Learning to Kiteboard
Kiteboarding lessons are lead by certified instructors who strive to help create independent and safe riders. An experienced instructor will have knowledge, patience, and ability to communicate. Each of these are essential to a safe learning environment.
The huge kites used in kiteboarding can be very dangerous in the hands of a person lacking instruction. Most spectators don't realize how much power a kite can potentially generate. So do yourself a favor and take your kiteboarding lessons with a certified Instructor.
Having a boat or Sea Doo support right there when you need it saves time, as the beginner will end the kite surfing lesson far down wind from where he or she started. If you go with a lower cost school that does not offer boat support, be prepared to spend some of the lesson time walking back upwind.
State of the Art Kiteboarding Equipment
At Wind Ryders Kiteboarding we pride ourselves in our state of the art equipment. We use 2011 SLE kites like the Epic Screamer, and the Epic Renegade , which feature the latest safety systems, depower ability . As well as easy relaunch and lower bar pressure.
The new bow kites hit the market recently and offer never before seen depower ability. This means that by letting go of the bar the rider can avoid being thrown, around by the kite when it generates too much power. Never before has the exciting sport of kiteboarding been so accessible and safe.
Kiteboarding: the Fastest Growing Sport
Kiteboarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world, and for good reasons. The freedom of jumping 10, 20, 30ft off the water, without the necessity of a wave for a ramp, means that people can get some serious air. air.
- Snowboarders love it as a summer alternative to riding on snow, not to mention there's no lift ticket to buy.
- Windsurfers love it because you can kiteboard in less wind, and the gear fits in a economy car, instead of the van, truck, or trailer.
- Surfers can get out on the water when the surf is too low or blow out.
- Wakeboarders can save all the gas money and can get out on the water when it is to windy and choppy to wakeboard.
- People who have never tried a board sport at all are getting into kiteboarding.
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How To Get Started Kiteboarding
Taking lessons with a qualified instructor is a must.
STEP 1: Homework:The best thing to do first is to buy or rent a trainer kite, and the instructional video to get the basics down ( if you don't want to wait don't worry, we have taught many people to kiteboard who had never flown a multi-line kite before). The video is especially valuable because it will introduce you to concepts and terminology involved in kiteboarding allowing you to move through the lessons efficiently while retaining more valuable information. The trainer kite will teach you the controls, a basic understanding of the wind window, and how to generate power.
If you haven't wakeboarded before see if you can arrange for an afternoon or two of working on your board skills. Try getting up and riding with both right and left feet forward as you need to be able to ride either way to kiteboard.
If you can't get your homework done before you come in you will most likely learn slower. Those who take these first steps to prepare before they get hear consistently get up and ride sooner than those who don't.
STEP 2: First Lesson:Next, is the first four hour lesson, in which you will learn the safety issues and systems, setup of the kite, launching and landing, the wind window and power stokes, water relaunching, self rescue and body dragging. At this point if you like to learn on your own, and don't mind the "walk of shame" back upwind, then you have the foundation skills to build on. Many decide that the convenience of boat support and the presence of an instructor are far too valuable to pass up. Often times those who have experience flying the trainer kite get their first chance to get up on the board because of the time saved by advancing through the lesson rapidly by understanding how to generate power and control.
STEP 3: Second Lesson:After
the first four hour kiteboarding lesson you will have a basic
understanding of how to setup, launch and fly a kite, now we'll take
those skills into the water and work on body surfing, advanced kite
control and water-starts. Once riding, and later staying upwind, the
learning curve accelerates VERY quickly.
What is Kiteboarding?
Kiteboarding or kitesurfing, if you don't already know, is like snowboarding on water. Which, behind a boat, is called wakeboarding. OK, now forget the boat and add a giant kite for the power source.
The kite is controlled or steered using a control bar in the hands of the rider. The kite can be flown is specific patterns to generate greater power, or can be used to jump or fly through the air. We are not talking about little hops either, you can really get up and float for some serious air time.
The power is directed to a harness by "hooking in", this takes the load off the arms which helps reduce fatigue. The bar also offers a safety release which can be used to kill power in case of emergency.
About the Kiteboards
For instructional purposes we use Litewave Boards like the one pictured here. The school has a range of sizes depending on the riders weight, abilities as well as the wind speed. Remember equipment is included in the lessons. We have found that these boards are the easiest to learn on and to get upwind on.
Some boards are similar to wake
boards with the fins moved out to the rails for improved tracking while
riding on the edge. This type of board is referred to as a twin tip or
bi-directional board, as either end of the board can be the front,
depending on the direction of travel.
Some boards appear to be more like a surf board with foot straps. Directional boards, as they are called, are generally easier to ride than twin tips (esp. in light to mod. wind) because the fins are deeper and also the volume of the board requires less power to support the riders weight.
For this reason we have both types of boards for use during kiteboarding instruction.
THE Kiteboarding WATERSTART
To begin kiteboarding the rider dives the kite to generate the power and get up on a plane, this is called the waterstart. Riding or skimming on the water is referred to as planning.
After waterstarting heading down wind , one carves back upwind slightly to avoid depowering the kite by moving downwind to quickly. The rider is constantly working to channel the pull of the wind at an angle such that he or she is moving in a direction perpendicular to the the direction the wind is blowing. If done successfully this is called staying upwind. This is one of the first skills a new rider most learn.
Later, by putting kite and board skills together, one can actually work upwind. From there the host of turns (called transitions), moves and tricks seem to be endless with pros and amateurs constantly pushing the envelope.
Air Time
Local Eric Fresh getting 30 + foot Air
