The Dominican Republic is known as the kiteboarding capital of the world among those who travel the water sports circuit. In fact, the Kiteboarding World Cup has been held in the Dominican Republic town of Cabarete the past four years. In this area on the North Coast, the perfect blend of wind, water and waves create incomparable kiteboarding and windsurfing conditions. Windsurfers also flock to the wind and make an annual pilgrimage to Cabarete for the annual World Cup Windsurfing Competition held every June. Hotels that cater to kiteboarders and windsurfers are dotted along the golden beaches of Cabarete's &Kite Beach. The opportunity to mingle with some the world's greatest athletes and hear tales of catching the perfect wind are around every corner. The southern coastal waters just west of Santo Domingo are also speckled with the bright colored sails of windsurf boards. But, these are not the only boards to be found in the Dominican Republic. Surf boards also hit the waves in search of the perfect point break and ride on the barrels. Kiteboarding One of the fastest growing water sports, this surfing-like activity uses a huge kite to capture the wind as participants balance on a board. Kiteboarding rentals are available up and down Kite Beach in Cabarete. Visitors looking to try the sport can easily find experienced kiteboarders offering instruction. A variety of techniques are used at the schools including radio helmets during instruction so immediate feedback is provided to the student for quicker learning and more time on the board. Windsurfing Equipment is available for rental through most hotels in Cabarete and lessons can be arranged with a variety of vendors. Two of the main providers are the Carib Bic Center, which has been providing instruction and boards for nearly 20 years, and Iguana Mama. In addition to Cabarete on the north coast, the southwest coast also provides excellent windsurfing. The beaches of Las Salinas and Las Calderas Bay are windsurfing launching points for many locals as the area is less crowded than Cabarete. While the policy is bring-your-own-board because at present time there no rental facilities in the area, the benefits of finding the perfect wind are well-known among locals. Surfing From the area of Puerto Plata and east to Playa Grande, 16 surfing spots have been identified along the North Coast for their regional classic to standard wave quality. The best season to surf along the north coast is December through March, when the region can get waves up to 14-feet high. El Encuentro is one of the most famous reef breaks in the DR and is only a 10-minute drive from Cabarete. Additional breaks are just left of El Encuentro such as Coco Pipe and La Preciosa, which has often been referred to as a world class point break surfing location. The Southern Coast is also a magnet for hanging ten. Over 20 identified surfing spots dot the coastline beginning at the Haitian boarder in the west to near La Romana in the east. Either coast has locations for different levels of surfers: beginning, experienced and professional, or kamikazes, as some surfers say. And the DR's menu of waves is appealing to just about every surfer including: point break, beach break, reef coral, sand bar, reef rocky and rivermouth. Several surf camps lasting from one day to two weeks are popping up on the lush north coast. Cabarete's Surf Camp, also known as Ali's Surf Camp, is one of the best known and even offers surf accommodations from cottages to apartments. www.cabaretesurfcamp.com