Kite school · Lo Stagnone & Marsala, Sicily
Kite Lab: Kitesurf School on the Main Lo Stagnone Spot, Sicily
IKO-affiliated school in the centre of Lo Stagnone: private or duo lessons by radio, new Duotone kites, and you pay at the end only for the hours you rode.
- IKO-affiliated centre
- Private or duo lessons only
- Pay only for the hours you ride
- Open late April to 31 October
In short
Kite Lab is an IKO-affiliated kite school on the central stretch of Lo Stagnone, the shallow lagoon between Marsala and Trapani, 20 to 30 m in front of Resort Santa Maria. It teaches only private and duo lessons, coached by radio, on new 2026 Duotone kites, from the end of April to 31 October.
There are no packages and no prepayment: lessons are planned day by day around the wind, and at the end of your stay you pay for the hours you rode, €70 an hour for the first four private hours and €60 after that (2026 price list). The water in front is flat and rarely deeper than 1 to 1.5 m, so you can stand up almost anywhere, and the school says most students ride their first runs after 6 to 10 hours.
At a glance
School Fit
- Certifications
- IKO-affiliated centre; IKO certificate on request (€10)
- Group size
- Private or duo only, no group classes; radio coaching
- Rescue / Safety
- Standing-depth water and a beachboy for launches; no rescue boat
- Season and hours
- Late April to 31 October; daily 10:00 to 19:00 (Google listing)
- Equipment
- New 2026 Duotone kites from 6 to 15 m; Duotone and Xenon boards
- Kids
- From about 8 under conditions, usually from 10 to 11 years and 25 to 30 kg
- Languages
- English, French and Polish
- Guest rating
- 4.9/5 on Google (245 reviews)
Verified with Kite Lab's official website (English, French and Polish pages) and Facebook post, its Google listing, and Resort Santa Maria's own listings · Updated October 2026
See the place
Video and Instagram
All the secret kitesurfing spots of Lo Stagnone - Sicily - Kite Lab
Kite Lab shows the lesser-known riding areas of the Lo Stagnone lagoon, which its spot page describes in detail.
Video: Kite Lab Sicily on YouTube
Wind forecast
7-day wind forecast at Lo Stagnone (Birgi)
Updated 2 Nov, 12:47
GO16–24 ktsOK12–15 ktsSTRONG25 kts and moreLIGHTunder 12 kts
Strongest wind and gusts of the day, in knots. Kite sizes are a rough guide for a rider of about 75 kg. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
Prices
Courses and prices
| Course | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Private lesson, first 4 hours | per hour | €70 |
| Private lesson, from the 5th hour | per hour | €60 |
| Duo lesson, first 4 hours | per hour, per person | €55 |
| Duo lesson, from the 5th hour | per hour, per person | €45 |
| Example: 6 private hours | 6 h | €400 |
| Example: 10 private hours | 10 h | €640 |
| Kite foil or wing foil lesson | per hour | Same as kite lessons |
| IKO certificate | once | €10 |
| Full rental set (kite, board, harness, accessories) | 1 day | €75, or €65 a day from 5 rentals |
| Kite only | 1 day | €60, or €55 a day from 5 rentals |
| Board only | 1 day | €25, or €20 a day from 5 rentals |
| Strapless or wave board | 1 day | €30 |
| Rental after a lesson, same day | same day | €50 |
| Shared rental, two people taking turns | 1 day | €100 |
From the school's 2026 price list. You pay at the end of your stay for the hours actually done, billed by the half hour, with no deposit. Prices may change: confirm with the school when you book.
Choose
Which course is right for you?
- Never flown a kite: book private lessons, or share them with a partner to save money; the school says the first hours are almost the same in a duo, and you can split up at any time.
- The usual path: kite control, body dragging and first water starts in about 6 hours, controlled runs in both directions by about 9, upwind riding and independence at around 12.
- Duo lessons make less sense from the water-start stage, or when two students' levels or weights are very different.
- Already riding: lessons start from your level, from upwind riding to transitions and first jumps.
- Independent riders: rent by the day once you can ride upwind, know the right of way and can self-rescue; a refresher lesson is available if you are unsure.
- Foilers and wingers: kite foil and wing foil lessons cost the same as kite lessons, on a short 45 cm mast suited to the shallow lagoon.
The spot
Wind and conditions at the station
The base sits in the middle of the roughly 2 km kite shore, the only part open to both north and south winds, so it works in most directions. In front, the bay is enclosed by Isola Santa Maria and Isola Grande: flat, warm and no deeper than 1 to 1.5 m, over sand, mud and seagrass with no rocks. Water shoes are not needed, and thin neoprene socks are sold at the school for sensitive feet.
In season Kite Lab counts 70 to 80% of days with at least 12 knots, usually four or five rideable days a week. From June to September thermals add a few knots and 14 to 18 knots is a typical day, while May and October bring more strong-wind days. Lesson times are set each afternoon from the next day's forecast. More about the lagoon in our Lo Stagnone kitesurf guide.
Safety
Safety and equipment
Every lesson is coached by walkie-talkie, so your instructor can correct you in real time, and the school tries to keep the same instructor for your whole stay. Kites are launched in the water with a beachboy or beachgirl, and because you can stand up almost anywhere the school uses no rescue boat; it adds that motorboats are not allowed in the reserve anyway.
The kites are replaced every season: Duotone Evo, Evo SLS, Dice SLS and the light-wind Juice, with several of each size so lessons always use the right one, plus small kites and mini harnesses, helmets and wetsuits for children. Harness, helmet, impact vest, wetsuit or neoprene top and leggings are included with lessons and rentals.
On site
Facilities and atmosphere
- A large, watered lawn for rigging, with no sand or dust blowing around
- Fresh-water shower and gear rinse, toilets, a compressor, WiFi and phone charging
- A shaded chill-out area with deckchairs and benches, where companions can relax and watch
- A changing room and storage for your belongings during sessions
- Free parking next to the base and a wooden jetty into the lagoon
- Four beach bars and three restaurants within about 100 m
Stay
Where to stay
Resort Santa Maria, the only hotel on the spot, is 20 to 30 m behind the base, with a pool and a restaurant. Kite Lab books rooms there, and at partner apartments and B&Bs in Birgi, many 100 to 400 m from the water, without charging a booking fee.
Book
Contact and booking
Send your dates, the number of people and your level by WhatsApp on +39 333 809 2544 (number on the English and Polish pages of the school's site) or +33 6 76 58 20 74 (French page), or use the form on the school's website. No deposit is needed: the school adds you to its calendar and plans your first lesson when you arrive. It can also arrange airport transfers and suggest accommodation.
Our take
Our verdict
Great for
- Beginners who want private or duo lessons and to pay only for the hours they ride
- English, French or Polish speakers
- Riders staying at Resort Santa Maria or in Birgi
Think twice if you are
- Anyone who wants group classes or a fixed weekly package
- Travelling between November and April, when the school is closed
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Kite Lab Sicily
How much do kite lessons cost at Kite Lab?
On the 2026 price list, private lessons cost €70 an hour for the first four hours and €60 after that; in a duo it is €55 and then €45 per person. Six private hours come to €400 and ten to €640. Confirm current prices with the school.
Do I have to book a course package in advance?
No. Kite Lab asks for no deposit or prepayment and sells no fixed packages: lessons are planned day by day around the wind, and you pay at the end of your stay for the hours completed, billed by the half hour.
Is Kite Lab IKO certified?
Yes. Kite Lab is an official centre affiliated with the IKO, the International Kiteboarding Organization, with certified instructors, and it can issue an IKO certificate at the end of your course for €10.
When is Kite Lab open?
From the end of April to 31 October; in 2026 the season runs from 26 April to 31 October. Its Google listing shows the base open every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
Can children learn to kitesurf at Kite Lab?
Yes. The school can start children from about 8 years old under some conditions, though in practice it usually begins around 10 or 11 years and 25 to 30 kg. It has small kites and child-size harnesses, helmets and wetsuits, and children are coached by radio.
How many hours does it take to learn to kitesurf at Lo Stagnone?
Kite Lab says 6 to 10 hours with an instructor are usually enough for your first runs, and around 12 hours to ride independently, upwind included. In a typical week with four or five windy days, students do 6 to 10 hours.
Where is Kite Lab?
On the central stretch of the Lo Stagnone kite spot, at Contrada Birgi Vecchi 380 in Marsala, 20 to 30 m in front of Resort Santa Maria. Trapani Birgi airport is about 10 minutes away by car.
Does Kite Lab teach wing foiling?
Yes. Kite foil and wing foil lessons cost the same as kite lessons and use a short 45 cm mast suited to the shallow lagoon.
Sources
Last checked October 2026
- Kite Lab (official site)
- Kite Lab: courses and price list (official)
- Kite Lab: rental and shop (official)
- Kite Lab: practical info and FAQ (official)
- Kite Lab: the spot and the base (official, in French)
- Kite Lab: Resort Santa Maria (official)
- Kite Lab: Polish home page (official)
- Kite Lab: 2026 season dates on Facebook (official post)
- Google Maps: Kite Lab Sicily
We only publish facts we could confirm with the official website or two independent sources. Spotted something out of date? Write to info@kitesurf.holiday.