Beach Walk, Whitstable — a hundred metres from the water. We opened in 1982 as Whitstable Windsurfing, and we've been on this beach ever since.
Have a look round
Easier to show you than tell you:
We ride the beach we sell from
That sounds like a slogan, so here's what it actually means in practice.
The Street — the shingle spit off Tankerton — works from about three hours after high water through to three hours before the next high, and it's at its best around five hours after. On a spring tide with a cross-shore wind you get the full six-hour window. On a neap, or if the wind swings northerly and holds the water in the bay, it tightens to about three and a half hours either side.
Nobody can tell you that from a warehouse. We've written the whole lot down in our Whitstable kitesurfing and wing foiling guide, and we keep tide times and conditions current on the site.
The same knowledge is why we can tell you that most local riders run a 12, 9 and 7, that lighter riders shift the whole set down to a 10, 8 and 6, and that the kite foilers here rarely go above a 10m because they're on the water on days the twin-tips are still sat on the shingle.
Where that matters when you're buying
- Wetsuits. Sizing runs differently between brands and a suit that's one size out will flush cold water every session. You can try C-Skins, O'Neill and Rip Curl back to back in the shop. More on wetsuit fitting.
- Kite sizes. The right quiver depends on your weight and where you ride, not on what's discounted this week.
- Board volume. Shallow estuary water changes what works. What suits a Cornish beach break doesn't necessarily suit the Thames Estuary.
- Foil setups. Depth matters here. Tankerton Point works within 2.5 hours either side of high water for anything on a foil — outside that you're walking.
Fewer brands, more depth
We'd rather stock a proper range of sizes in kit we know inside out than a thin spread of everything.
Kites and foils from Duotone, F-One, North, Harlem, Ensis and SabFoil. Wetsuits from C-Skins, O'Neill and Rip Curl. Paddleboards and inflatable kayaks from Sandbanks Style and Red Paddle, hard kayaks from Tootega. Clothing from Patagonia, Mystic and Dakine.
Second-hand, too
We take and sell second-hand kitesurfing, windsurfing and wing foiling gear alongside the new stuff. It's how a lot of people add a size to the quiver without adding much to the credit card, and it's how plenty of people got started in the first place.
What people say
We're on 4.9 out of 5 from 89 Google reviews. We'd rather you had a good day on the water than sold you something — if the forecast's wrong for what you're planning, we'll tell you, even if it means you don't buy anything today.
Come down, or shop online
Board-Worx
Beach Walk, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2BP
01227 276566 · info@board-worx.com
Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 5.00pm. Sundays 10am – 1pm through the summer. Free parking, and the beach is a two-minute walk.
We're fifteen minutes from Canterbury and a short drive from Herne Bay, Faversham and Margate. If you're further afield, everything on the site ships across the UK — free over £50.
Common questions
How long has Board-Worx been going?
Since 1982. We opened as Whitstable Windsurfing and changed the name as the shop broadened out into kitesurfing, wing foiling, paddleboarding and surf.
Can I get advice before buying?
Yes, and we'd rather you did. Ring 01227 276566 or come in. We ride these beaches ourselves, so we can tell you what actually works here rather than what the catalogue says.
Do you sell second-hand gear?
Yes — second-hand kitesurfing, windsurfing and wing foiling boards and kit, alongside new equipment.
Where is Board-Worx?
Beach Walk, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2BP, about a hundred metres from the sea. Free parking, fifteen minutes from Canterbury.