Charlie Smith
MARBELLA Town Hall has reached an agreement with Marbella Kite Club for a new kitesurfing zone at Playa los Monteros.
The agreement with the 250-member-strong club sees the creation of a permanent 300-metre area along the beach which will act as a home for the sport.
The agreement is yet to be ratified by the Junta, and comes after kitesurfers demanded a safe area to practice their pastime.
New decking, showers, toilets, drying areas and proper designation of the surfing channels are all set to be included in the plans.
For around a decade kitesurfers had previously been forced to use the Rio Real area, which was flanked by dangerous rocks.
This location meant local schools could not take part in the sport, while kitesurfing newcomers were also put off.
These plans for Marbella should see it grow in popularity among kitesurfers, in the same way the sport’s hotspot of Tarifa has.
David Gallardo, secretary of Marbella Kite Club, highlighted the ‘the high purchasing power of the kite-surfers and the economic impact that their presence has on the city’.
Negotiations between the club and local council have been tough after they first began back in 2008.
