Destination & Sports: Extreme flights from Kep Thmey in Kampot

A beach in Kampot overlooking Koh Tral (Phu Quoc) and Mount Bokor has become an unusual tourist attraction after a kitesurfer discovered that the windswept coastline was a perfect spot for the sport.

Kitesurfing in Kampot. Photo supplied

Dutchman Frank van Zoggel, who has been living in Cambodia for 15 years, has visited many of the world's coasts for kitesurfing. But the beach at Kep Thmey, located 8 km from the town of Kampot, remains at the top of his list of ideal places for kitesurfing in the Kingdom.

“The water here is shallow, so it's safe. You can almost walk to the boat, which is 100 m from the shore. I've already kitesurfed at Koh Rong Sanloem and Sihanoukville, but Kampot definitely tops the list for me,”explains Zoggel.

Kitesurfing in Kampot. Photo supplied

That's why he set up Cambodia Kiteboarding in 2009, offering kitesurfing lessons and activities to visitors looking for adrenalin-pumping adventures in Kampot.

“A great sport awaits visitors just 160 km from Phnom Penh. Previously, we had people coming from Singapore, Thailand and other South-East Asian countries”.

“They had nothing but praise for Kampot,” explains Zoggel, who is also the province's only kitesurfing instructor.

Zoggel, who first set foot in Cambodia in 1999, says: “My father was a government adviser for the Ministry of the Interior for 12 years. So he knew Kampot and loved the province, its mountains and rivers”.

Kep Thmey beach, located 8 km from the town of Kampot, is an ideal place for kitesurfing, according to Dutch instructor Frank van Zoggel. Photo supplied

“So he bought a few properties here and built a house,” recounts Mr Zoggel, adding:

“I was a child when my family lived in Phnom Penh in 1999. I went back and forth to Holland to finish my studies before coming back here to settle permanently. I've now been living in Cambodia for 15 years”.

As well as having passed the kitesurf instructor training course in 2009, Mr Zoggel also holds a diploma in sports, leisure and outdoor management. He has been certified as an instructor by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (Padi) and the International Kitesurfing Organisation (IKO).

“I think the best season for kitesurfing in Cambodia is from December to February,” warns Zoggel.

“June to September - during the rainy season - is also a good time, as the wind comes almost every day during those months,” he adds.

As much fun as it may seem, kitesurfing remains an extreme sport that requires its adepts to learn the basic techniques first. That's why the sport is reserved for visitors aged between 9 and 65.

“Before kitesurfing, customers have to take a few basic lessons over two or three days. After that, they can try their hand at the sport”.

”Beginners will need an instructor who can explain everything to them about safety. Those who are interested in the sport but have no experience should book lessons where they can learn the basics - safety rules, setting up a kite, flying it and so on,’”explains Zoggel.

“It only takes a few hours a day to learn. After that, they'll be surprised at how exciting the sport is. They'll definitely want to learn more,” he adds.

Lessons with Zoggel cost 35 dollars an hour, while a private lesson costs 45 dollars. A two-hour trial lesson at $70 is also available for those who are still hesitant.

Cambodia Kiteboarding is located at the Villa Vedici riverside resort on Kep Thmey beach in Kampot.

For more information, visit the Facebook page: @cambodiakiteboarding https://www.facebook.com/cambodiakiteboarding/ or contact: 089 392 068.