In the beginning of August, we went to the second Lohelaager (kite camp) in Illiku. If last year we were super excited about the camp, then this year was even better, because it was WINDY!
The weekend started with a super nice session in Väike Strait which connects the island of Muhu with the island of Saaremaa. We’ve always dreamt about surfing there, but somehow never got a chance. So here it was. And the weather was absolutely amazing – short wetsuit sessions in Estonia are quite rare and this year’s summer has treated us well with them.
Väike Strait has super flat shallow water, therefore no waves which is exactly to our liking. And the wind was perfect for a 9m2 kite which is one of our favourites. As a cherry on the top – a picture perfect sunset. It was also a first time experience with offshore wind for some friends.
One highly important part of the camp is the crowd and after-surf chill with friends. We were quite starving when reaching the camp, so we just sat down in the bar and enjoyed the night with lots of laughing. Believe that laughing is one of the things I remember the most about this camp. It was also so lovely to re-connect with friends whom you haven’t met for some time.
New TOP spot discovery
The second day started with some early morning yoga. Even couldn’t believe we made it there, but it was a very rewarding wake-up call. After that some safety and “how to make my first jump” workshops for some friends and off to the sea.
Triin has had a super lovely family to teach this summer (might even say the coolest students ever!) and as their summer house is next to Illiku, they were there for another lesson. The 14 y/o boy is a true wonder kid – only a few lessons and kiting downwind-upwind like a pro. His ambition is to become the best kitesurfer in Estonia. Super-excited to teach someone like him – so adorable, yet full of ambition and clear sight.
We all went to a new spot called Kõinastu. Never been there before, but as we were looking for a spot which would be also suitable for beginners, then Kõinastu with its flat shallow water was the best option that day. And we were super glad that we made this decision. As it turned out later in the evening, it was also the right decision, because the other spot, were the majority of the kite camp crowd went, wasn’t that good at all. Yay!
Kõinastu is a small islet in Muhu and basically in the middle of nowhere. The drive there takes you through endless meadows where cute cows are greeting you with their modest moo.
Rigging is quite a challenge there. We did it on the meadow, where there were luckily no cows at the time. If you’re a beginner, then advise to do the lines on the meadow, then twist them back together and walk to the water with the kite in your hand (smiling position). There are many wire fences, some electric, some not. So, when you’re not sure If you’re able to launch your kite correctly, then better do it in the water. Otherwise, you might destroy your kite with these fences.
Besides that, the spot is everything one could dream of. There’s a huge area of knee-high flat water. Only a few visible rocks, but enough space for everyone. A bit further away the water gets deeper and if you’re already an experienced kiter, then you could kite around the entire islet. A very nice discovery!
We kited there with W/NW wind, and it was amazing. For a summer day, very strong wind – 7m2 kite was perfect for an afternoon session. And again – the landscape was picture perfect. The feeling of freedom and beauty of nature are one of the key features, why we love kiting.
After 3-4h in the water, the feeling was extra rewarding. A super good session always puts a huge smile on your face, doesn’t it? But this wasn’t it for that day. We still found SOME energy to dance 5 hours straight. It even didn’t matter if the music was bad at one point – we had so much fun, and as they say, if the crowd and feeling is right, you’ll always have a good night. So, thank you Margit, Peeter, Pille and Oscar for making this year’s camp so much FUN!
You must be logged in to post a comment.