Feral Kite runs kitesurfing lessons on Lagoa de Óbidos, Silver Coast’s most reliable flat-water kite destination in Europe. Our school sits on the northern shore of the lagoon at Foz do Arelho, about an hour’s drive north of Lisbon. The lagoon is shallow, sandy and tidal, so on a good day you can stand in waist-deep water a long way out from the beach.
At a glance:
- We are a kitesurfing school on Lagoa de Óbidos, Portugal
- We teach kitesurfing lessons and wingfoil lessons for all levels, max two students per instructor
- We provide radio helmets, impact vests and a rescue boat on every session
- Equipment: Duotone kites and twin-tips, North wings and foils
- Wind: the Nortada from the north, 15 to 25 knots, strongest from June to September
- Our instructors hold IKO certification and teach in English, Portuguese and Spanish
- On-site facilities: gear storage, outdoor showers and a shaded area to rest between sessions
About our spot at Lagoa de Óbidos
The lagoon opens to the Atlantic through a narrow channel at Foz do Arelho. Inside, you get flat water over a soft sandy bottom, with wide shallow flats where beginners can stand, reset and relaunch without swimming. That makes it one of the easier kitesurfing spots in Portugal to learn on. The tide changes the depth and the shape of the flats through the day, so we plan every lesson around it. Once you’re riding upwind, the ocean beach at Foz do Arelho sits a short walk away for anyone ready to try waves.
Our kitesurfing season in Óbidos
Our season runs from May to October. The Nortada is a thermal north wind that builds along this coast in summer, usually from late morning, and often holds until sunset. Expect 15 to 25 knots on a typical afternoon, with July and August the most consistent months. The lagoon water warms up faster than the open ocean, but a 3/2 wetsuit still makes sense for most of the season. Booties help on the shell patches near the shore.
Kitesurfing lessons we provide
We follow the IKO teaching system from your first session to independent riding. A Discovery lesson runs for two hours and covers kite control on the beach and your first body drags. Our three-day beginner course adds nine hours of tuition and takes most students to their first rides on the board. Every student who completes a level receives an IKO card, recognised at kite schools worldwide.
We also run wingfoil lessons on the same flats. Students start with wing handling on a large, stable board, then move onto the foil once they can hold a line. Flat water and steady wind make the lagoon a good place to learn both sports.
The crew
Jono Ferall owns Feral Kite and leads the teaching as head instructor. Every instructor on our team holds IKO certification, and each session is run with radio helmets and a rescue boat on the water.
Our equipment
Kitesurfing lessons use current Duotone kites, bars and twin-tip boards. Wingfoil students ride North wings, boards and foils. We supply wetsuits, rashies, helmets and impact vests with every course.
No-wind activities
On flat days we take students out on SUPs across the lagoon or down to Peniche to surf. The walled town of Óbidos is ten minutes inland and well worth an afternoon. Please take your rubbish home and give the lagoon’s birdlife plenty of room when you’re on the water.
