Skip to content
Wind kt ◉ Webcam 4.8
Book now
EN
Strapless kitesurfing toeside carve in the protected teaching area of the El Gouna lagoon, Egypt

Evolution coaching · El Gouna, Egypt · since 2004

Lose the straps. Master strapless & wave riding.

You can ride upwind. Now build the most stylish discipline in the sport in a protected teaching area, with the active zone chosen for the actual tide and conditions — coached by the same head coach who trains a Freestyle World Champion.

Typical conditions: 15–25 kt N–NW typical · gusting to 28 kt · water level varies with tide
  • IKO Evolution · head-coach led
  • Max 2 riders per coach
  • 4.8 / 549

Strapless & wave riding

Flat water is where strapless is learned. Waves are where it's used.

Strapless riding has almost nothing in common with twin-tip. New board, new stance, no footstraps to bail you out. We won't pretend El Gouna has waves — it doesn't, and that's why protected flat water can be such a useful place to learn. The first roughly 800 m teaching area is knee-to-waist deep over sand in typical conditions, letting you drill jibes, toeside and board recoveries when the actual water level suits. When you finally hit real surf, your feet already know the deck.

Twin-tip
  • Footstraps hold your feet
  • Symmetrical — rides both ways
  • Forgiving, what you learned first
Strapless directional
  • No straps — pure board control
  • Directional surf stance & jibes
  • The most stylish discipline in kiting

Already riding upwind and wondering what's next? Compare it with advanced coaching in hydrofoil and freestyle — strapless is the one that travels best to real wave spots.

Your wave line

Read it. Enter it. Carve it. Reset.

This is a map of skills, not a fixed syllabus, a conditions forecast or a promised result. El Gouna has no rideable waves: here we repeat strapless board control on flat water and show how that foundation transfers. Real swell reading and wave timing happen at a suitable wave spot.

  1. 01 Read · position

    See the line before you ride it.

    At a wave spot, the line starts with swell direction, wind angle, safe zones and an exit. In El Gouna we build the transferable foundations — stance, board trim and kite position — on flat water; actual wave timing always depends on the spot and conditions.

    • Wind angle
    • Safe zone and exit
    • Where to position
    Aerial view of the flat El Gouna lagoon used for strapless board-control coaching
    Read the setup
  2. 02 Enter · settle

    Arrive balanced, not pulled by the kite.

    Approach on the directional board at a speed you can control. Place your feet, settle the rail, move onto toeside and keep the kite quiet enough for the board to carry the line.

    • Directional-board trim
    • Foot placement
    • Quiet kite position
    Kitesurfer edging across the flat El Gouna lagoon during board-control practice
    Set the entry
  3. 03 Carve · reconnect

    Let the rail draw the turn.

    Frontside and backside drills connect rail pressure, weight transfer and kite movement. The two-way helmet lets the coach adjust one detail at a time while you repeat the carve on flat water.

    • Frontside and backside
    • Rail pressure
    • Live correction
    Kitesurfer practising a low carve on the flat water at El Gouna
    Shape the turn
  4. 04 Exit · choose again

    Finish in control. Then read again.

    A useful line includes the exit: ride out with space, recover the board after a fall, regain your upwind position and choose the next safe approach. Which wave to take in real surf remains a decision for that spot and that moment.

    • Controlled exit
    • Board recovery
    • Reset upwind
    Kitesurfer recovering in the first roughly 800 m teaching area of the El Gouna lagoon before the next attempt
    Reset the line

The feedback stays live. Your coach can adjust stance, edge and kite position while you ride.

See how coaching works ↓
Strapless kitesurfing rider with a board grab on the flat El Gouna lagoon

Real-time coaching, in your ear

Corrections the instant you blow a jibe — not shouted from the beach.

Strapless is all micro-adjustments, and most schools coach it with a one-way radio or nothing at all. With two-way BB Talkin Bluetooth helmets, your coach fixes your stance the moment it goes wrong — not after a long swim back. That feedback loop is the difference between a frustrating week and your first clean jibes.

  • Standard max 2 riders per coach
  • Advanced coaching up to 4 riders on request, with multiple complete setups
  • Two-way BB Talkin helmet — live, both-way coaching audio
  • Rescue support available during operating hours; intervention and response times are not guaranteed
  • IKO Evolution framework — structured progression, free IKO logging
See all advanced coaching →

Where a World Champion trains

The eye that sharpens a world champion is on your jibes.

Finn Flügel, 2025 GKA Freestyle World Champion, trains at our home spot, coached by Lukáš. If you want to push your riding at the highest level, you're on the right beach. The same coaching standard that fine-tunes a champion is what shapes your strapless riding.

4.8 from 549 reviews
2004oldest in El Gouna
5,500+riders a year
  • Finn Flügel, 2025 GKA Freestyle World Champion, at his Kitepower El Gouna home spot

    Finn Flügel

    2025 GKA Freestyle World Champion

    Trains at our home spot — coached by co-owner Lukáš.

  • Paula Novotná, 2022 GWA Wingfoil Surf-Freestyle World Champion, a regular guest at Kitepower El Gouna

    Paula Novotná

    2022 GWA Wingfoil Surf-Freestyle World Champion

    Comes to Kitepower to ride, recharge and enjoy the flat water.

  • Ellie Dimitrova, professional kitesurfer and Flysurfer team rider, smiling on the water at Kitepower El Gouna

    Ellie Dimitrova

    Pro kitesurfer · Flysurfer international team rider

    A regular on our lagoon — riding the same Flysurfer kites we teach with.

Pay as you ride

No fixed "advanced course" — you ride on Open Hours.

Evolution riders don't need a packaged course — you book coaching by the hour, and the rate drops the more you ride. Two-way helmet coaching, standard max 2 riders per coach are included. Rescue support is available during operating hours, but a specific intervention or response time cannot be guaranteed. Up to 4 capable, level-matched riders can be arranged on request with multiple complete setups.

Open Hours · kite coaching2 riders /h1 rider /h
1h€80€110
2–4h€75€105
5–8h€70€100
9h+€60€90

How semi-private pairing works: semi-private means 2 students of similar weight share one kite. If we can’t pair you with a same-weight partner, you have two options — ride private 1:1 at the private rate, or keep the semi-private price and ride 1:1 for the equivalent (shorter) water time. You’re told up front, so it’s never a surprise and you never pay more than you booked.

The rate is set by your total hours ridden — ride 5+ hours over your trip and the whole block drops to the lower tier. Book your open hours online, or message Lukáš to lock dates around the wind.

The ideal classroom

Protected, sandy, repeatable — with the right board ready.

In typical conditions, the first ~800 m off our beach forms a knee-to-waist-deep, sandy-bottom teaching area where many riders can stand and reset. The area is protected from normal surf and significant current, and the team selects it for the actual water level. With 250+ kites across 3–21 m², the team has broad options to match your weight, level and measured conditions. Equipment, riding and board demos remain subject to availability and safe conditions.

And the wind delivers: from our own weather station, about 77% of days a year are rideable — peaking around 85% in August. Check the live wind & webcam →

Aerial view of the Kitepower El Gouna beach, first roughly 800 m teaching area and deeper lagoon zones

% of days with a rideable session (≥ 12 kt for ≥ 2 h of daylight), from 2 million+ readings over 4 years. Even December still delivers 6 out of 10 days. Winter air ≈ 22 °C — pack a full wetsuit, not boardshorts.

Wave & strapless — your questions

What if there's no one my weight for a semi-private lesson?

Semi-private means 2 students of similar weight share one kite. If we can't pair you with a same-weight partner, you have two options: ride private 1:1 at the private rate, or keep the semi-private price and ride 1:1 for the equivalent (shorter) water time. We tell you up front, so it's never a surprise — and you never pay more than you booked.

Do I need to ride upwind before learning strapless kitesurfing?

Yes. Strapless is an Evolution discipline, not a first lesson. You should already ride upwind in control and handle basic transitions (roughly IKO Level 4 and up). If you're not there yet, start with the Zero to Hero course or a Refresh and come back — we'll tell you honestly when you're ready.

Are there waves in El Gouna?

The protected teaching area has flat water without surf. Its first roughly 800 m is knee-to-waist deep over sand, so strapless drills such as jibes, toeside riding and board recovery can be practised there when conditions suit. Wave riding itself requires a suitable wave destination elsewhere.

Is wave / strapless harder than twin-tip kitesurfing?

It's different, not necessarily harder. A directional surfboard, a surf stance and no footstraps mean it's all about board control and micro-adjustments. Riders who can already go upwind on a twin-tip usually find it a fresh, addictive challenge — expect a few swims early on. That's exactly why flat, standable water is the right place to learn it.

How long does it take to learn strapless jibes?

It varies with your level, talent and the wind, so we don't promise a number. Most riders who already ride upwind get the feel of board control in the first session and start landing their first clean jibes within a few hours of coaching. With two-way helmets and standard max 2 riders per coach, the corrections land fast.

What gear do I ride for strapless coaching?

You ride a directional / strapless surfboard instead of a twin-tip. Our 250+-kite fleet spans 3–21 m² and includes boards to try, so the team can match available equipment to your weight, level and measured conditions. Riding and demos still depend on safe conditions and availability; ask at the centre.

Who coaches the wave / strapless sessions?

Co-owner Lukáš — our IKO head coach and a competitive rider in kite, wave, hydrofoil, wing and parawing — and his certified IKO Evolution instructors. The same eye that sharpens a Freestyle World Champion is on your jibes.

What does strapless coaching cost?

Advanced / Evolution riders ride on OPEN HOURS — pay as you go, by the hour, with the rate dropping the more you ride: €80/h for 2 riders down to €60/h. Two-way BB Talkin helmet coaching and standard max 2 riders per coach are included. Rescue support is available during operating hours, but a specific intervention or response time cannot be guaranteed. For capable, level-matched independent riders, coaching for up to 4 riders can be arranged on request with multiple complete setups.

What should I wear — how cold is the water?

In summer, boardshorts or a bikini. In winter the air sits around 22 °C, so you'll want a full wetsuit (we provide it) — not boardshorts.

Ready to ride strapless?

Tell us your level and we'll plan a strapless block around the wind. Standard max 2 riders per coach · two-way helmet coaching · head-coach led. Not riding upwind yet? Start with a course first →