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C-Kite Festival

Luxury hotel C Mauritius Palmar, situated on the east coast of Mauritius, hosts the annual C Kite Festival, in conjunction with former World Champion Antoine Auriol. Our Editor Sarah was invited back for her second year, to the fourth edition of the festival, and had the best time, bumping into old friends and new, kiting all day, and dancing the night away…

THEKITEMAG ISSUE #63
PHOTOS: Ricardo Pinto
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If you subscribed to us this time last year you might remember that I attended the annual C Kite Festival in Mauritius. When I got the invite to go back this year (2025), I have to admit I was slightly apprehensive about attending a second time – would it be as fun or would it feel slightly déjà vu? Well I needn’t have worried – C Mauritius Palmar stepped it up a notch and brought the vibes! And the weather gods were on point as well – if anything, an already tropical island was even warmer and windier than last year – I was on my 9m most days.

As I said last year, the east coast of Mauritius is a fantastic place to kite with its spacious lagoons and flat-water perfect for beginners or improving your trick repertoire, and it makes for an ideal alternative to the busier Le Morne in the southwest. C Mauritius Palmar provides the perfect location on the lagoon – you can go from bed to board in seconds and lap up those awesome kiting conditions, then relax at the hotel spa or do any of the non-kiting activities on offer, and refuel on delicious meals and cocktails that are provided as part of the all-inclusive deal.

But I think what really made the C Kite Festival special for me were the people C Mauritius had invited along and the other kiters at the event. Kiting is an individual sport and it can be so easy to have a session then go home without talking to another soul, but alternatively it can provide a massive sense of community – as you’ll have read in The Wind Games, a few features back. Attending the festival were friendly faces I’d met before either at the event last year like the welcoming staff, Antoine, Louka Pitot, photographer Ricardo Pinto and videographer Diogo Cardoso, or old friends from the past: fellow UK kiters Tom Court and Hannah Whiteley, Julia Castro who I’d met in Fuerteventura where she lives, Gisela Pulido who took a break from her busy racing schedule to attend, and video editor Alice Callow, also a friend from the UK. Then there were new faces like Val Garat who I hadn’t met before, and the wonderfully effervescent Influencer Marco Ferrero, known as @iconize on Instagram – definitely check out his Reels if you don’t already know him.

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“I wasn’t sure what to expect at the C Kite Festival. What exactly had I signed up for… We all know Le Morne but I hadn’t heard anything about the spot on the east coast of Mauritius. Sometimes I go by the motto of YOLO – You Only Live Once – so it was time to check out what the east coast has to offer. From the moment I arrived I was quietly humbled. The setup of the festival was on point. Antoine and the organization certainly know how to do a festival right. The event is held directly at the beautiful big lagoon with its turquoise waters and just a few steps away from your room. If I was to describe this event in three words it would be luxury, surprising and welcoming. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was jam packed with fun activities and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The spot really impressed me as well. We had wind every day and so many good vibes with the riders and locals. It was beautiful and definitely on my list of places to go back to.”
Hannah Whiteley

 

“I’ve been to Mauritius a few times and it’s always an exciting destination, but I’d not had the opportunity to visit the east side of the island and stay at C Resorts. I really enjoyed the trip! It’s actually just what my body and mind needed – disconnecting a bit from racing and upcoming competitions. The spot was really really nice to kite, freeride and do some downwinders, but what I enjoyed the most was the crew and the passion we share – nature and sports all together. I want to thank everyone for the great times and great organization. The trip could not be any better! Back to reality now…”

Gisela Pulido

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“After meeting Antoine in the Sahara Desert over three years ago, it was clear that we were going to get on well. He is a person that I have come to respect as someone that really has an inspiring vision, not just for the future but also for kiting and the whole sport in general. The C Kite Festival is a manifestation of that – a collection of people from all sides of the water sports space, sailing, kiting, freestyle, Big Air and racing – that all share one thing: a true passion for what they do. Passion for the wind and passion for play and this has created a perfect synergy with C Mauritius Palmar. The spot is much less known than the legendary One Eye wave spot and has a totally different offering – serene beauty, perfect flat water, dreamy lagoons and epic downwinders – it has everything that is needed to host one of the most exciting events of the season.

It was my second year returning to this event and it stepped it up again, with some of my favorite international pro riders, some of whom I hadn’t seen for far too long, others team mates and true figureheads of the sport. After being involved in the kite world for over 25 years it can be hard to be surprised by an event, however they manage to do it every time at the C Kite Festival. Dedicated to the art of having fun, enjoying your surroundings, and cultivating an atmosphere of friendship and learning, it truly is a kite event like no other. If you are an adventurist like me, I couldn’t recommend it enough for the perfect, fun, freestyle location that delivers over and above anything that you could expect. I will see you there in 2026!”

Tom Court

“Attending the C Kite Festival in Mauritius had been a long-standing dream of mine, and finally making it a reality this year was truly special. After speaking with Antoine last year to secure the 2025 dates, I made sure to block my calendar, and it was absolutely worth it. The festival brought together an incredible mix of hotel guests, teammates, fellow kiters, and welcoming locals, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. One of the highlights was our catamaran trip, where we enjoyed the breathtaking views and shared laughs with new friends (including the sea urchins that are still in my foot). The parties were vibrant, full of energy, and showcased the unique Mauritian spirit. Watching the local kiters perform impressive tricks was inspiring and added to the excitement of the event. Returning to Mauritius for the first time since 2019, I found the experience even more rewarding which, I tell you, was very difficult to top, deepening my appreciation for the island and its passionate kiting community.”

Julia Castro

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There were also the local Mauritian kiters who participated in the amateur competition judged by the pros. There is so much talent on the island and it was awesome to see how their level had stepped up a notch from last year. I’m sure we’ll be seeing some of them on the international stage soon. There was more sense of community created when we all set off on a downwinder together, with much whooping and high-fiving along the way. When the kiting stopped at sundown, there were yoga sessions to stretch off those kiting muscles, then local musicians and DJs, DJ SamSax from the UK and flair bartender Andrei Borisik kept us entertained so we could dance the night away with the friends we’d made on the beach.

The atmosphere and vibe that C Mauritius has created at this festival is truly something special, and their attention to detail is superb. Thank you to the whole team for such a great event. And my particular highlight? On the last day we were treated to a catamaran trip. Launching our kites off the cat and kiting alongside the pros who were loving jumping over the boat and each other was so much fun. Then coming back to a cold beer and BBQ, plus more tunes and saxophone playing from DJ SamSax… well, it really doesn’t get any better than that…

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