On a tip from Dana Proctor at FIT 360, I headed down to the Fairhope Public Beach a few weeks ago to catch up with Danial Ware, team rider and ambassador for Cabrinha Kites. Founded in Maui, Hawaii, Cabrinha Kites produces kitesurfing equipment for water sports adventure seekers. He was in town to let the local wind sports enthusiasts try out some new equipment. Daniel is on a month-long tour from Miami to San Francisco, making several stops along the way to promote Cabrina’s kite sailing equipment and answer questions.  

Before coming to Fairhope, Daniel led a two-day weekend youth clinic on Pensacola Beach for kids aged 6 to 16 on how to hydrofoil and wing surf. When asked to describe what windsurfing is like, Daniel described it, as “Like riding a dirt bike, you can go slow or jump 15 buses.” According to Daniel, the conditions here are best from Fall to late Spring. There is a local network that keeps everyone up to speed on when and where people are riding.  

For those wanting to get into wind sports, the first step is to get lessons. Kitesurfing and wing surfing are very safe sports with proper instruction. Most riders need 2-5 hours of instruction before they are proficient enough to ride by themselves. Lessons play an important part in maintaining riding access for the established community by way of getting new riders up to speed on how to safely enter and exit the water, especially at public beaches like Fairhope park where normal beach goers are present.

When asked about the Scenic 98 Coastal area for wind sports, Daniel said, “As a seasoned traveler to many dream destinations for wind sports, this is a truly unique and favorable scenario for wind sports and makes for some amazing conditions! I am constantly amazed at the quality of riding found around the Gulf Coast. There are easily thirty-plus riding destinations just between Pensacola and Fairhope alone, with guaranteed friendly faces to meet and ride with!”  

Daniel continued his demo tour in Gulfport, MS for a two-day demo with, Gulfport Board Sports, a Cabrinha dealer owned by Tommy Whitman. Cabrinha’s other area dealer is XL Kites in Ft. Walton Beach owned by Michael Percy. These are the two area dealers where most locals get their equipment. It’s a tight-knit community and everyone who showed up spoke highly of both dealers. Anyone interested in learning these amazing sports can reach out to any of the aforementioned kite shops for instruction and gear sales.

Cabrinha Kites has recently teamed up with Charleston-based Estuary Brewing to form The Newfound Freedom Project. This is a fresh collaboration to introduce those who face unique physical and mental challenges to watersports through a series of instructional days lead by some of Cabrinha’s top athletes and staff. The initiative includes a series of events throughout the summer in Charleston, Miami, and Hood River, Oregon.  

As we wrapped up, Daniel said, “Thanks again man and I’m looking forward to making it back to Fairhope! You guys have a beautiful town. It's always rad to expose these sports to new people through whatever channels possible. Cheers man!”