Blakes Travels C2SKY Kite Center

MACKite Location Review on C2SKY kite Center

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The location: 

• Location: Mũi Ne,Southern Vietnam, South China Sea.
• Nearest airport:  Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) 4-6 hour bus ride. 
• Season: November- April with winds all year.
• Wind: 25-35 knots
• Average kite size: 4-9m during windy season.
• Beach: Miles of sandy coastline with 27 kite schools.
• Break: Flat water close to shore and sandbar break with kickers 100 meters out.
• Kite School: 12 multilingual IKO instructors available to teach all levels and skillsets.

Places to check out:

• BEST kiteboarding center with equipment rental.
• First NeilPryde CR-X demo center in the world with foilboard training, boardercross, course racing and foil racing events.
• The kite center provides information about budget or resort accommodations, how to get there from the airport, and best places in town to eat.

What to do:

• The kite center has an amazing beach club with sofas, hammocks and beanbags to lounge in and a restaurant on the beach with a extensive menu. 
• Food ranges anywhere from $1-$10 a meal and beer ranges from 50 cents for a Saigon local brew to $1.50 for imports.
• They also have a beach workout setup so you can get warmed up with pull ups, dips, stretching or practicing handle passes on the hanging kite bar. Gotta keep those muscles limber!
• Beach boys are there to rig your gear, launch and land you, and there’s a jet ski should you need rescuing.
• Freestyle, wakestyle, and even wave kiting conditions can be found here aplenty.

My experience:

A couple of friends and I went on a two-month trip to explore a road less travelled - to be specific, Southeast Asia. We started in the mountains of Northern Thailand and trekked our way over to Cambodia. Personally, this eye-opening journey came with a cost. Despite our trek, five weeks without seeing the ocean left me feeling restless for some salt and sun.

We hit the beaches in Shinoukville, Cambodia and got a taste of the ocean.

We stayed for two days and then took the sleeper bus to cross the border into Vietnam. One night in Saigon (more commonly called Ho Chi Minh City) was quite the experience. The traffic there is total chaos and crossing the street feels like you’re in a game of Frogger. The best thing about this city was a chance encounter with a British gentleman at our hostel who told me where the kite beach was and how they were hosting a competition the next day. Naturally, I wrote down all of the information and emailed Liz, the owner of the school, that I was interested in entering the competition. Normally I don't compete, but if it meant I could get out on the water in Vietnam and use gear then I would do anything. She told me that they would love to have me and are excited about the fact that I wanted to compete!

That night, I bought the earliest bus ticket possible for the next day to Mui Ne where the kite school is located. For those of you who have never been to Asia, the buses are quite a unique experience. If you are 5’6” or taller, then you will not fit in your bed and it will be a long ride with few bathroom breaks, but hey - what’s adventure without a little hardship?

As you arrive in Mũi Ne, the first thing you notice is the abundance of kite schools. We booked two nights at Backpackers Village Hostel, which is $4 a night for an 8 person dorm bed. After going into the first ten kite schools along the strip, we were a little overwhelmed so we went to the C2SKY kite center to see what the competition was all about.

What is CR-X? 

Until last week, I had no clue either. Now, a week later, I have fully immersed myself in this new chapter of kiteboarding, and what I thought to be a freestyle competition turned out to be a kiteboarding movement. CR-X isn't just another brand of kiteboarding gear; instead, it provides you with a specific line of boards, kites and bars that are designed for racing, boardercross and foilboarding. This eliminates a handicap for those who don't have the latest and greatest gear and solely focuses on rider ability and skill to win in competition.

The best thing about CR-X is that they welcome all abilities of riders to compete, have fun, and test their abilities. I have never competitively raced but I entered the CR-X chapter in Mũi Ne, Vietnam because they were so welcoming and excited to get people involved. You don't have to win - just get out there, push yourself, and have a great time on the water with some top of the line gear!

This line was released by NeilPryde in mid -September exclusively in Vietnam and they are having a second event in Miami mid-October. What are the chances that I would run into this event the month before it makes its way to Florida while traveling Vietnam?

The movement is CR-X.

Blake Olsen

A Michigan boy through and through (even though he was born in Saudi Arabia), Blake is a youth with a lifetime of experiences and adventures. Not only that, he's passionate about sharing his zest for life with others. He is proficient at many fields, including kiteboarding and acting as concierge to any who simply ask. Looking for an adventure? Well, Blake is your guy. From sailing the Gulf and the Caribbean to backpacking Hawaii and Southeast Asia, he knows his stuff and can make your vacation into an adventure. 

Webpage: BlakeTheOlsen.com
Instagram: @BlakeTheOlsen
Facebook: BlakeOlsen

If you have any questions about kiteboarding or traveling while kiteboarding.feel free to contact MACkite