Learn Kiteboarding and Kitesurfing the Safe, Easy Way

Get Lessons From an Experienced, Professional Instructor

Our Mission Statement

The intent of this website is to provide a free, progressive reference,
for kiters to review skills already learned in a professional lesson environment,
and to provide information for non-kiters who would like to be better prepared
before taking professional lessons.

The start here section involves some hands on do-it-yourself practice with a trainer kite (1-3m kite). This is where the do-it-yourself ends. All information regarding learning bigger, or more powerful kites, is for self study only. We don't want this to be a teach yourself guide. "Start here" information and "Repair and Maintenance" info is available without registration. If you would like full access, registration and agreement of liability release is required. Click Here to Register. OK, now one more time in RED.

NOTICE!

This website is NOT intended to teach people how to kiteboard or kitesurf (hereinafter collectively referred to as “kiteboard” or “kiteboarding”). Kiteboarding is a dangerous sport, and can lead to severe personal injury to yourself and others. In some cases, kiteboarding accidents can be fatal. For this reason, no person should ever try to teach themselves how to kiteboard using this or any other website. To reduce the risk of injury or death, a person should always obtain personal instruction from a reputable certified kiteboarding instructor. Kiteboarding is an inherently dangerous sport, and the risks can never be eliminated. However, by securing lessons from a certified kiteboarding instructor you can greatly reduce the risks to yourself and others. The information provided on this website is meant solely to re-enforce the concepts and ideas taught by your instructor. If a lesson, technique, trick, move, or concept on this website has not been taught to you by a certified kiteboarding instructor, you should not attempt that lesson, technique, trick, move, or concept. If there is ever a conflict between what your personal instructor has taught you and the information found on this website, you should always follow the advice of your certified instructor.

What is Kiteboarding or Kitesurfing?

Kiteboarding refers to the act of riding any type of board while using a kite for pulling power and motion. When using a kite for pulling power across the water, it's commonly called kitesurfing. Kitesurfing is like wakeboarding behind a giant kite! Anyone who has ever seen a decent kiteboarder ride is usually thrilled with idea of trying the latest and greatest sport on earth. Check out the short video clip below to see a kiteboarder in action.

Where can I Kiteboard?

Wide open, windy spaces are the best areas for kiteboarding. Variations on this activity are widespread including kite-buggies and Mountain boards on land, snowboards, and various other ski/skate contraptions for snow and ice. In the water, you can choose from wakeboards, surfboards, foil boards, skis, canoes, and even boats.

How do I learn to kiteboard?

This website is designed to compliment Professional Instruction. If you try to teach yourself, you will either destroy your kite, injure yourself, injure someone else, all of the above, or even worse. Get at least one three hour lesson from a professional kiteboarding instructor. In the end, this will save time, and money, not to mention frustration, and possibly your life.

How Long Does it Take to Learn How to Kiteboard?

In our experience this can vary greatly. The answer for the fastest learners is usually 5-6 hours of lessons if taken under ideal conditions. For slower learners, in difficult conditions, it can take 12-15 hours or more. Another factor is how much preparation one does for their first kiteboarding lessons. We say it again and again, fly a trainer kite, and get a good kiteboarding instructional video, and/or study this website. This is the best homework to get done before your first kiteboarding class.

What Are Ideal Conditions for a Kiteboarding Lesson?

First, you want to choose a reputable kiteboarding school with certified instructors. A kiteboarding school offering boat or wave runner support will allow you to maximize your learning, as the process of learning to kiteboard involves getting dragged far downwind by the kite. Without a boat, you spend much of the lesson time dragging your equipment back to where you started, which is tiring. Also, without a boat, how is your instructor going to keep up with you so you can hear them, and more importantly, without a boat, how is the instructor going to get to you if you have a problem?

For on site conditions, steady wind makes flying the kite much easier; with gusty or inconsistent winds, the kite often drops out of the sky. You can't learn as fast if your kite is on the water all the time. Shallow and flat water make learning WAY easier as rough water makes it hard to do everything from getting the board on your feet, getting up on the board, and staying balanced on the board once your're up and riding. Shallow water is great for making the kite easier to relaunch after it's been crashed. Also, it's nice to stand up and get the water out of your nose after taking a face first high speed plunge.

**How To Kiteboard™ - Dos Sonrisas LLC