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KITE OPTIONS? Opt for the 9 and 12. WHICH WETSUIT? Summertime: Boardies, bikinis and sunscreen. Winter: a full wettie to keep off the wind chill. BEER €2 | $2.30 | £1.80 TYPICAL DINNER You’re in Sicily, so there’s a couple of staples to try… A good local Pizza will set you back about €7, and then the local specialty is the popular seafood dish Couscous Alla Trapanese, which is, frankly, delicious. All of this can be washed down with a good and authentic Marsala wine, and perhaps followed up with a Sicilian pastry, made with ricotta cream.
closest airport). Siting right on the huge lagoon, it is open all year round and enjoys reliable wind conditions. There is ample space to launch and land, right on the beach and also a grassy, spacious beginner’s area close by too. There’s no shortage of accommodation options close by.
LATE NIGHT… When the sun goes down (and for that you should really head to Mamacura, as it’s pretty special) then you have options for local nightlife, including an open air disco at Chiedilaluna, just a few minutes out of Lo Stagnone, and beyond that the buzzing center of Marsala, where you can enjoy a range of live music while sipping a good cocktail. GETTING THERE The closest airport to Lo Stagnone at just 5 minutes’ drive is the Trapani Birgi airport, accessible from many European cities. Alternatively, Palermo International airport is only 100km away, and an easy drive. If you’re heading in by car from Europe, the Genova to Palermo ferry runs daily.
WHEN IS BEST TO GO?
THE LOWDOWN
The winds are steady all year on the westernmost part of Sicily and the air and water temperatures are generally pretty high. The resort of Lo Stagnone is perfectly positioned on the shores of a large, sandy and shallow flat-water lagoon, part of a very picturesque nature reserve. It’s ideal for learners and advanced riders too, with a multitude of little islands on the farther reaches of the lagoon, and plenty of scope for exploring the salt pans and salina walls. KITING SET UP
ProKite Alby Rondina is the main kite school in Lo Stagnone, which is situated halfway between the cities of Marsala and Trapani (the latter having the
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Lo Stagnone happens to be one of the windiest kitesurfing locations in the whole of Italy, getting a solid 300 days of wind per year, with a summer average of 16 knots, and an air temperature of 25-30 Celsius. Through the rest of the year, the winds are a little less reliable, but also a little stronger, creating unique and fun new spots across the lagoon. In winter, the strength tends to increase again, and wetsuits are advised. NO WIND?
Sicily is rich in culture and history, so you’ll never get bored when the wind drops. Favignana island, near Lo Stagnone, has an abundance of beautiful beaches to laze around on, or you can take a cable car up to the historical mountain village of Erice, not far from Trapani, which itself is also worth visiting. Staying close to base, take in the vast saltpans and windmills that are dotted around the lagoon, or just take out an SUP or a bike and keep it nice and simple!
