Harnessing the wind, Umdloti kite-surfer has eyes set on first place at upcoming championships

If the wind is too strong to go surfing, why not take up kitesurfing?

Lorenzo Valenti is an Umdloti-based kitesurfer who is trying to spread the word about the sport he loves.

After picking up the sport at age 7, it has been a lifelong passion.

“There were two guys on the road I grew up on who became my close mates, and now we all kitesurf together, its a cool way to keep us up-to-date with each other,” he said.

Lorenzo, now 24, kitesurfs regularly on the beaches of the North Coast whenever the wind is right.

“Its a sport where you can get a few friends together, take a trip up the coast and make a day of it,” he said.

He is proficient in the two main disciplines of kitesurfing, and can pick and choose what to do depending on the wind.

Kitesurfing – using a kite to catch a wave, and ride it as if you were surfing – is perfect for when the wind is not that strong.

Kiteboarding is more focused on aerial tricks, and is done where the wind is more consistent, like at Blouberg in Cape Town.

“My highest jump is 21 meters, so you need to be certain that the wind is right otherwise you could be in trouble on the way back down,” he laughed.

The sport has taken him around the world, from Cloudbreak in Fiji, to the yearly South African Champs in Cape Town.

He placed third in the 2019 competition, and has been training hard since beaches have reopened to better that result in 2021.

Lorenzo is sponsored by Lacuna Kites, a homegrown South African brand based in Cape Town.

When not out at sea, Lorenzo is finishing his studies and teaching the next generation of kitesurfers at Ocean2Air surf shop in Glenashley.

“There has never been a better time to learn, all the equipment and safety measures are at a much higher standard than when I started.”

It may seem like a steep learning curve from the outside, but once you get taught the fundamentals, it is hard not to become hooked, he said.

“It’s a tough sport to self-teach, because so many of your natural impulses are the opposite of what you should be doing.”

The equipment costs can also keep beginners away, but once the initial gear has been bought it is a completely free sport.

“I could not recommend kiting any more, come and join me and you will see what I mean.”