Northwind

Northwind is a water sports school that offers both kitesurfing and paddle surfing courses. It is located on the coast of Somo, practically in front of the city of Santander, and is one of the best places in the region to learn to practice this type of sports.

Kitesurfing was created in the 70s by a Dutchman who had the idea of incorporating a kite very similar to a paraglider to a surfboard. In this way, the surfer could move propelled by the air collected by the kite, thus eliminating the need to constantly catch waves. Nowadays this sport has become enormously popular, and it is a highly in-demand aquatic activity.

With us you can take courses at three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. They also offer the possibility of taking a baptism course. This course has a much shorter duration and is basically used to have an overview of the activity and see if you like it and want to be encouraged to take a course with more content.

For its part, paddle surfing has its origins in the traditional way of sailing among Polynesians, standing on a board and propelling themselves with a long paddle. The current sport is very close to traditional surfing, especially because the boards used are quite similar (although not the same). It is a fairly calm and relaxed activity, perfect for exploring and getting to know the coast.

We offer all types of courses, from baptism to advanced improvement. There is also the possibility of doing paddle surf routes and crossings for those people who already have a reasonable command of the board and the paddle.

In addition to taking courses, you can also rent the material to do the activity on your own.

The Northwind Kitesurf school has been teaching this sport on the coasts of Cantabria since 2007. They are in fact one of the pioneers in the region in teaching classes in this activity.

The courses are carried out in small groups (no more than 4 students) to guarantee full use of the lesson. All instructors are certified by IKO (International Kitesurf Organization) and the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation. At the end of the course you will be given an IKO certification to demonstrate and accredit the level you have achieved.

The class offer is very varied:

- Kite Trainer: In this course you will learn to handle a traction kite on land, without a board. It can be a good way to get started in kitesurfing or simply learn something fun and interesting.

- Baptism: This course also takes place completely on land, but in this case some kitesurfing elements are included and not just kite handling.

- Initiation I and II: These courses take place 25% on land and 75% in water. The land part is mainly for learning how to handle the kite. From there, in the water, you will learn the body drag technique (to move without a board) and the water start, to get on the board. The difference between one and the other is that the second course lasts more hours, which allows more emphasis on all the water exercises.

- Waterwork: In this case the course is designed for kiters who already have a certain command and control of both the kite and the board. It adapts to each group to perfect specific aspects such as turns, jumps, starts, etc.

- Kitepool: More than a course itself, this activity consists of renting and practicing kitesurfing under the supervision of instructors, but the participants really already have a good level.

All courses can be done with your own material or rented from Northwind.

Paddle surfing has its origins in the traditional form of sailing of the Polynesians. Today it has become popular as a water sport that many people practice. Learn how to do it in Santander withNorthwind Paddle Surf.

It is a fairly easy sport to learn but it cannot be done without knowing the proper techniques or basic safety rules. Northwind offers courses of all kinds:

- Level I/Flat Water: This course is the most basic of all. It has an important theoretical component because you have to explain all the basic paddling techniques, balance on the board, safety issues and what to do in case of a fall, etc. The practices are done in calm waters, without waves. The minimum age to learn is 7 years old.

- Level II/Waves: This course is somewhat more advanced. It already has much less theory, because the students already know all the basic techniques. Practices are already being carried out in waters with waves, so that surfers learn to maintain balance and get used to the sensations. At the end of this course, in principle, all students should be able to practice paddle surfing on their own, without supervision from the instructors.

- Traverses/Routes: Although they are not a course per se, they do serve to practice and improve your Paddle Surf skill. In any case, it is necessary to have an acceptable level to be able to enjoy the route.