, the "king of the air" (most time in the air) and heading up the "loosers' group" in freestyle. It was all very good-natured and loads of fun for competitors and spectators alike. Even the boys, when not playing with the gang of feral kids who roamed around to their hearts' content, were impressed: "Big jump! Biiiiig jump!" cried Sebastian, whilst Joaquim delightedly shook hands with the winner and offered his congratulations when we met him in the showers afterwards. He asked us two dozen times afterwards who the winner had been, just to make sure he had actually met him. Perfect pizza, camping under the trees and a damn good coffee at breakfast dotted the i's and crossed the t's. Couldn't have been better. We're looking forward to receiving 40 kiters next year...

If I were a bit cleverer I would post their website here (need a tutorial from my siter again), but it's: wwwdotmurrebuedotcom. Have a look. Will post photos when I have some.

Labels: kites, Pemba life, waxing lyrical

posted by Rebecca @ 10:24 am