Regional kitesurfing championships in Malpeque Bay

Heavy winds have been stirring up waves off the shores of P.E.I. all weekend, bringing hazards to swimmers, but some of the region's best kitesurfers are taking full advantage of the waves at the regional championships.

Parks Canada issued a warning for swimmers to stay out of the water in P.E.I. National Park. Surfguard supervisor Jeremy Coffin said the high winds can create rip currents carrying swimmers offshore.

"We have a number of rip currents in the water throughout the park. If visitors find themselves caught in one, we advise them to swim diagonally, parallel to shore, and then ride the waves in,"he said.

Parks staff conducted beach patrols and placed warning signs throughout the park.

But further west in Malpeque Bay, the choppy conditions are exactly what elite kitesurfers were hoping for.

Competitor Martin Levesque said risks are part of the sport.

"People want to place in competition, so if you want to do good, you got to take risks. And I'm prepared to take some risks," he said.

In all, two dozen top kiteboarders from across the Maritimes are competing in the championships.

World-class kiteboarder Andy Hurdman, who came up from Florida, said Malpeque Bay could be a place to develop top talent.

"I definitely see room for growth," he said.

"It's an open area; there's a lot of room for many riders. It's a safe sport. With those combinations, I'd say it has a lot of room for growth."

Organizers are hoping to capitalize on that. They said the shallow waters and strong winds on the Island's coast are perfect to attract top riders from around the globe.

One of the organizers, David MacNeill, said tourism on P.E.I. has yet to take advantage of the growth potential.

"It's a growing market that I don't think tourism has really recognized yet. But people will travel for wind," he said.

As riders race each other around the bay at speeds close to 70 kilometres an hour, organizers hope to team up with the province to develop those opportunities.