SHQ Boardsports Kite surfing Beginners Guide

SHQ Boardsports Kite surfing Beginners Guide

Kitesurfing is a super exciting and exhilarating sport, in order to enjoy the sport safely and maximise your time on the water we strongly advise starting with a professional lesson from a kitesurfing school, in fact we won’t even sell a person equipment unless you have had lessons or promise that you will have lessons.

 

First you must learn

The fun part of kite surfing can only happen once Safety (the number one priority when learning to kite surf) has been learnt, kites have the potential to generate a large amount of power that can propel someone through the air unwillingly if controlled in the incorrect way. We cannot recommend strongly enough enrolling in multiple lessons before taking on kite surfing by your self. Kites have built in safety systems that are designed to take away up to 95% of the power in emergency situations. When enrolled in our internationally qualified kite school Go Kite, you will learn how to safely control your kite and use the emergency safety in your first lesson before you fly an inflatable kite.

The wind is another important part to understand when hitting the beach kite surfing, each location has a unique set of conditions that allow each location to be rideable depending on wind direction, strength and tides. Kite surfing in offshore winds is widely unacceptable kite practise, the wind will become incredibly turbulent and if you have what we call “kite dramas” in the water, you will blow out to sea.

 By the end of 6 hours of lessons it is likely that you will be at a point where you are comfortable to go kite surfing independently. This does not necessarily mean you will be up and riding consistently in both directions. It’s all about the fundamentals, safety, kite control and techniques.

 

Time to get your own equipment

You can choose whether to purchase equipment before or after your lessons. Sometimes it is nice to have a lesson on your new equipment, therefore the instructor can guide you how to set up and use your kit. There are countless occasions when we see individuals purchase a cheap old kite off eBay or gumtree that simply are not suitable for use these days. Prior to 2008 kites were significantly more dangerous than they are today, this is mainly due to the introduction of bow kites. Bow kites have a bridle that allow the kite to gain depower by releasing the bar outwards from the body. It is imperative that you choose a kite that is suitable for your ability. The best way to purchase a kite is to consult your instructor and local shop for genuine expert advice.

 

There are 5 main pieces of equipment you need to kite surf; a kite, board, bar & lines, harness and safety leash SHQ Boardsports always have great beginner packages and expert advise for people getting into the sport, it is one of the oldest stores in the country, 100% rider owned supporting local kite surfers since the beginning.

Once you have the gear you can now unlock the beauty of kitesurfing. The wind and beach is free to use and you can explore many wonderful beaches local to Melbourne, regional areas, interstate or even go on a Moon Tours international kite adventure, the possibilities are endless.

 

If you’re not ready to purchase a kit, you can keep developing your skills by purchasing an Ozone Ignition trainer kite or a Progression DVD, these are both useful cost effective tools that can help you become a better kite surfer.

4 Responses

Leave a comment

Name *

Email *

Comment *