Surf Connect Wind and Kitesurfing School (Brisbane, Australia)

ABOUT THE SURF CAMP

BRISBANE REGION

Sandgate Beach, Sandgate, Qld 4017
Best wind directions: SE/E/NE/N
Conditions: Flat shallow water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Beginners to Advanced

Pros: Shallow, sand bottom, no current, safe, shop and rescue services on location, showers, toilets, free BBQs, cafes and restaurants, public transport: 30 minutes direct train ride from Brisbane City. It will also work on southerly winds at low tide. This is known as the safest and most popular kite beach in Brisbane with kite shop on location. Check webcam on our homepage.

Cons: Limited launching area at high tide. Gusty in southerly directions. Not suitable for offshore directions (westerlies).

Brighton Beach, Brighton, Qld 4017

Best wind directions: S/SE/E/NE
Conditions: Flat shallow water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Beginners to Advanced
Pros: Shallow, sand bottom, no current.
Cons: Limited launching area at high tide. No facilities, not even toilets. Sharp rocks reef north of beach. Gusty in northerly directions. Not suitable for offshore directions (westerlies).

Woody Point, Redcliffe, Qld 4020

Best wind directions: S/SE/E/SW/W
Conditions: Bump & Jump deep water
Wind average: 13-18kts
Season: Sept to April
Suitability: Intermediate to Advanced
Pros: Works on westerly.
Cons: Rocks, sailing club, gusty, deep water.

Opening hours

LESSONS AND RENTAL available 7 days a week at Sandgate Beach subject to weather conditions.

Surf Connect was founded in 2005, and is still the only accredited International Kiteboarding Organisation (IKO) School in Brisbane as seen on their website www.ikointl.com.

In 2024 Surf Connect was given to a guy called Shane to run, but Shane handed it back to us in January 2024 so we are now running Surf Connect under a new flagship. Note Shane and any of his staff no longer has any affiliation to us. If any payment or vouchers was made to him, I would recommend you contact your bank to seek refund right away, as we are trading under a new company and will not honour any transactions of his company.

Please note surfconnect.COM is the authentic and original Surf Connect. We are also the only entity that has all the relevant Council and Marine Parks permits to operate at Sandgate. We also hold the required permits from the Department of DNRM (National Government governing body) and Maritime Safety, together with official affiliations to IKO, AWKA and NSSIA. All our instructors are fully qualified relevant to the above bodies, as well as the Royal Yachting Association, Kiteboarding Australia and Sailing Australia (previous Yachting Australia).

If anyone offers you lessons other than us at Sandgate, make sure you ask to see their permits and insurance cover. You do not want to be confronted by Council or Marine Parks Officers during a lesson.

Both IKO and Kiteboarding Australia instructors cannot teach on their own unless they have their own insurance policy covering them to teach the sport. Both governing bodies in Australia (IKO & KA) instructors insurance cover only cover the instructors IF they are working in any accredited school like ours, but not independently on their own. If an accident happens in a lesson, you would not be covered.

Activities such as kiteboarding carries a very high level of risks. You would not want to be learning from someone without insurance cover or proper professional qualifications. It is not just yourself you need to worry about, but say if you crash your kite onto another kiter, or someone on the beach, you would be fully liable for any damages to them, being injuries or property damage. You also want to be covered yourself, say if you break a leg and have to be off work for 3 months. Is it worth taking the risks learning from someone without the proper permits or insurance?

ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING

Brighton Hotel just 2km from Sandgate Beach. There are also plenty of AirBNBs in the area. 

As Sandgate is on the direct train line from Brisbane Central, many people choose to stay in the city. 

Contact us via the contact form if you require more advice.

SURF COURSE AND ACTIVITIES

For local packages, you will be allocated 4 hours of lessons/play time per day. Other than lessons, other programs include local sightseeing tours, islands visits to Moreton, Stradbroke, Bribie or Fraser Island.

Packages start from $600

What do I learn in the first lesson?

Kitesurfing:

For first lessons, you would normally spend about 30-45minutes on land, going through all the safety, theory, setup, and basic land drills, then the rest of your lesson will be on water.

You will be flying a full size kite, learning all you need about kite control, body dragging, relaunching and all essential kite skills. When you can demonstrate competency in kite control, you will be taught to ride the board. Riding the board normally happens in the second lesson. Learning how to kitesurf is like learning how to drive a car. Some people can get up riding within 3 hours, some may need longer.

We conduct an evaluation at the end of each lesson and give you a copy to take home. That way you know exactly what you have learnt and accomplished in that lesson, and what still needs to be learnt.

Kitesurfing is an extreme sport that carries a high degree of danger, so very important you have all the basic skills before going on your own.

You can also see our detailed lesson plan at the booking/payment page.

WingFoiling:

In your first lesson, you will spend about 30-45minutes on land, going through all the safety, theory, setup, and basic land drills, then the rest of your lesson is conducted on water.

Depending on wind conditions, the instructor may teach you on a paddleboard with a wing in the first water session, before progressing onto an actual wingfoil board.

You can also see our detailed lesson plan at the booking/payment page.

Windsurfing:

In your first lesson, you will spend about 30-45minutes on land, going through all the safety, theory, setup and basic land drills, then the rest of your lesson is conducted on water.

Over the 2 hours, you should learn all the skills to know how to sail out, turn around and sail back to shore, together with the basic self-rescue skills.

You will also receive a 10% discount code for all future lessons, and after your learning, you can lo claim back what you spent on the first 4 hours of lessons against any of our packages in stock.

Reedin and Mystic authorised reseller.

Full range of REEDIN Kites, Wings, Foils, Boards and MYSTIC harnesses, vests, wetsuits and quiver bags available for viewing, demo and purchase. We also have local dealers for other kite brands such as FlySurfer, Core, Slingshot, Airush, ParaWings such as Aeryn P1 & Flysurfer POW, eFoils Foil Drive & Flite, as well as accessories including Forward WIP, Woo, GoPro, Sharkbanz, to repair material from valves to patch tapes. Please enquire.

All equipment for the lesson is included, unless you have your own.

MORE INFO, HOW TO GET THERE & FAQ

Facilities at Sandgate (Food, toilets, showers) 

Sandgate has everything within 50m of the beach - toilets, showers, cafes and fish and chips, kids parks, even free BBQ.  

How to get to Sandgate?  

Sandgate Beach is about 10minutes walk from Sandgate Train Station. Sandgate station is on the Shorncliffe line, direct from Brisbane City. Train ride is only just over 30minutes from the City.   Sandgate also has bus services to and from the city and many other suburbs. Details: https://translink.com.au    

Parking  

Parking is all free along Sandgate beach.  

Refunds  

If a lesson is cancelled due to weather, you may opt for a refund or reschedule to a date that suits you. Note all refunds incur a 2% non-refundable card fee charged by Shopify.   There are no refunds on vouchers.  

Registration and indemnity form  

All participants must complete registration and indemnity form prior to booking confirmation.  

Storage facilities  

You are welcome to store your personal belongings securely in our van during your lesson. Whilst the van is kept locked at all times whilst unattended, we do not accept any liabilities for any loss or damage.

What should I wear?  

Wear comfortable clothing you can get in the water with. Cap and long sleeves shirts recommended for sun protection. Sunscreen and sunnies too. We have rash shirts and sunnies for sale. Please advise before 5pm the day before your lessons if you require them.    

What if weather is not suitable?  

as our activities are totally weather dependent, if the wind/weather is not suitable (i.e. too much or not enough wind), a text message will be sent to your mobile. So please ensure you check your mobile before leaving home on the day. If you do not hear from us, that means your session is on as scheduled.  

When should I arrive for my lesson?  

Arrive at least 10minutes before your booked in time.  

Where do I meet?  

Please meet your instructor at the Surf Connect’s van, which is parked opposite 164 Flinders Parade, Sandgate, Qld 4017. In case you are using GPS navigation to find us, make sure you type in ‘Sandgate’ after Flinders Parade as there are a few Flinders Parade around.

PACKAGES & PRICES

 Available all year round:

1 day 0 nights (activities only): $600
2 days 1 night: $1540
3 days 2 nights: $2380 -5% discount =$2261
4 days 3 nights: $3220 -5% discount =$3059
5 days 4 nights: $4060 -10% discount =$3654
6 days 5 nights: $4900 -12.5% discount =$4288
7 days 6 nights: $5740 -15% discount =$4879

Includes:

4 hours of activities per day (lessons or sight-seeing tours of your choice provided weather permits)
Airport and local transfers
Accommodation
Non-participating partners can stay at no additional costs, including transfers and local tours if so chosen. 

*Activities can be your choice of lessons on kitesurfing, windsurfing, wing-foiling, kite-foiling, parawing-foiling or Standup Paddleboarding, or sight seeing of your choice anywhere in Brisbane Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. For Sunshine or Gold Coast tours, it includes transportation and tour guide for 4 hours.  Addition hours is calculated at $150. All equipment included for lessons. Meals and drinks and entry fees to sight seeing venues excluded.