THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
I often tell my students "this is the beginning of the rest of your life".
Though it may sound a bit melodramatic, those that kiteboard will tell you that it is a passion.
That when they are kiting they are at peace, or free, or totally in love with life.
I'm so glad you are interested in kiteboarding!
Please take my advice, and be sure to take a lesson. This is not a sport where you buy the gear and figure it out. A quick search using the key word "kitemare" will prove my point.
TAKE A LESSON!!!!!!
There are many factors to consider when selecting a school for kiteboarding lessons and in many areas there are a lot of schools to chose from.
The goal of this article is to give you the tools to make an informed decision on who to take a lesson from!
This is a sport that can be very dangerous, so the initiation into it is quite important. Here are some important criteria to consider when selecting a school.
I divided this article into two parts and will elaborate on each point below.
Part 1: Environmental Considerations
Water depth
Hazards
Wind conditions
Crowds
Part 2: What makes a good school
Equipment
A good coach
Radio communication
Buy local
Refund policy
Advanced lesson options
SO LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!
costumes are optional
Shallow water teaching location-
This is perhaps the most important factor to consider when choosing where to take your first kiteboarding lesson. When you are learning how to kite, you are going to crash. It is important to be able to stand up to recover each time.
sometimes the crashes knock your lenses out!
In many areas shallow water is not an option. It is worth it to travel to find the right location for learning. Trust me, you will learn SO MUCH FASTER! and you will progress more quickly to the level where you can have the confidence to ride in deeper water.
CAUTION: the water should be at least waist deep for your safety.
Avoid areas with currents, boat traffic, and ocean waves-
These hazards are not ideal for the student.
not ideal for the beginner
Learning to kiteboard involves managing a lot of different things at once, including a powerful kite, a board on your feet, and all sorts of new skills and movements in your body,.... adding in an additional factor of currents, waves, or boat traffic is not a good plan and can be very dangerous. Be sure to research the area where the school teaches and ask specific questions before booking a lesson.
Wind Conditions: Avoid gusty, offshore, and high winds-
Learning this sport is best accomplished in the right wind conditions. A steady wind speed between 15-25mph blowing onshore or cross-shore is ideal. There are some kitesurfing destinations where the wind is consistently above 25mph. I would advise to avoid those areas for beginner instruction, and plan on visiting when you are a skilled rider.
The reason for this is simple. High wind speed crashes have high consequences. The kites used in high winds turn faster, and any misdirected steering from a student can send the kite and rider flying through the air.
I have heard it so many times from students who decide to abandon their pursuit of the sport because of a bad experience. Oftentimes they describe a horrific but preventable situation where they felt out of control during their first lesson, or worse when they injured themselves. I want for my students to have positive experiences and finish their lesson with the desire to continue pursuing the sport.
Avoid the crowds-
If possible, chose a company that has a secluded teaching location away from densely populated kiting areas, or swimming areas.
Tarifa, Spain. Kite party!!
When you are learning it is difficult to avoid hazards while riding because you are focusing inward at your body position and steering the kite. It is best to have a large open area downwind of you to eliminate the possibility of a collision.
Crystal Coast, North Carolina. all to herself
Stay tuned for part 2: What makes a good school
Thanks for reading