Micheline on our vacation we visited real to just check out the shop and see what was going on. The gorgeous store and has multiple and numerous items of various prices available. They have everything from clothes to souvenirs to kiteboard surfboard but in much anything you want. I found having the restaurant on the water and being able to get a drink was very relaxing and we weren't having the best weather so it was a good place to hang your hat on a gloomy day. The staff seemed well informed, knowledgeable but they were a bit pushy. Finally the weather was safe for paddle boarding & we all spent a few hours participating in this sport. Many had done this prior to this visit & vouched for my nonexistent knowledge & experience. Once on the water to anyone watching, my lack of experience was obvious, LOL. My friend kind of circled around me, to protect me from Real's prying eyes. Their lessons were spot on & they had me appearing knowledgeable, yet clumsy, very quickly. A great, new fun experience. I guess alone or with friends, it is a great way to spend a few hours. We even just sat on our boards & talked. A fun time was had by all. The staff can be a bit overwhelming & prices for kite boarding were much higher than KHK. What's a girl to do? When on vacation, go with the flow, in this case literally! read more

I had an issue with a high ticket item. Normally in this industry they won't even listen. However, Phil at Real Watersports worked as a liaison between myself and the surfboard manufacturer. Needles to say Phil got it worked out and he got a replacement to me quickly. I always try my local shops first, but if I am looking for something surf related and can't find it locally, Real Watersports will be the next go to shop These guys are great. Chuck Nichols San Diego, CA read more

A friend and I visited Real Watersports after buying a Groupon. My experience with the company and guide were shady. I believe the company used the Groupon to manipulate customers into believing they'd be allowed to surf or kiteboard and then forcing them to paddle board, all for an hour less time than promised. Here is a version of what I sent Groupon as a complaint. (My money was refunded.) "I live in Norfolk, Va., about three hours from the Outer Banks. I figured that this Groupon would make it worth the road trip with a friend: Real Watersports advertised in the Groupon for a waterman's package, $50 for a $100 value. The Groupon implies we can choose surfing, kite boarding or stand-up paddle boarding. My friend and I had already been paddle-boarding but were excited to try surfing. We called ahead and were told surfing could not be guaranteed because of wind conditions but that we could kite board if that were the case. We were good with that. Kite boarding sounded just as exciting. We arrived July 30, and guide Rian told us the Waterman's package was a option up to the company, not us, of paddleboarding, kiteboarding or surfing - and that the conditions that day were ideal only for paddle boarding. We had never been told that neither surfing nor kiteboarding would be an option. We never would have driven so far if we had known. We asked if kiteboarding would be at all possible and were told no - that because of wind conditions we could not. So we got on the water to paddle board. We saw multiple people from Real Watersports kiteboarding despite what Rian told us. Paddleboarding lasted 1 hour. The Groupon clearly stated we'd get 2. On the drive back, Rian urged us to come back to surf - paying $100 for 2 hours of lessons. We should have had that already! When we returned from the trip, a guide in the attached Real Watersports restaurant asked us if we'd just gotten back from kiteboarding. Hard to believe kiteboarding wasn't available if other guides thought we'd been doing that." The facilities are Real Watersports are very nice, and the guides were spoke with were friendly and helpful; however based on this experience I will never go back and would never recommend the place to friends or anyone. read more

Three parts to this review: the kiting, the accommodations, and the school/shop. 1. The kiting - 2 stars The reason to go to Real Kiteboarding is, obviously, to Kiteboard. On that front, it can be a huge letdown. The basic problem with Real has nothing to do with the company, but the island itself: the wind just isn't very good. I'm usually pretty good about research. But I'd heard about Hatteras from Real's DVDs, and pretty much bought the line on Real's (sadly inaccurate) website, "In Cape Hatteras, North Carolina we get to kite 20 or more days a month, 12 months a year." So I planned a trip for June. What rubbish. Of 6 days, 1 was kiteable. Now obviously wind is somewhat random, and there's always going to be some chance the wind doesn't blow for a long stretch. But once I was there and sitting on the couch, I started to look at the data for myself. ikitesurf.com archives indicate about 25% of days in June are kiteable. I should have looked first; hopefully anyone reading this does the same thing. The one day we did have wind (18-22 mph), the Real slick was awesome. So the wind isn't reliable. Does that mean you shouldn't go? Well, if you're close by (say, Raleigh), and can drive down when the wind is good, then it's totally fine. But it makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE to go to Hatteras if you're going to have to fly. Go to someplace with more reliable wind, like Sherman Island in northern California. Thankfully there's some fun stuff to do on the island except kite. There are some nice dune hikes. The beaches are plentiful and amazing. 2. Accommodations at Watermen's - 4 Stars The Watermen's facility is new (opened in April, 2009) and well appointed. Our two bedroom unit had multiple flat screens, granite counters, hardwood: the whole bit. One unstated downside: Real won't let Watermen's guests launch/land during peak times. Which is kind of one of the main reasons to stay at Watermen's. 3. On the shop - 3 stars The shop is nice and well stocked. The launch area is wonderful. Everyone wants to sell you lessons. You walk in and the first thing you hear is, "Are you hear for a lesson?" I've been kite boarding for a while; no thanks. The demo prices are pretty steep; best to bring your own stuff. Since this business seems to make a lot of its money through lessons, it's obviously in its interest to run as many lessons as possible. Unfortunately this means Real is taking people out in suboptimal conditions. I saw plenty of beginner lessons go out in 10-12 mph winds, which just sucks for the student because it's going to be hard and frustrating, and a poor beginner isn't going to know that the reason their kite is falling out of the sky is because there's not enough wind. Beware. Overall: 2 stars From an out of towner's perspective, there's no reason to go here to kite. Unreliable wind. Long way to travel. There are much better places to go, for seasoned kite boarders or beginners. read more

This place forces you to wear a mask. If you don't have one you must buy it for $16. The lady at the door was rude.

In the middle of our 3-hour lesson, we were told we needed booties, and if we didn't have them we would have to buy them from their store, AND THIS WOULD COUNT AS LESSON TIME!!! They did not have my size, but I had to buy something anyway to continue the lesson. So we spent 20 minutes of the lesson buying stuff that doesn't fit. What's even worse is that i had asked ahead of time if I should bring anything, and they said no, they provided gear for the lesson. read more

BEWARE This business needs to figure how to improve their shipping practices! I paid to upgrade my shipping service to get my wetsuit in time to kite all Memorial weekend in the gorge. NOT.... They are so far out in the middle of nowhere and their surf head employees can't figure out how to make it happen, unfortunately. When I finally got my tracking number, FedEx says they shipped it ground, what's up with that? read more

I have been into water sports for over 30 years. The one thing I can not stand is walking into a shop and having the people that work there make you feel like you're doing them the favor. Not at Real Watersports (RWS). I've purchased over 40 boards, 10 wetsuits & countless fins, pads, etc., over the years, but Randall over at RWS stood out during my latest buy. He took time to listen and got me what I needed! I think they must have new customer service so think you should check them out again. Funny that now I am buying stuff on the East Coast even though I live in SoCal!?! They're becoming like the Amazon.com of watersports! read more

So, I think this place deserves a two part review. The first - the lesson and camp center and the second the retail operation. A buddy of mine recommended Real as 'the place' to learn to kite. So I went down. They run an outstanding camp. The first thing that struck me was the instructor to student ratio - my session had 6 people, and 3 instructors coaching. They broke us into groups of 2 (1 instructor and a jet ski per group). From there they taught us from the beginning - kite skills, body dragging, self rescue, set up and maintenance. As I have progressed in my riding I can not tell you how important this was to my riding. I see people on the beach with little training nearly kill themselves, or lose boards as they can not get back to them in 20 knot winds with chop slapping them in the face. I had Ed as an instructor, who was incredible - you could tell that he wanted us to get up and ride. And when we screwed up, he made us work to figure out how to get out of trouble. So if you are looking into camps, hit Real up - you will not be disappointed. Since I learned I have been impossible to keep off the water. Every time I see tree tops moving, I'm checking to see if I can get a session in. Facility is incredible - brand new, well kept, clean and friendly. Watermans Retreat is also a great (and incredibly convenient) place to shack up for a few days. Second part - the retail operation. I've bought nearly all of my gear from Real as I believe in loyalty, and it's important for me to know who is giving me gear recos especially considering the plethora of kite/board companies popping up. They have an incredible selection of gear - from the top companies and their pricing is always competitive. Every time I call/e-mail I get a quick and informed answer. Now, in the interest of full disclosure - I did have to chase down two of my orders with them as they were overlooked. Needless to say - all was ironed out, and one of the owners reached out to apologize and let me know he was aware of the mistake. This was a big deal to me, as mistakes happen, but to have them reach out and acknowledge the mistake and see how they could rectify the problem was far more important to me. read more

Customer service is terrible. Sent me a blemished board and expected me to pay for return shipping. They stopped responding to my emails completely. Buy somewhere else, don't support this business read more

It is good to hear you guys now let guests use the water features...again. As my initial review stated, we were given the impression guests would be allowed to use features... but when we arrived we were told "no", regardless of agreeing to sign a waiver and wear a helmet. Employees that we dealt with at the time less than sympathetic. Meanwhile we got to watch some Real pro or semi pro have a solo slider/kicker session. Will most likely not return. read more

Good selection of goods. Nice layout. Inattentive employees. Not really impressed with the customer service experience. Prices are typical of a surf shop for name brands. Wouldn't stop again unless in a pinch. read more

I have been using Real Watersports for kitegear, travel and instruction for several years now, and am thoroughly impressed by their professionalism and quality of product, service and support. Based off of the recommendation of Outside Magazine and video of their instructors on the Discovery channel, my father and I booked their kite instruction camps, and were impressed by the organized curriculum, energetic instruction, and attention to safety. The location is in sleepy Waves NC, but the energy at the site is invigorating. The associated Waterman's Retreat offers classy, clean housing that overlooks their private launch, which kept the family in comfort and style - as well as in the heart of all the activity. Outside of the Real compound, the Outer Banks is a mellow, relaxing area that reminds me of what life on the coast was supposed to be like on the coast in the 50's - just don't expect a raging party scene. There is often live music and festivities on their large back deck, but this area shuts down early by city standards. Everyone is on the water early, and too exhausted to move by the time the sun sets anyway. Speaking of the conditions, the area is famous for its waist deep water on the sound side, and rolling waves on the ocean side. This in combination with the constant, steady winds sets up an ideal learning situation, as their private launch in the shallow flats keeps you out of the crowds at the more advanced sites on both the sound and ocean side of the barrier chain. This allows for maximized instruction at the beginner level and the ability to change conditions as you advance or the conditions in the area change, keeping you on the water in a wide variety of conditions. They recognize that weather is not always accommodating and work this into their camp agendas, as well as providing other opportunities to try other sports if the conditions do not cooperate with your planned sport trip. If you have no interest in surfing or standup or kiting if the weather doesn't cooperate with the one that brought you to the area, they are excellent about rescheduling or working out ways to maximize your experience or credit. The instruction at Real is first rate. It is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Their camps have focused goals and good instructor ratios to keep you safe and engaged and progressing, and when you are not in their camps, they are still entirely open to questions and pointers, and police their area to maintain safety for all riding in the area. The staff is young and energetic, and I rarely go a trip without kiting with a visiting pro or drinking a beer with a gear designer, which adds to the depth of the experience. The instructors, store staff and owners are very accessible both onsite and off and work to keep you happy and retain you as a satisfied consumer. It is a business, and they are not hesitant to pitch new gear at you (or their quality used gear) but they are sincere in their recommendations, and try to tailor their suggestions to the individual. I have never felt like they were trying to sell me just to sell. Once you go home, their web support and phone support are better than any shop I have ever dealt with. They offer lots of great information in person, over the phone and on their website to help you select the right gear for your needs and budget, and their support on the gear in terms of repair, warranty and replacement parts is excellent. We have returned to Real and the adjoining Waterman's retreat several times for further instruction and access to their first class demo gear, and honestly because the people there are so pleasant to kite and hang with. Recently I have gone with them on their international travel and have been equally impressed and entertained. They are not a backdoor/garage shop: they offer a comprehensive service and quality experience, and you get what you pay for. I have no hesitation recommending them to anyone looking to get into these sports or at any level. read more

I just got back from a weekend at Real Kiteboarding's evolution camp and it was amazing. Their facility (sadly, not in any of the current pictures) is top notch and the staff is as knowledgeable and friendly as it gets. Waves, NC is a kiteboarders dream. We got crushed by 25 -38 mph winds and the staff managed to make it work for all skill types from experienced to having never flown a kite before. If you're looking for a kite destination I highly recommend Real. I guarantee once you hit their flagship location you'll be finding ways to join one of their trips (BVI or Peru). Good job guys! Keep it up! read more

This is a review about the store and about Watermen's retreat. I stayed July 3-7 and extended my stay an additional day because of the wind. We had an amazing time. We had the three bedroom penthouse that is waterview. It's a great accommodation, comfortable beds - sheets - towels - great air conditioning - water pressure. No complaints about Watermen's retreat what so ever, they start you off with some toilet paper, paper towel, trash bags, dish soap, and dishwasher tablets. I do want to tell you that if you stay more than a day or two, you should bring more trash bags and paper towel from home. The only store nearby is very small, the big stores are about 30-35 minutes away. The real watersports store is amazing! Good prices, many different brands, great employees who are willing to help and ask what you need right away. Kiting here is a good time, the launch and landing is very organized and there is someone to help you at all times. We didn't do any lessons but we did meet a lot of nice employees including one named Lucca who had two days off so he took my boyfriend to do some downwinders and showed him spots. He was very kind and helpful and we had a really great time with him. That being said there was one employee there that was so rude to us everytime, he was the one launching and landing kites. His name was Samson, stay away from him! Never met someone more rude, he had a bad attitude everyday. I never saw him smile, or seem happy to be there at all. We would try to joke around or be kind to him and day after day he would still have a bad attitude. If it wasn't for nice employees like Lucca I would have given less than five stars based on Samson's bad attitude for the 5 days we were there. The manager (Michael I think of Mike) was so kind! Such a great, helpful guy. Really enjoyed our visit and will be back again! And they do let you use the kickers with your helmet and a wakeboard with no fins, many people were hitting the kickers and having a great time. read more

My kids took three days of private lessons here and it was amazing! The he staff incredibly friendly and knowledgable, excellent instruction techniques, and as a parent, they kept in good communicado with me as far as postponing due to light air. It is expensive, but worth every penny. read more

All around amazing place. The store employees, the lesson center instructors, the view, and the restaurant - you can't go wrong here. They know what they are talking about, and they are an A+ establishment. Thanks for all the love, all the knowledge, and all the hospitality during our stay! Thanks for the amazing jet ski tour and the 3 days of kiteboarding lessons EVEN without the perfect conditions. You guys rock.. keep being awesome! read more

I don't review stores or restaurants regularly but this time REAL has made a great impression on me so this is me saying thank you. I'm not going to get too deep on business terms but successful companies know what customers want and they give it to them. REAL Staff is very patience and knowledgeable(Justin), they answer every question you ask and they are not rushing. Their prices are the best on the market, trust me I usually search for products multiple times and call multiple places. They have great Black Friday deals! I'm training to do Kiteboarding and I practically bought all my gear here. Kite, board, harness, and bar. I'm probably going to get a bag too. Excellent customer service they even got me a "bar" directly from the manufacturer because it was out of stock(Adrienne). Overall, they have a really good friendly vibe. I would totally recommend this place to anyone! read more

Sometimes we always seem to have time to " complain" about our experience but forget to tell about the great ones we have. Well, this is a "GREAT" one! I was fortunate enough to call in to see if they still had a board still stock and was connected to Matt. The board was still there so I purchased it .. But here is where it gets good! I had mentioned that I was leaving town and wasn't sure if I would be here to receive it so he said he would be able to wait to ship it on my desired date. I agreed but then called back about 1 Hour later and order several other items. At this time I changed my mind and told him to go ahead and ship it. He said that he would do everything possible to get it out that day. The time was around 3:15 pm when I hung up and then later that day I get an email saying from FedEx saying they picked up my package for shipping at 4:57pm. Damn! Matt had to bust his ass I know to have been able to get my order out that quick. So, for now on, Real Watersports will be my choice for my kiteboarding needs. There's nothing like good customer service and but when you come across "GREAT" customer service, well you just stay with that business. Thanks again Matt! THIS IS AN UP-DATE Just received my order to today (12-22-11) and it was AWESOME!. I was a little hesitant to buy used gear but one thing for sure, you DON"T have to worry about it from Real Watersports. My order consisted of a Liquid Force Armada, Dakine Chameleon harness and leash. Everything was in excellent condition and couldn't be happier. You guys are the 'BEST"! Remember- I ordered these at 3:15pm on 12/20/11 and got them today 12/22/11 at 10:45 am. This would not have been possible if it wasn't for Matt and Real WaterSports to try their best to please the customer. read more

Real Watersports is not your typical surf shop. My first experience with them was before I got into kiteboarding. I was searching for SUPs online and found a great deal at realwatersports.com. I called them and spoke to one of their salesmen who was very helpful and professional. While I didn't end up buying that board from them I was immediately impressed and have since become a loyal customer. Real consistently has the best prices on the Internet and excellent customer service. I have had the chance to visit Hatteras a handful of times and stay at Real (Waterman's) once. The experience at Waterman's was top notch. The condos were beautiful and the location couldn't be better. Breakfast at Mojo's, rigging on the grass behind the shop and sessions in the slicks made the experience super easy and tons of fun. Regarding Hatteras, if you surf and kite you will never get skunked down there. The diversity of conditions is unmatched. I've only visited in the spring and fall so I can't attest to conditions in the summer. It's possible to ride slicks in the sound, waves in the ocean, do a variety of downwinders, and surf clean empty peaks all within a 10 mile radius on the same day! I guess it can be light, flat and lame but I've never seen it. Overall I'm a big fan of Real for their prices and service, and a big fan of Hatteras for the variety of conditions and sessions you can score down there. read more

If you want to start kiting, start at REAL! I spent a few weekends at Real last summer and did 2 kite camps. I've wanted to try kiting for a number of years, but never thought I had enough time. With the help of the awesome coaches and the perfect location, I was up and riding by the second day. Many of the top rider in the World call the Outer Banks home in the summer, and all were smiling and happy to launch and catch kites, offer advice, and help even the greenest of riders! Real is surprising easy to get to as well. I flew to Norfolk, VA and it was a quick 2 hour drive to Waves. A few days of coaching and I am easily more proficient than many of my friends (not all) who have logged countless hours and thrashed thousands of dollars of gear. Real is a 1 stop location. The store has everything you could possibly want, and the rental shop is fully stocked. If the wind is to light, it's never a problem to grab a Stand-up board and go for a paddle. I had no weather related issues to complain about, and the 1 time it was a bit light, my coach suggested we take a jet ski, tow rope and a bunch of boards to work on board skills and get a feel for the different boards. Tons of fun and great practice. I do not know of another place I could have done that. ] Just like apres ski, at Real, you can finish riding grab a cold beer at Mojo's and watch the sun set over Pamlico Sound. I can't wait to get back there this spring and start riding in 2012! read more

Best store ever, I am in heaven. -Need to rent something because you forgot a piece of Gear, REAL got your back -Want cheap used gear or sale items, Reals the place to go -Want some super swanky and expensive new gear, Real has that too. Staff is super knowledgeable and very helpful, even if you are not buying. If you are kiting in OBX you should stop here first, get a map of the good kite spots and talk to a staff member. they also have changing rooms and showers for after your session. Also the restaurant there is delicious read more

I've never had the opportunity to get to REAL in person; however, I have made several purchases off their website. Shopping online with REAL is the best online shopping experience I've ever had. First off, use the Chat option they have at the bottom of the screen (when they are open). Most chat options supplied are a joke. You have to wait forever for responses, and when you get one, they rarely have the right answer. With REAL, you're getting an actual kiteboarder/surfer who knows what they are talking about. And, they will go check the shelves to take a look at the item you are asking about. This is great for buying used gear. You get someone who knows what's up who will check out the item and let you know what they think of the shape it's in. Every used item I have bought from REAL has been in great shape and was at a really good price. The people I have talked to on chat have also always helped point me in the right direction when I was unsure about what item to get. It's really helpful to be able to talk to someone who kites/surfs regularly to help make your final decision, especially about expensive gear. Free shipping on purchases over $100?! Yes please. This almost always makes it cheaper to buy used from REAL than even Craigslist or Ikitesurf classifieds. And even when the price is a little higher at REAL, I still buy it from them since I can trust that the gear will be in the shape they say it is, compared to Craigs (having someone ship) or Ikitesurf where you get someone who might just stretch how good the condition of their gear is to get rid of it faster. Again though to me, the best thing about shopping at REAL is the customer service I have experienced. Very knowledgeable, very friendly, and very willing to help. read more

We stopped here a few weeks ago and I'm glad we did. The atmosphere is awesome! It has a great outdoor setting where you can watch the kite surfers play. The menu has a variety of choices and the food is amazing. We were all very surprised on presentation and taste. We will definitely be returning! read more

WAY BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS: Totally stoked upon completing the EVO Kite Camp at Real Watersports, Cape Hatteras. I learned more in the first ten minutes of camp than in the 4 half-day private lessons that I took in Miami Beach before coming to Real. You learn from some of the best riders in the world, but you'd never know it from just talking to them. Super friendly, down-to-earth staff that take the time and patience to teach you things the right way. My goals coming into camp were to be able to waterstart consistently and get riding in both directions with some upwind capability. I was able to meet all my goals and experience even more about the sport making me a safe, self-sufficient kiteboarder. All the instructors at Real were always willing to talk about kiteboarding and give out great tips and info, even though they weren't my direct coaches. The conditions during camp were all over the place from light breezes to nuking gusts, so I was given the chance to try out a bunch of different gear in all conditions. I progressed way beyond my expectations in three short days and took in some of the best rides of my life. The sales team at Real was second to none-they made sure to talk to me about the gear that was right for me, given my ability and riding style. They weren't out repping brands based on sales incentives. Can't wait to come back and take in more sessions-Thanks Real! read more

In the end, a great online buying experience. I ordered a longboard via the website in early June, but unfortunately a customer purchased the board in-store earlier in the day and it had not been removed from the website. After initially delivering the bad news, Sam called me back later that same day to let me know he could order the exact same board from the shaper (in the specific color I was seeking) and likely could get it to me within a few days of my July 1 deadline/need. Sure enough, when I checked in near the end of the month the board had just made it to the shop and was ready to be shipped out. While it took a bit longer to ship than I had hoped for, after several phone calls I connected with Randall who was able to get the board off the loading dock and into my hands 3 days later, just in time for Tropical Storm Fay and faster than he had thought possible on the phone. Thanks! read more

Before I purchased my puddle jumper 5'5, I got a huge help from Ashlon. He helped me with everything, recommended the fins, the bag and the board. "Ashlon, I wanted to thank you again for all your help with the board and fins! You are THE MAN! This board is one (if not the only one) that I surfed in a very very long time! Thanks again man for hooking me up!" read more

DO NOT BUY ANY SUNSCREEN PRODUCT FROM THIS WEBSITE. I ordered a 1.5oz of Waterman's Sunscreen at an unbelievable price of $16 and the tupe was nearly empty (squeezed out) when I got the shipment. The staff (Josh) told me that the factory sends it like that and all of the bottles are sold just like that. I sent a picture of the nearly empty sunscreen and was basically told all of the product sells like that. Its a total ripoff and false advertising since the bottles picture on the website are looking full. Even at 1.5 oz, why would the factory sell a half full thing of sunscreen, its good for seriously a maximum of about 4 uses THATS 4$ PER APPLICATION. DON'T BUY DON'T BUY DON'T BUY DON'T BUY - DON'T BUY. I was not offered any reconciliation on it. read more

Here's the best part: look at the reply to my review. A lot of excuses and resting on previous laurels instead of owning up. Look, not all of your instructors are great; just accept it and offer to do right by us. Who cares how good you were at one point? We're talking about this specific experience... Secondly, I think you sidestepped around failing to notify us of a wetsuit requirement; when we review paperwork, were already at your facility to take the lesson.... read more

First class operation - great facilities and coaches. Not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for!

WOW talk about expensive me and my boyfriend did a 3 hour beginner's lesson which turned out to be a nightmare they said at 10 knots it was enough wind and yet the kite kept dropping out of the sky all these people care about is money and yet they walk around as if they invented the sport what a joke I will never return read more

Real is the best , learn to kiteboard facility in the world. You will learn more in a week than you could in years anywhere else. Tons of rental kites with flat, shallow water, for miles !!!!! read more

Undoubtedly one of the best places to learn to kite. Good conditions (sure, any place can have days without wind - that's the nature of this sport - but OBX is generally pretty reliable), good coaches and coaching systems, good gear and lots of it so you can try different combinations.. For experienced kiters, shop is great and everyone knows their stuff, and ability to kite surf or slicks is awesome. Watermans is nice and the ultimate in convenience. And the food at MoJo's is consistently good. Go for Triple S in June to watch the pros, or join Real on a trip. Good folks and a level of professionalism beyond. read more

This place rocks. Our family has stayed at Waterman's Retreat on five occasions. The lodging is extremely comfortable and very clean. The restaurant serves fantastic food and the service is courteous and very responsive. The store is extremely well stocked and offers a plethora of kiteboarding equipment and a large selection of stylish beach going attire. Yes, it is not the Dollar Store. It is on the expensive side, but it delivers quality products in a vacation town that caters to kite boarders. Kite boarding in general is a costly venture to embark on, but it is one of the most exhilarating sports on water. If you want to learn Kiteboarding, Real is the premiere instructional establishment to reach your goal. They have roughly 15 certified instructors, a detailed and structured training program, and most importantly safety is priority number one. I have spent a small fortune at Real, but have no regrets. Our family has thoroughly enjoyed every minute learning the challenging art of kiteboarding. My only suggestion is that Real would install a streaming video camera focused on the Kiteboarding water park. It would be nice to view the site when we can't be there. Thanks for providing a world class business for catering to the kiteboarding enthusiast. read more

Bait and switch. Ordered an item off the website, got a confirmation and all. Got an email later saying the price on the website was wrong and my order was cancelled. read more

Really nice store. Even though I was just a tourist in need of a swim suit the girls were still really nice to me and helped me find exactly what I was looking for. read more

I am so grateful for the amazing staff and instructors at REAL. My bf had taken lessons with them years ago and suggested I go to learn kite surfing. The staff takes everything into consideration--your comfort level in the water, your height and weight, and intend to pair you with the perfect instructor. I was so lucky that because I am 5'2" and 100lbs, they paired me with Joel, since we would use the same size kite-range. Joel was not only knowledgable, but he was extremely kind and patient. I loved the way he showed me new techniques that made me feel confident in developing my skills and how he was sensitive to my fear of murky water. I also appreciated how he invited me to drive the wave runner so that I could get a more comprehensive water sports experience. For anyone wanting to learn surfing or kite surfing, I highly recommend this place. read more

Seven of us spent three days at REAL staying on campus at Watermen's Retreat. If you've ever been to a well run heli ski operation, this is very similar. The staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and stoked to be there. Rooms in Watermen's were large, clean, and front row to the kiting action. The food is awesome/healthy, they had a band playing music every evening/night, kiting landing/launching is dialed, the retail and the help inside the store is bar none the best I've encountered anywhere for any sport. Half the group was new to kiting and took lessons, the rest of us ripped around all day and had an amazing time. Once the newbies got the hang of it, we did a few down-winders with their coaches who were on kites and a jetski which was gave the newbies a boost of confidence. If you are a seasoned kiter or a newbie, REAL is the real deal, overall 10 out of 10, thanks a million for a great long weekend. read more

Kiteboarding has a difficult learning curve and there are many factors than have an impact on your experience. Real does the best job bar none with trying to eliminate things they can't control. Put simply, if it can be controlled, they have already thought of it - I have recommended and will continue to recommend REAL as being the absolute best in the industry. If you want to learn, go, spend a week and get some extremely well organized instruction from a team that knows how to teach !!! read more

Decent prices on some items, when they are on sale. This is one of the only big kiteboarding stores in the area that has everything you need. Food in the back is awesome! read more