Men's Health: Portugal Active Takes Kitesurf to Higher Education

Men's Health magazine covered Portugal Active's initiative to introduce kitesurfing into the higher education curriculum in partnership with the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (IPVC). This was a world first: kitesurfing had never been part of a higher education programme anywhere.

The project's mission was the culturalisation and solidification of extreme sports in Viana do Castelo and in Portugal. By bringing kitesurfing into an academic setting, Portugal Active aimed to establish the region as a recognised centre for water sports, combining practical training with the study of sports tourism, environmental science, and outdoor education.

The partnership demonstrated Portugal Active's commitment to the Minho region that goes beyond tourism — investing in the educational infrastructure that will develop the next generation of outdoor sports professionals.