Kite courses for the deaf

What the wind whispers

Author: Anna Monterroso Carneiro
Published: March 21, 2025

In the Schaproder Bodden in the west of Rügen, you can stand right up to the fairway - an important prerequisite for surfing beginners. Kitesurfing instructor explains in sign language to the kitesurfing student what she should do.

Luisa and Patrick are standing on the shore of the Regenbogen Ferienanlage Suhrendorf campsite, a popular destination for windsurfers and kitesurfers. The kite instructor holds up an anemometer. „Not even twelve knots“, he comments. „Not an easy wind speed for a beginner, because it's difficult to keep the kite in the air with so little wind.“ For his explanation, Patrick has slipped the anemometer into his trouser pocket – he is deaf and needs both hands to communicate with Luisa in sign language.

Kitesurfers on Ummanz surf in the standing area on the Baltic Sea
Luisa's dream: kitesurfing on the Baltic Sea like the experts! That's why she booked a kite course at DeafVentures.
Kitesurfing lessons in sign language - The instructor explains to the student on Ummanz.
Everything clear? Luisa is deaf. So is her instructor Patrick. DeafVentures is the first certified kitesurfing school in Germany for the deaf.
Team from DeafVenture, Germany's first certified kite school for the deaf

What can come of a chance encounter?

Germany's first certified kitesurfing school for the deaf!

The two became friends in Sri Lanka. It turned out that Marie, the native language interpreter, never really had much work in the summer. "Why don't you come to Ummanz for a summer and help out at the surf school?" Pia suggested. That happened in the summer of 2017, and by the time the summer on Ummanz was over, the two friends had combined their respective professional skills into a joint project - a kit school for the walking-less. Pia, who had a Master's degree in International Management with a focus on start-ups, even completed a native language course. Now I can communicate quite well with deaf people, but of course not as well as Marie. She has really studied it.“

If it is too weak, beginners will find it difficult to keep the kite in the air. A kitesurfing instructor measures the wind with a wind gauge.

Five-day kite course for walkers

Wind fairs, lines and pizza

The beginner's course consists of ten hours spread over five days, from Monday to Friday. The program includes practical sessions on the Bodden, theory lessons and many moments of relaxation. The latter also take place in the form of a fresh pizza evening at the „tiki bar“ of the nearby surf hostel, where pastrami pizza is served with beer and summer soda, accompanied by wildly mixed music from the band.

Before taking the kite into the water, Patrick shows how to release the lines in an emergency.
Before going into the water with the kite, Patrick shows how to release the lines in case of emergency.
The kite pulls Luisa out of the water. The kite instructor holds her securely behind.
The kite pulls Luisa out of the water. It can finally start!
Refreshments with pizza, summer lemonade, beer and the two DeafVenture founders Pia and Marie in the "Tikibar".
Refreshment with pizza, summer soda, beer and the two DeafVenture founders Pia and Marie in the "Tikibar".
The Ummaii Surfhostel from the air with a view of the Baltic Sea at sunset
Right next to the kite spot - the Rügen Surfhostel with a view of the sunset.

Surfspots at the Baltic Sea and Lake District

Surfing spots in MV - Shallow water, flat water and wave spots for every wind direction

65 results

  • Greifswald Bodden // © surflocal.de

    Surfspot Lubmin

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 17509 Lubmin

    Baltic Sea flair at the Bodden. The fine sandy beach, the large standing area and small but fine waves in southwest to northeast wind make Lubmin a real alternative for wave beginners.

    Read more: "Surfspot Lubmin"
  • Surfspot Waren (Müritz)

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 17192 Waren (Müritz)

    Windsurfers in the small town of Waren (Müritz) will be happy about a good inland area with northeast to south winds and a camping site directly at the spot. The local surf school will provide you with equipment. Kiting is prohibited here.

    Read more: "Surfspot Waren (Müritz)"
  • Mecklenburger Bucht // © surflocal.de

    Surfspot Dierhagen

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 18347 Dierhagen

    Dierhagen is a first-class wave spot from west to northeast. Since there are no groynes here, even beginners can venture into the Baltic waves.

    Read more: "Surfspot Dierhagen"
  • Water sports center Zingst

    • Müggenburger Weg, 18374 Ostseeheilbad Zingst

    We are a team of individual surfers who have made their lifestyle their profession. We show you our passion kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing and sailing and infect you with the surf virus - since 1999.

    Read more: "Water sports center Zingst"
  • Strelasund // © surflocal.de

    Surfspot Altefähr

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 18573 Altefähr

    At the Strelasund you can surf with a southeast to west wind with a view of the skyline of the Hanseatic City of Stralsund and the impressive Rügen Bridge. On the lawn you have plenty of space to set up.

    Read more: "Surfspot Altefähr"
  • Wieker Bodden // © surflocal.de

    Surfspot Dranske

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 18556 Dranske

    The main spot is located in the middle of the town on the Wieker Bodden - protected from the open Baltic Sea. You can set up and launch on a large meadow. In front of it, there is a large shallow water area with a 200-meter wide standing area. A little insider tip: With east and west winds, you can enjoy the jet effect.

    Read more: "Surfspot Dranske"
  • Breitling // © surflocal.de

    Surfspot Stuthof

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 18146 Stuthof

    On the eastern shore of the Breitling, you will find a small but fine shallow water area and a water sports school when the wind blows from the southwest to the northwest. And it's only a 20-minute drive from Rostock.

    Read more: "Surfspot Stuthof"
  • Prorer Wiek // © surflocal.de

    Surfspot New Mukran

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 18546 Neu Mukran

    In Neu Mukran you can park directly in front of the beach and spend the night. Here, the waves pile up to three meters high on the offshore sandbank. Sideshore wind from the northeast provides creamy conditions. Also east is still relaxed to surf. On the somewhat rocky shore you have to expect moderate shorebreak.

    Read more: "Surfspot New Mukran"
  • Baltic Sea // © surflocal.de

    Surfspot Zinnowitz

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • 17454 Zinnowitz

    Shallow-water fanatics are at the wrong address in Zinnowitz. With a strong breeze from the east, first-class Baltic Sea waves roll onto the fine sandy beach here. In the high season, however, you can only enjoy the spectacle outside the bathing zone because of the many vacationers.

    Read more: "Surfspot Zinnowitz"
  • Bathing beach campsite "Boek" C16

    • Gertrud-von-le-Fort-Allee, 17248 Boek

    Our nature campsite "Boek" C 16 with a surfing and canoeing base and a kite surfing route is located directly on the south-eastern shore of the Müritz, Germany's largest inland lake at 117 km².

    Read more: "Bathing beach campsite "Boek" C16"

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