About

World Class Kiteboarding Academy is a college-preparatory 9th through 12th grade high school built around students’ passion for kiteboarding. Each school year our teachers, coaches, and students travel to four of the world’s top kiteboarding destinations, learning during the day and riding after class.

The Kiteboarding Academy is grounded in academic progression, mentorship, teamwork, and life experience. We are first and foremost a school, and we are brought together by a common passion for kiteboarding. Our experienced faculty, who double as coaches and mentors, are some of the strongest athletes in the sport of kiteboarding and bring a demonstrated passion for learning and progression to the classroom.

Our athletic program develops well-rounded riders. Daily training combines kiteboarding sessions with strength, cardio, and flexibility work designed to promote progression and prevent injury. Students arrive at the Kiteboarding Academy at a range of skill levels and leave prepared for the next chapter of life, on and off the water.

The Kiteboarding Academy is one of five programs within World Class Academy, a 501(c)(3) private high school founded in 2001. Our five academies (Kayak, Kiteboarding, Climbing, Surfing, and Mountain Biking) share a belief that the best education happens when learning and passion go hand in hand.

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Applying to the Kiteboarding Academy

The Kiteboarding Academy has a rolling admissions process. Applications for the following school year open in September, and our team reviews them in the order they are received. Students apply through TADS, our tuition management platform. The Kiteboarding Academy application includes several short-answer questions, an athletic resume, and a request for athletic references. Students may submit a financial aid application at the same time, which will require additional materials, including a tax form reflecting the applicant’s family’s combined income.

Once we receive your application, your Head of School, Polly Crathorne, will reach out to arrange an interview. Our team delivers acceptance decisions within two to three weeks of applying, while financial aid decisions will come in waves, typically in January and May.

When evaluating applicants, WCA considers each student’s academic record, athletic accomplishments, character, and demonstrated motivation to excel as a student, athlete, and respectful global citizen. World Class Academy seeks students who make responsible choices, bring a strong work ethic, and are genuinely excited to be part of a team.

World Class Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, or ethnic origin in its admissions policies, educational programs, athletic programs, or any other school-administered activities.

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Destinations & Schedule

Destinations

  • Brazil

    Brazil

    Aug. 23rd - Oct. 3rd

    August 23rd

    Students arrive in Fortaleza, Brazil (FOR)

    August 24th - October 2nd

    Quarter One in Brazil

    October 3rd

    Students Depart from Fortaleza, Brazil (FOR)

    October 4th - 24th

    Fall Break

  • South Africa

    Kiteboarder riding on turquoise water with Table Mountain and Lion's Head in the background, Cape Town, South Africa

    South Africa

    Oct. 25th - Dec. 12th

    October 25th

    Students arrive in Cape Town, South Africa (CPT)

    October 26th - December 11th

    Quarter Two in South Africa

    December 12th

    Students depart from Cape Town, South Africa (CPT)

    December 13th - January 16th

    Winter Break

  • Colombia

    Aerial view of kiteboarders on a turquoise lagoon and sandbar in Colombia

    Colombia

    Jan. 17th - Mar. 6th

    January 17th

    Students arrive in Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ)

    January 18th - March 5th

    Quarter Three in Colombia

    March 6th

    Students depart from Santa Marta, Colombia (SMR)

    March 7th - 27th

    Spring Break

  • Canary Islands (Spain)

    Kiteboarder sending a big air jump over the ocean in the Canary Islands

    Canary Islands (Spain)

    Mar. 28th - May. 8th

    March 28th

    Students arrive in Gran Canaria (LPA)

    March 29th - May 7th

    Quarter Four in Gran Canaria and Tenerife

    May 8th

    Graduation in Tenerife

    May 9th

    Students depart from Tenerife (TFS)

Schedule

Semester 1

  • Quarter 1: August 23rd - October 3rd

    August 23rd

    Students arrive in Fortaleza, Brazil (FOR)

    August 24th -26th

    Student Orientation and Start of Classes

    August 24th - October 2nd

    Known for its steady and reliable wind. The team will start in Taiba, Ceara, home to the world famous lagoon and wave riding on the ocean. Then transition to Macapa, Piaui, on the mouth of Rio Camurupim with sandbars and mangroves that create a flat water playground at low tide.

    October 3rd

    Students and faculty depart from Fortaleza, Brazil (FOR)

    October 4th - 24th

    Fall Break

  • Quarter 2: October 25th - December 12th

    October 25th

    Students and faculty arrive in Cape Town, South Africa (CPT)

    October 26th - December 11th

    The quarter starts in Witsand, a renowned flatwater spot in the Breede river estuary with day trips to wave spot Stilbai. Before making a base in Blouberg, Cape Town, renowned for its strong southeaster wind – the ‘Cape Doctor’- and clean waves and home of Red Bull King of the Air.

    December 7th - December 11th

    Finals Week

    December 12th

    Students and faculty depart Cape Town, South Africa (CPT)

    December 13th - January 16th

    Winter Break

Semester 2

  • Quarter 3: January 17th - March 6th

    January 17th

    Students arrive in Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ)

    January 18th

    Student Orientation & Start of Spring Semester

    January 18th - March 6th

    The itinerary begins in Santa Veronica, before transitioning to La Guajira desert region on the Caribbean coast. The team will be based in Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, two remote spots renowned for the relentless northeast trade winds accelerated by the peninsula and the desert thermal effects.

    March 6th

    Students and faculty depart from Santa Marta, Colombia (SMR)

    March 7th - 27th

    Spring Break

  • Quarter 4: March 28th - May 8th

    March 28th

    Students and faculty arrive in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (LPA)

    March 29th - May 7th

    Alisios, the northeast trade winds and Atlantic swell hits the Canary Islands in the northern hemisphere spring months. The itinerary kicks off in Vargas, Gran Canaria, with exploration missions to Maspalomas Dunes, and the more advanced, Pozo Izquierdo. Then, the team flies to neighbouring Tenerife, to El Médano, to enjoy the sideshore winds and kickers of South Bay, Harbour Wall and Cabezo.

    May 3rd - May 7th

    Finals Week

    May 7th

    Parent Appreciation Dinner

    May 8th

    Graduation Ceremony in Tenerife

    May 9th

    Students, parents, and faculty depart from Tenerife, Canary Islands (TFS)

Ready to start your adventure?

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Kiteboard Faculty

Coaching & Equipment

Kiteboarding at World Class

World Class Kiteboarding Academy is committed to developing the world’s top junior kiteboarders and investing in each student as an individual. Students at World Class enter our program with a range of experience and skill. All students will be pushed and supported to reach their personal goals. At the Kite Academy, being an athlete means training hard, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, showing up for teammates, and continuously refocusing on individual and team goals. Our coaches and teachers do not just support our students from the sidelines; they share in the journey and experience as well.

While kiting is an individual sport, at World Class Academy we are first and foremost a team. Students push each other physically and mentally, building an atmosphere of safety, cooperation, and excellence that defines life at WCA.

Safety is a fundamental part of everything we do at World Class. Staff and students work together to uphold our safety and risk management procedures, maintaining an environment where training, learning, and growth can all happen with confidence.

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Training

At World Class Kite Academy, kite training is structured around three pillars: kite training, physical preparation, and mental preparation. Our athletic program is designed to help students meet their individual athletic aspirations. Some of our athletes work to compete at a professional level, while others challenge themselves to progress without adding the pressure of competition. Throughout all our training, we emphasize enjoying the sport and kiting as a team sport.

Students participate in daily kite sessions designed to strengthen foundational skills, improve their technique and expand their trick repertoire. We emphasize training tricks across disciplines — freestyle, big air, old school, wave — and in all wind conditions. Each quarter, we hold fun school-wide competitions to help students gain competitive experience. Students are coached through technique-building drills, on-water analysis, practice competition heats, filming and evening video review, and freeride sessions. The team may be split into groups based on ability or session goals.

Equipment

Students need to arrive at World Class Kite Academy with everything they need for school, daily life, and kiteboarding. A commitment to staying organized and taking care of gear and equipment is essential. WCA will provide online textbooks for individual courses, however students will be required to purchase their own books each quarter for all Literature classes.

Each student is expected to bring their own kite gear. This includes:

  • Two or three kites
  • Bar and lines with a spare set of lines
  • Harness and safety leash
  • Kite line knife
  • Kite pump
  • Helmet and impact vest
  • Basic kite repair kit
  • Wetsuit

A more comprehensive list is found in the pre-course packet. Discounts are available through the school for North Kiteboarding, Mystic Boarding, Duotone, and Ion water products.

We require students to carry their own personal first aid kits for minor ailments or needs such as aches, pains, blisters, and scratches. In addition to these personal kits, the faculty will maintain the school’s advanced first aid kits for more serious concerns and emergencies while in the field.