Ben Wilson, big-wave kitesurfer and co-founder of BWSurf, is now sharing his skills through a range of elite instructional programs. Whether you’re after the trip of a lifetime or your very own private tuition, Ben will push you to new heights.
Having taught over 5,000 kiters during his 10years as an elite instructor, Ben has a coaching package to help progress your riding, no matter your level or location. Join a camp in Fiji, Australia or Mexico or arrange for Private Coaching at your local beach. Whatever your preference, Ben can help you reach your kiting potential!
A pioneer of the sport, Ben was one of the first to use a surfboard in harmony with a kite and he continues to drive the sport in new directions. In 2011, Ben broke a world record, riding the largest wave ever kitesurfed at Cloudbreak, Fiji. He continues to chase big swell and believes that the largest waves can only be ridden with a kite.
Ben’s camps are one of the best ways to really improve your kiting and enjoy some incredible conditions. The sessions and local conditions are geared for kiters who are looking to improve wave-riding skills and take everything to the next level. Most students want to focus on kite positioning, riding toe-side, body technique and positioning, transitioning from strapped to strapless, riding backhand/forehand and riding un-hooked.
Each day Ben takes kiting students through a theory and video feedback session before hitting the water when the wind picks up. Ben’s sessions are practiced and fine-tuned while having the flexibility to suit the needs of each student. Over the last ten years, Ben has taught over 5,000 students so you know you’re in good hands!
Theory sessions make the most of kiting footage shot the day before and allow an unmatched personalized feedback for each kiter to get the most out of each camp..
Spots
PSC is set in a south-facing bay that sucks up every swell generated by storms in the southern Pacific. There’s a ton of terrain to cover, but most of the action is centered around the four main breaks that sit right in front of our Base Camp and extend down to the point
If the wave Gods ever set out to design a spot just for novices, this is it! Located right in front of our camp and close in to shore, it’s the textbook beginner break. From an easy launch with predictable swells and a channel to ease getting outside, it offers enough protection to keep from getting swept downwind and facing the “walk of shame” back to camp. Perfect for developing your skills and style.
Sitting just beyond the beach break and slightly upwind of camp, “the Bomby” delivers waves that are a bit bigger than the beachbreak and are great for jumping. (Just remember to point that nose way downwind to accommodate the side-off breeze!). Since the Bomborra sits in that zone that is just on the edge of the open ocean and the protection of the bay it makes it a great “next step” in your progression
You’ve seen it in the videos and the magazines. You’ve dreamt about carving down its slow, hypnotically curling line. This is the grail that made all those surf rats from SoCal tried to keep it a secret for so long back in the day: An insanely long point break wave for advanced wave riders. Sweeping off the open water, it has more juice than the Bomborra but serves up a textbook wave that unfolds into the open flats of the Chili Bowl.
Sitting just south of the Point, this is a bending reef break in an open bay. Since you get uninterrupted swell sweeping in from the ocean before smacking the reef, this wave is faster than the others and offers the options of going left or right down the line. Although it may take a couple of long reaches to get back upwind to Camp, the vast, open vistas of the Chili Bowl deliver a solitary kiting experience that you’ll never forget.
Info
Skill levels
Punta San Carlos is an intermediate-to-advanced kitesurf destination. As a dedicated wave break, you must already know how to confidently ride and stay upwind, launch and land in challenging conditions (breaking waves and limited beach space), and know how to self-rescue before kitesurfing at PSC. While we support the development of skills in more advanced conditions both informally and through our Kite Camps, we do not teach beginning kitesurfing at Solo Sports. But if you’re confident on flat water and looking for that next level in the sport, PSC offers great conditions for intermediate-to-expert kiters to learn wave-riding.
Personal Equipment
With our all-inclusive package, all of the kite gear is provided. No need to pack your rig and worry about all the hassles of traveling with gear – all you need to bring is your own wetsuit and harness. Since air and water temperatures (and personal tolerances) vary throughout the year, we recommend bringing a spare suit just in case. Spring into early summer generally calls for 4/3 or 3/2s fullsuits; summer can be 3/2 full or comp suits to shortys. While we even get a few days that are trunk worthy, it’s always better to be prepared rather than miss a session cause your shivering! If you forget yours or run out of room in your bag, we always have a few extra waist harnesses on hand and are proud to provide Ride Engine harnesses for guests to demo during their stay. Please see our packing tips and video in the Exploration section.
Gear
Beyond the excitement of kiting in world-class conditions in an otherworldly, multi-sport location, one of the best parts of any trip is the chance to get your hands on some top gear from leading brands and put it to the test rather than read about it in a magazine. We’ve got the latest boards from Slingshot and Fone, plus custom boards designed for the waves – with and without straps. These are paired with kites in every size: Slingshot RPMs, Wave SSTs and Rallys, Fone Bandits, and specialized wave kites like the BWS AE2.