Discussion
Anyone on here in to Kiteboarding? How hard is it to learn?
I'm working quite close to a beach where they do it at the moment, and it looks like fun, if I'm back out here again in the spring I'm tempted to give it a go.
A local school offers a 3 day course including kit hire for about 300 Euros, or 5 days for 450 euros, does that seem reasonable?. How expensive is the gear to buy and realistically how many lessons is a middle aged bloke who's never surfed/skated/snowboarded going to need before being able to go out on my own?
I'm working quite close to a beach where they do it at the moment, and it looks like fun, if I'm back out here again in the spring I'm tempted to give it a go.
A local school offers a 3 day course including kit hire for about 300 Euros, or 5 days for 450 euros, does that seem reasonable?. How expensive is the gear to buy and realistically how many lessons is a middle aged bloke who's never surfed/skated/snowboarded going to need before being able to go out on my own?
The first thing you need to appreciate is that just flying the kite is a skill in itself. Learn and practice this first. A lot. If you could do this before you go back then the lessons would be much more useful.
With no relevant skill set you will probably still be a danger to yourself and others after a week of intensive lessons, no matter what they might tell you! There is massive individual variation in proficiency with these types of activities though, you may be a natural or you may just never be any good.
Surfing, snowboarding, skating etc etc etc are very difficult to become proficient in later in life for various reasons. E.g. Lots of time required, may require specific conditions outside your control (weather), high risk of injuries.
That being said, there is a lot of fun to be had and you will be able to achieve an enjoyable level of proficiency if you put the effort in. You will need to be fit and dedicated. Oh, kit is expensive.
With no relevant skill set you will probably still be a danger to yourself and others after a week of intensive lessons, no matter what they might tell you! There is massive individual variation in proficiency with these types of activities though, you may be a natural or you may just never be any good.
Surfing, snowboarding, skating etc etc etc are very difficult to become proficient in later in life for various reasons. E.g. Lots of time required, may require specific conditions outside your control (weather), high risk of injuries.
That being said, there is a lot of fun to be had and you will be able to achieve an enjoyable level of proficiency if you put the effort in. You will need to be fit and dedicated. Oh, kit is expensive.
Decent reply there!
I’ve been kitesurfing for just over 15 years and I’m still average! Ha
In seriousness the kite flying is a skill in itself and I’d suggest if you’ve got access to a decent beach grab yourself a decent quality 4 line powerkite (flexifoil, peterlynn, ozone all good) grab a non inflatable version to start as crashing it won’t result in a broken kite with repair bill! Have a laugh with it until you can fly it without looking at it (I’m not joking!)
Then I’d look at some lessons on the water where you can focus on the board, waves, current , wind direction etc etc without worrying about looking to see where your kite is and if it’s in the right position!
It’s one of the most frustrating sports I’ve ever done to learn but once your up and running there’s nothing better!
My local spot has chaps in their 60’s with smaller kites and surf boards to youngsters ripping wakeboard moves and making me look like a learner so it’s definately possible to learn at any age!
Just be safe, learn the safety systems, be careful on non IKO instruction (Just avoid tbh) and while 2nd hand kit is much cheaper you’ve got to recognise that your putting a lot of trust in your gear so either take someone who knows what they’re looking at or look to buy some of last years gear from real shops!
Happy to answer more questions but it’s as much fun as it looks!
I’ve been kitesurfing for just over 15 years and I’m still average! Ha
In seriousness the kite flying is a skill in itself and I’d suggest if you’ve got access to a decent beach grab yourself a decent quality 4 line powerkite (flexifoil, peterlynn, ozone all good) grab a non inflatable version to start as crashing it won’t result in a broken kite with repair bill! Have a laugh with it until you can fly it without looking at it (I’m not joking!)
Then I’d look at some lessons on the water where you can focus on the board, waves, current , wind direction etc etc without worrying about looking to see where your kite is and if it’s in the right position!
It’s one of the most frustrating sports I’ve ever done to learn but once your up and running there’s nothing better!
My local spot has chaps in their 60’s with smaller kites and surf boards to youngsters ripping wakeboard moves and making me look like a learner so it’s definately possible to learn at any age!
Just be safe, learn the safety systems, be careful on non IKO instruction (Just avoid tbh) and while 2nd hand kit is much cheaper you’ve got to recognise that your putting a lot of trust in your gear so either take someone who knows what they’re looking at or look to buy some of last years gear from real shops!
Happy to answer more questions but it’s as much fun as it looks!
No experience of kite flying either and that seems to be a theme from both of you, thanks.
Something like a Flexfoil Sting as a starter? https://www.powerkiteshop.com/kites/flexifoilsting...
Trouble at the moment is I've got the longest beach I've ever seen right on my doorstep but I'm usually only here during the week and it's dark when I get home from work, otherwise learning to fly a kite over the winter sounds like a great way to start, but might have to wait until the clocks change back now
Something like a Flexfoil Sting as a starter? https://www.powerkiteshop.com/kites/flexifoilsting...
Trouble at the moment is I've got the longest beach I've ever seen right on my doorstep but I'm usually only here during the week and it's dark when I get home from work, otherwise learning to fly a kite over the winter sounds like a great way to start, but might have to wait until the clocks change back now
Blimey, I was thinking start with something small so I don't end up somewhere in the middle of the North Sea 
A mate of mine used to be in kites so I asked his opinion as well and he offered to lend me one to have a go with. I've got a month off over Christmas so will have to find somewhere near home to have a play.
A mate of mine used to be in kites so I asked his opinion as well and he offered to lend me one to have a go with. I've got a month off over Christmas so will have to find somewhere near home to have a play.
As others have said - buy a kite, and learn to fly it well, before going near a board.
Just makes sure you learn how to set-it up, bring it down etc safely, etc before going anywhere near harnesses etc (your first kite can be small)
My first kite was a pair of flexifoil stackers, followed rapidly by a 4.9m2 Blade2 kite (which I still have)
Once you are confident flying - then get lessons
Just makes sure you learn how to set-it up, bring it down etc safely, etc before going anywhere near harnesses etc (your first kite can be small)
My first kite was a pair of flexifoil stackers, followed rapidly by a 4.9m2 Blade2 kite (which I still have)
Once you are confident flying - then get lessons
Unusual to get everyone advising the same thing on PH Great stuff, thanks.
Turns out my mate who used to be quite in to kites has a collection ranging from 2 m^2 to 5.4m^2, which sounds a bit too big for a beginner
Going to meet up with him to show me the ropes (strings) and he's happy to lend me one a bit. So hopefully I can learn the basics with something relatively small and then if I'm back out here in the spring I'll look at getting something bigger I can fly on the beach with a view to having a go at boarding later in the year.
Great stuff, thanks.Turns out my mate who used to be quite in to kites has a collection ranging from 2 m^2 to 5.4m^2, which sounds a bit too big for a beginner
Going to meet up with him to show me the ropes (strings) and he's happy to lend me one a bit. So hopefully I can learn the basics with something relatively small and then if I'm back out here in the spring I'll look at getting something bigger I can fly on the beach with a view to having a go at boarding later in the year.
Everything mentioned above is good advice. You will probably find you learn the basics with the kite pretty quickly so you'll need to get into a harness and flying something bigger after a few hours on the trainer kite so you can feel how to generate and most importantly control the power of the kite.
Tips from when I learnt a few years ago: try to learn somewhere with shallow, flat water. Trying to learn in deep water, shore break or chop is much more difficult. Try to learn somewhere warm so you don't have to wear a wetsuit or drysuit. Getting the board on is easier in shorts and t shirt.
Learn in a seat harness, much easier than a waist harness. You say you're middle aged so a seat harness is much easier on your lower back as well. I can't use a waist harness because of back pain.
Learn somewhere with decent wind. My first lessons were on a 17m kite in 10knots. Absolute waste of time for somebody weighing 100kg. It's fine for learning kite control, relaunching, etc. but no way you'll get up and riding in conditions like that.
Most importantly, take lessons from somebody who knows what they're doing. It's not difficult to hurt yourself. Do your IKO 3 if at all possible. A lot of places ask for your IKO 3 before they'll let you kite or rent gear. Learn to body drag and get good at it, you'll need it, a lot. Not many kite schools I've seen teach self rescue as part of their course. Ask them to teach you it. Personal experience from Brazil a few weeks ago, you might need it!
Edited to add: Be warned, it's unbelievably addicitve!
cheers.
Tips from when I learnt a few years ago: try to learn somewhere with shallow, flat water. Trying to learn in deep water, shore break or chop is much more difficult. Try to learn somewhere warm so you don't have to wear a wetsuit or drysuit. Getting the board on is easier in shorts and t shirt.
Learn in a seat harness, much easier than a waist harness. You say you're middle aged so a seat harness is much easier on your lower back as well. I can't use a waist harness because of back pain.
Learn somewhere with decent wind. My first lessons were on a 17m kite in 10knots. Absolute waste of time for somebody weighing 100kg. It's fine for learning kite control, relaunching, etc. but no way you'll get up and riding in conditions like that.
Most importantly, take lessons from somebody who knows what they're doing. It's not difficult to hurt yourself. Do your IKO 3 if at all possible. A lot of places ask for your IKO 3 before they'll let you kite or rent gear. Learn to body drag and get good at it, you'll need it, a lot. Not many kite schools I've seen teach self rescue as part of their course. Ask them to teach you it. Personal experience from Brazil a few weeks ago, you might need it!
Edited to add: Be warned, it's unbelievably addicitve!
cheers.
Well I've had a go with a couple of a mates 4 string kites today, a 2m Flexfoil Blade, and a Revolution. The Revolution is probably the better one to learn on but not as much fun to fly initially, and I'd be worried about breaking the poles, so he's lent me the Flexfoil for a wile to have a play with and see how I get on. I can see why people suggested learning to fly a kite first, they're fun but it takes some skill.
RizzoTheRat said:
realistically how many lessons is a middle aged bloke who's never surfed/skated/snowboarded going to need before being able to go out on my own?
I tried to learn in the UK but gave up because of the inconsistent conditions and in my opinion the lack of interest in the guy training me once he had my money, you really need a week of consistent wind which is why i decided to travel to Dakhla (western sahara) where there is a large flat lagoon and the wind is consistent.Being of average fitness also helps as it is largely technique not your physical power that gets you going, to start use a wait harness ,a big board and a kite that is right for your size. Once you have mastered the technique then you move onto riding upwind.
You should expect to to up and riding in 5 days but it really depends on who is teaching you. After that it really is about practice and commitment. I would recommend some wakeboarding to get the feel of having a board under your feet (look for a system 2 wakeboard park).
The thrill of getting up and riding is amazing.
My wife bought me a 1.8m Flexfoil Rage for my birthday, impressed how much power it has for it's size. I'm back in the Netherlands for a bit so hopefully the evenings will be light enough soon to take it down the beach for some consistent wind, up to now I've been flying it in fields that are surrounded by trees so the wind tends to swirl a bit.
Good suggestion from those above to learn to fly a kite first, it's fun.
Good suggestion from those above to learn to fly a kite first, it's fun.
Back in NL again had a 3 hours taster session with a local school at the weekend.
They started us on a 2m 2 string with a bar control, then a 4m 3 string, to make sure we had an idea how to control the kites, and then we got to have a got on a 13m with a harness. Holy crap that's got some pull. My little 1.8 will drag me a bit but I was bare foot skiing down the sand 5+ meters at a time We covered holding it stationary at 45 degrees so you could walk around the beach but didn't get on to full on body dragging which is the next step.
I definitely need to do more of this, but not sure if I've got much time before the season ends in 6-8 weeks time. Learning in the spring makes sense as I'll have a lot more time to practice, even if the sea is a lot colder.
They started us on a 2m 2 string with a bar control, then a 4m 3 string, to make sure we had an idea how to control the kites, and then we got to have a got on a 13m with a harness. Holy crap that's got some pull. My little 1.8 will drag me a bit but I was bare foot skiing down the sand 5+ meters at a time
We covered holding it stationary at 45 degrees so you could walk around the beach but didn't get on to full on body dragging which is the next step.I definitely need to do more of this, but not sure if I've got much time before the season ends in 6-8 weeks time. Learning in the spring makes sense as I'll have a lot more time to practice, even if the sea is a lot colder.
If you dont fancy getting wet and cold in the winter you could always try kite buggying to improve your kite skills. There are several clubs in the UK but if you spend time in Holland there is a good scene over there as well. You can buy small buggies for about £150 second hand and some fixedbridle 4 line kites can be bought cheap enough.
If you wanted to go the whole hog you could buggy on any lei kites you bought or even get some of the new closed cell foil kites that all kite disciplines are using nowadays
If you wanted to go the whole hog you could buggy on any lei kites you bought or even get some of the new closed cell foil kites that all kite disciplines are using nowadays
parakarter said:
If you dont fancy getting wet and cold in the winter you could always try kite buggying to improve your kite skills. There are several clubs in the UK but if you spend time in Holland there is a good scene over there as well. You can buy small buggies for about £150 second hand and some fixedbridle 4 line kites can be bought cheap enough.
If you wanted to go the whole hog you could buggy on any lei kites you bought or even get some of the new closed cell foil kites that all kite disciplines are using nowadays
Buggying and Landboarding are way too unforgiving if you are over 40 and you get it wrong! An easy recipe for a trip to A&E...If you wanted to go the whole hog you could buggy on any lei kites you bought or even get some of the new closed cell foil kites that all kite disciplines are using nowadays
For kiteboarding it may be worth considering combining lessons with a summer holiday and learning somewhere hot with constant winds - There are lost of spots around the Mediterranean this time of year or Egypt can be very good in September/October time.
Yeah, I can see the consequences of getting it wrong being a lot more painful in a buggy, they look like fun on youtube but I've not seen ay around here.
The wind's pretty consistent here on the Dutch coast, and the school I went out with the other week do lessons in 3 hour blocks which seems like a good plan, so I could take a few half days to learn.
Only just started a new job so not got much leave available this year for Mediterranean holidays, but the job is only about a 10 minute cycle from the beach which is convenient.
I think I need to learn to sail as well...
The wind's pretty consistent here on the Dutch coast, and the school I went out with the other week do lessons in 3 hour blocks which seems like a good plan, so I could take a few half days to learn.
Only just started a new job so not got much leave available this year for Mediterranean holidays, but the job is only about a 10 minute cycle from the beach which is convenient.
I think I need to learn to sail as well...
jesusbuiltmycar said:
parakarter said:
If you dont fancy getting wet and cold in the winter you could always try kite buggying to improve your kite skills. There are several clubs in the UK but if you spend time in Holland there is a good scene over there as well. You can buy small buggies for about £150 second hand and some fixedbridle 4 line kites can be bought cheap enough.
If you wanted to go the whole hog you could buggy on any lei kites you bought or even get some of the new closed cell foil kites that all kite disciplines are using nowadays
Buggying and Landboarding are way too unforgiving if you are over 40 and you get it wrong! An easy recipe for a trip to A&E...If you wanted to go the whole hog you could buggy on any lei kites you bought or even get some of the new closed cell foil kites that all kite disciplines are using nowadays
For kiteboarding it may be worth considering combining lessons with a summer holiday and learning somewhere hot with constant winds - There are lost of spots around the Mediterranean this time of year or Egypt can be very good in September/October time.
Thread revival 
Looking to start kite surfing when the weather improves (and we can ).
Having read the thread looks like learning to fly a kite properly in the interim is a good starting point.
Is this a good one to kick off with
https://www.atbshop.co.uk/power-kites/peter-lynn-i...
Think 88kg 50 year old, but would be great if my teenager daughters could use too.
Was thinking 2.5m?
Looking to start kite surfing when the weather improves (and we can
).Having read the thread looks like learning to fly a kite properly in the interim is a good starting point.
Is this a good one to kick off with
https://www.atbshop.co.uk/power-kites/peter-lynn-i...
Think 88kg 50 year old, but would be great if my teenager daughters could use too.
Was thinking 2.5m?
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