KITESURFING HISTORY

20 - 21 Century

The Canary Islands obtained the right to self-govern in 1912.

In 1927, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote became part of the province of Gran Canaria.

By the 1940s the island had an airport (just west of Puerto del Rosario on the road to Tindaya, still visible today).

Tourism arrived in the mid-1960s with the building of the present airport at El Mattoral and the first tourist hotels.

The seat of the island government (cabildo insular) is in Puerto del Rosario. A total of 74,983 people (2003) live on the island.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

The world champianships are held here for these events from the end of July each year at Sotavento beach at near by Costa Calma.
When Fuerteventura beckons with its crystal clear and turquoise waters and guaranteed wind, the world's windsurfing and kiteboarding elite cannot resist. This is why the list of competitors read much like a „Who’s Who“ of windsurfing and kiteboarding. These wind riders could bank on ideal conditions on the island. As could spectators and the media. For them, Fuerteventura is also the perfect venue, since the wind blows from just the right direction to allow contests to be held very close to the beach.

In 2007 Windsurfers and Kiteboarders held a series of five events from July 20th to August 4th, all of them were rated world championship events. The 2007 edition offered disciplines with thrilling speed, spectacular freestyle moves and world class racing.

 

General History
The first settlers are believed to have arrived here from North Africa - the word Mahorero (Majorero) or Maho is still used today to describe the people of Fuerteventura and comes from the ancient word 'mahos' meaning a type of goatskin shoe worn by the original inhabitants. They lived in caves and semi-subterranean dwellings, a few of which have been discovered and excavated revealing relics of early tools and pottery. In antiquity, the island was known as Planaria, among other names, in reference to the flatness of most of its landscape.

In the 11th century BC, the Phoenician settlers arrived in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. In 850 BC, the island was mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey, the Canary Islands as Insulae Fortunata.

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