Karel Dobbels on his love for kite surfing and the alluring azure of Greece

Karel has had unusual adventures in the pursuit of his passion. In Morocco, a sleepy local failed to catch the kite while landing and Karel fell in a heap onto an unsuspecting camel lying on the beach minding its own camel business. Needless to say, the camel was less than happy at this unexpected encounter. Karel recalls attempting to surf in India while on a business trip. “There aren’t many places to indulge this sport in India, and I found a kiting center in Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. All attempts to get there proved fruitless and I was grumpy and irritable and impossible to be around as a result.”

But there were moments of great joy too. His recollections of Greece are happy ones as he could surf in his shorts with good wave conditions, in water that had been warmed by the golden Greek sun. One time he had an entire bay to himself, the wind conditions perfect for his board and kite. A huge fan of Greek food and the easy Greek way of life, he believes it is one of Europe’s best places for a getaway, be it for surfing, gastronomy, relaxation, or history and culture.

His annual trips to Sal in Cap Verde are something he looks forward to very much. “It’s a fantastic place to lose yourself in kiting. There’s year-round wind, the weather is beautiful, and traveling and staying there are not prohibitive. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a surfing destination.”

“However bad your day has been, if you can end it with a good surf or kiting session, or even dreaming about a surfing holiday, it will make you forget every bit of negativity. Flying on the water in the right conditions anywhere in the world is like sex. When it’s good, you just want more and more,” he says, raising an eyebrow cheekily.