So you fancy having a go at Kite Surfing! Where do you begin? What do you need? Hopefully we can provide some helpful advice for those not sure where to start.Firstly, a little information on kite surfing; a relatively new sport having took off in the late nineties, combining elements of windsurfing, power kites, paragliding and wakeboarding.
Anybody can learn the sport of kite surfing, it helps to be comfortable in water and have experience of any of the aforementioned sports. Having a moderate level of fitness will also make learning much easier.
Naturally, the best way to learn the sport is to attend professionally taught kite surfing lessons at one of many schools around the country; learning solo is inherently more dangerous, technique is also likely to be better as an instructor will be able to monitor and correct you. A school will also provide you with all the necessary equipment, saving you the risk of buying expensive equipment should you find out the sport isn’t for you. To find your nearest school, visit the British Kite Surfing Association website (other useful information for beginners can also be found here).
A good school will start by teaching you the essentials including; safety precautions, use of equipment, landing, general understanding of how kites work and essential manoeuvres. Once you become competent you can begin to learn some basic tricks.
If you decide you would like to pursue Kite Surfing after learning the basics, then you will need to purchase some kit to continue. The essentials you will require include a kite (unsurprisingly!), a kite surfing board, harness and accessories (wet suit, helmet, life jacket etc), or buy the whole lot in a kite surfing package. For the beginner, a ‘Trainer’ kite would be most appropriate; these will typically be small limiting the amount of power generated and have beginner friendly features. A good example of a beginners kite is the Cabrinha Convert.You know the basics; have the essential kit, now where should you go? Many choose to join a kite surfing club. These can be found on shorelines all around the country, and will be the best way to develop your skills alongside other surfers. You will be able to pick up invaluable tips, safety info and important connections.
Some quick safety tips; avoid extreme weathers, poor visibility conditions and off-shore winds. Start in cross-shore wind so you will only go across the beach instead of being blown away from the shore. Ensure you have the proper safety equipment.
This concludes our short guide, hopefully those of you out there new to the sport or hoping to start soon will have found it useful.
