Our Story
Cabarete Kite Point and El Cocotazo Cafe are owned and operated by a husband and wife duo and our family. We base our business on the foundation of our beliefs and attempts to help the local community. The story goes a little something like this:
The Things Legends Are Made Of
Jose Luis Ciriaco was the first Dominican pro kitesurfer. He moved to Cabarete from Gasper Hernandez when he was nine years old. It was out of necessity because, unfortunately, his father passed away. Jose's mother found a support system in his father's family in Cabarete. Always a workhorse, young Jose Luis felt compelled to help his mom by taking on any job he could get. Everything from shining shoes on the streets to riding horses for wealthy ex-pats. At his job cleaning lounge chairs for a beachfront resort, he ran into a man who was kitesurfing. Jose Luis found himself awestruck by the sport. As luck would have it, that man would allow Jose to use his gear, and the rest is history!
It's a shame that Jose Luis Ciriaco isn't a more recognized name in the sport. He is sort of the granddaddy of Cabarete kitesurfing (even if he's only in his late 30s). But trust us, he was the king of dangle passes back in his hay day! Since he had the incredible opportunity of being sponsored by Brunotti and Red Bull, he became well-traveled, well-paid, and well-equipped.
True to the standards of Dominican culture, Jose Luis likes to share. And when he made it big, he felt the need to give back to his community. It wasn't a formal sentiment like you see when Hollywood stars give back because it wasn't for publicity or anything of the like. It's just the good ole Dominican way. He went beyond representing the Dominican Republic, taught many people, shared his gear, and helped them make a living through kiteboarding. Many of the older local kiters on Kite Beach will gladly credit Jose Luis for giving them a boost (pun intended) into the kiteboarding world.
Eventually, Jose Luis grew up a little, leaving the beach and kiteboarding as a professional. He found a job as a property manager. That career path seemed to have more of a future at the time. So off he went for a decade wearing shoes and collared shirts, only returning to the beach occasionally to burn off some steam.
How To Say F*ck Everything and Move to the Caribbean
Tracy, Jose's wife, came to Cabarete back in 2011 with one suitcase. She had never heard of kiteboarding before coming here on vacation. The stay was only supposed to last one month while she figured out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Super long story short, Tracy was a professional race car driver who was tired of the pressure.
But once she set her eyes on the butterflies in the sky, she knew she must try. So after 9 hours of kiteboarding lessons, she was hooked and decided she would probably never return to her life in the States as she once knew it. And as of today, she hasn't.
Tracy kited her culo off on Kite Beach for the next six or seven years. She spent much of her free time drinking Brugal, learning Dominican Spanish, and dancing with the locals. With whatever time the budding kiter had left, Tracy did everything she could for the local kids. Giving them used gear, making websites, and taking photos for the sponsors they dreamed of having one day. She also gave free English and Culture classes to anyone who wanted to attend. There would often be 10-15 kids at the table learning that foreign girls don't like it when you say "Hey baby" to them! In return, they gave her mad respect and cheered her on as she tried bigger and bigger tricks on the water.
When she got the opportunity to purchase beachfront property on Kite Beach, she jumped on it. She viewed having a business in the town she loved so much as the perfect platform to support locals.
Joining Forces to Make It Work
Tracy didn't realize how hard it would be to run a business in a language and culture that she was still learning. She struggled to balance being a kiter chick and the boss of two businesses for a few years. Her relationships with the locals she valued suffered because of it. She almost gave up so that she could go back to being just Tracy and not "La Jefa" ("the boss" as everyone started to call her).
In the nick of time, Tracy's neighbor introduced her to Jose Luis. She met him as a property manager, not a pro kiter. So, La Jefa had no idea that Jose would eventually save the day!
After a few months of getting to know each other better, Tracy and Jose decided it would benefit them to team up and rock Kite Beach. Come to find out, Jose's big brother Manuel had been managing restaurants for about 20 years, making the deal even sweeter!
Manuel agreed to leave his long-time employment as a restaurant manager for the opportunity to start his dream restaurant finally. It was a risk, but his heart told him he could make it work!
Fast forward to December 2019, and the new crew was ready to rock Kite Beach. Along with the new crew came a new name for the kite school and restaurant. Dare2fly Kite School became Cabarete Kite Point, and Vitamin D Cafe became El Cocotzo Cafe. Over time, that crew became a big happy blended family.
All In The Family
These days you will find all hands on deck! Brother Manuel is the bartender/server, sister-in-law Minaura is in the kitchen cooking, and the kids are out front learning to serve customers.
Even the office staff and kite instructors are pretty much family. Jose Luis has known all of them from his neighborhood since he was a kid. Tracy has known the office staff since they were younger and employed them when they became adults.
Support Locals
We are very proud that our entire team of instructors is Dominican. These locals are hardworking and upstanding individuals. By choosing our kitesurfing school, you support locals who worked hard to learn technical English and earned $1500 USD for their IKO certification.
Our Location, Our Gear, and Our Instructors
Because this business consists of people that are incredibly knowledgeable about kitesurfing, our epic location and superior gear are not a coincidence.
One of the best things about our business is that we are located right in the center of kite beach, which is the most optimal location for kiting in Cabarete. Here you also typically see some of the best wind and water conditions for the sport.
We also have state-of-the-art gear. Kiteboarding lessons aren't cheap! But it is worth the price if you are paying to learn on quality equipment that is sure to be the best possible support when trying to learn to kite.
EL COCOTAZO
Yummy Food
BEACHFRONT ROOMS
Directly On The Kite Spot
ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGES
From $1375 USD
