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Use this as you check list for learning how to kiteboard:
Disclaimer: there are many more things that are very important when learning how to kiteboard and these are just 10 of the most important ones. For best and safest results make sure to take at least 9-15 hours of kiteboarding lessons before you try it on your own.
1.The Wind:Learning what the wind window is and where neutral and the power zones are and why. Understand how to generate power with the kite as well as how to depower it. You will need to know how to keep the kite stable and how to create power strokes with the kite. For this you will want to use a trainer kite.
The Kiteboarding Gear
It is important to know what gear is used in kiteboarding and the adjustments or options you have as a consumer. There are several types of harnesses, boards, kites and bars, as well as gadgets and accessories you might be interested in, some being waterproof headsets, to a GPS tracker, to safety vests with bells and whistles (popular for people who kiteboard under the Golden Gate Bridge), to Go Pro cameras, etc. Find the best gear for hometown conditions so you can enjoy kiteboarding to the fullest. Know how to put your gear up and and tips on keeping it in good conditions.
3. Learn How to Fly the Kite with Stability and Do One Handed Walking on the Beach.
You need to feel confident on the beach, so learn how to walk one-handed upwind on the beach while keeping your kite stable. Learning how to launch and land your kite is very important and is mainly about knowing how to keep you kite stable while you are standing on the beach lowering and elevating your kite. You also need to know how to launch and land other people's kites for them.
There are three ways a kite can land in the water and there are three ways to relaunch it. Make sure you know how to do this so that you can optimize your time while you are in the water.
Make sure you know what a safety release system is and how to use it, know that different kite manufacturers use different safety release systems. Before entering the water alone you will want to know how to perform a self-rescue with your kite. A great way to learn this is to practice it on the beach before practicing in the water so you can ask your instructor questions and not lose time and energy practicing it for the first time in the water.
Once you are in the water you want to continue to practice your kite stability, make sure you can keep your kite stable at 45° angles on both sides with one hand. Also make sure you can do fluid power strokes towards the same direction without letting the kite pass "12 o'clock" in between strokes. Start being aware of the traffic that surrounds you. After knowing the previous skills begin practicing the up-wind body dragging.
Practice body dragging with your board and handling it in the water switching it on and off your feet, side by side. In order to get your board back you need to know how to body drag up-wind. Some other tips include buying orange or yellow boards when learning because white and dark boards are not as visible in a windy sea of water and white caps. Make sure you have your ear on your shoulder, that helps you point upwind better. Do about 100 yard tacks because beginners tend do not do long enough tacks. Always wait for the board to be in front of you before you reach to grab it, if you are reaching behind to grab it you might hurt your shoulder or as you life it out of the water the wind may blow it toward you or in between your lines.
Once the board is on your feet you will need to know how much power you will need to generate with your kite in order for you to be able to be pulled up and begin riding. If you are still learning, try these two things: either start with an up-stroke before you do the down stroke (this way you will be pulled up and out of the water a little before you are pulled across the water), or just try to first learn how much down-stroke power you need to just stand up, not up and riding. These exercises will help you learn how much power you need and prevent you from face planting.
As soon as you can control the kite power you will have the ability to start riding. You progression at this stage depends on your board skills, but basically controlling the kite speed and using the kite as your speed leverage is the key to riding. Being able to stay upwind and travel upwind is important so you can return to the same beach. As a beginner it is common to end up downwind from where you started, so make sure you know where you will be coming into the shore downwind and have a plan of how to do it.
10. Kiteboarding Rule of Thumbs
There are lots of tips and rules of thumbs when learning how to kiteboard, and these are just a few of the most important ones: kite sizes depend on the wind speed and the kiter's weight; never kiteboard in offshore winds; before launching your kite go ahead and put your board by the shore so you can grab it as you are entering the water; do not stay on the beach with the kite in the air, the beach is for launching and landing; make sure someone knows you are kiteboarding; have a plan B of where you will might need to come off the water in case of light wind or not being able to ride upwind; be safe and aware of other people's safety.
Playa Central Kiteboarding is located in La Ventana, Baja California Sur, and is one of the best places in the world to learn how to kiteboard. For anybody who is able to learn how to kiteboard here, welcome! If you live far and are learning how to kiteboard in other countries or places, we hope our blog has helped you. For lessons email or call us at 918.398.0114.
