With endless stretches of powder-white sand, shallow waters and steady trade winds, Anguilla is the ultimate paradise playground for kiteboarders.
Unlike other crowded hotspots in the region, the island’s 33 picturesque beaches provide an unrivalled sense of freedom, space and variety that is becoming increasingly rare.
And while few Caribbean destinations combine its natural beauty, serenity and ideal wind conditions, Anguilla remains largely undiscovered by most riders.
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Currently, the island has a single watersports company that provides instruction, guiding beginners through the basics and helping more experienced riders refine their skills.
Anguilla Watersports, which was founded by Judson and Mindie Burdon in 2014, initially offered paddleboard lessons and guided tours to give visitors a unique perspective of Anguilla’s coastline.
Mindie told Anguilla Focus that the company was born out of a genuine love for the ocean and a passion for sharing the island from the water in a more immersive way.
She explained that teaching kiteboarding – or kitesurfing – came about as a “natural evolution” of the vision and has become one of the most rewarding aspects of the business.
“What began with paddleboarding has grown into a full experience-based offering focused on connecting guests with the island’s natural beauty,” she said.
“Sharing the experience of kitesurfing in Anguilla – where conditions are ideal and the scenery is unmatched – has allowed guests to engage with the island in a truly unforgettable, adventurous way.”
Yony Espinal, a seasonal instructor with Anguilla Watersports, told Anguilla Focus that the island’s naturally calm, shallow waters make it an ideal environment for learning kiteboarding.
“When you know how to kite, it’s going to be super fun for you. You don’t have to fight with a shore break or anything,” he explained.
Espinal said wind conditions are particularly reliable, especially during the winter months between December and February when disruptive or unpredictable gusts are rare.
On safety and accessibility, he said the sport is open to most people, recommending it for those about 12 and above depending on maturity and confidence in the water.
Anguilla is still in the early stages of establishing itself as a recognised kiteboarding destination, Espinal said, making it a rare, somewhat uncharted destination for the sport.
Kiteboarding was invented in the 1970s when innovators experimented with kites pulling boards across water – but it was not until the 1990s that safer, better-designed equipment saw the sport truly take off.
Riders are now harnessed to a structured kite and use a control bar to steer and propel themselves as they glide, jump, and carve across the water on a board.
Kiteboarding is hugely popular across the Caribbean, with riders flocking to the Dominican Republic, Aruba and the Turks and Caicos Islands where the sport is well established.
Equipment is not yet available for rental in Anguilla so experienced riders are encouraged to bring their own, or participate in supervised sessions.
For safety, kiteboarders without instructors are advised to ensure someone is nearby in case of an incident, to check wind conditions, use appropriate safety gear and stay within their ability level.
