From November 6 to 15, 2026, kitesurf school Makani is running an internationally certified training course with Argentine Mariano Lorenzetti, an IKO Training Master based in Tarifa. We talked with Pablo Lorenzo y Losada, who runs the school, about the course, the available spots and the choice of location.
Makani is a kitesurf school from Punta del Diablo, Rocha. This month it's heading to Maldonado to hold the IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) International Instructor Course in El Tesoro, La Barra, for the first time. It's ten days of theory and practice that end with a certification recognized by kitesurf schools around the world.
Who is it for?
The course isn't for beginners. “It's aimed at people who already know how to ride a kite,” Lorenzo y Losada explains. He adds that you don't need to want to teach to sign up: “It's an opportunity both for those who want to train to teach and for those who want to improve their riding level and safety.”
What the training includes
“The training combines theory and practice, with eight-hour days,” he says. The program brings together three parts: the IKO Assistant course, a first aid module and the IKO Instructor course. “We work on teaching methodology, gear setup and safety. There are also beach sessions with real students.”
Makani provides the gear. Before the in-person portion, each participant has to complete a theoretical section online.
Mariano Lorenzetti: 4,000 students and 150,000 hours of teaching
Leading the course is Mariano Lorenzetti, an Argentine based in Tarifa (Spain) and an IKO Training Master & Examiner, one of the highest ranks within the organization. Over his career he has trained around 4,000 students and taught roughly 150,000 hours of lessons.
For Makani's head, that track record sets the level of the course: “His background in Tarifa, an international kitesurf hub, and his experience within IKO bring a professional, international perspective to the training.”
Straight from Tarifa, Argentine Mariano Lorenzetti will lead the course.
Why La Barra
The choice of venue comes down to the number of riding spots available within just a few kilometers. The José Ignacio and Garzón lagoons are very close, and on the ocean side there's the Mansa and the Brava. “There's flat water, deep water, plus areas with waves, which lets us work in different conditions,” Lorenzo y Losada sums up.
Dates, spots and registration
📅 November 6 to 15, 2026
📍 El Tesoro, La Barra, Maldonado, Uruguay
👥 Maximum capacity: 8 participants
Registration was scheduled to close on Wednesday, November 4, and according to Lorenzo y Losada, “there are very few spots left.” To check availability, you can contact Makani via WhatsApp or on Instagram at @makani_kitesurf.
