HOW TO LEARN KITESURFING?
You’ve become attracted to water sports, you’ve seen others practice it, you’ve idealized the notion of flying over the waves….so, at this point you are asking yourself: how to learn it?! Unlike other various board sports where you can simply get the board and attempt it, in Kitesurf you need to learn the sport with an expert teacher, not even with some companion who knows how to kitesurf, but with a certified instructor. Learning this sport by yourself or without a talented, experienced, gifted teacher can be hazardous, however fortunately you can discover many kite schools available in the city of Miami.
I would advise you to pick a simple and safe spot, with easy wind, water and wave conditions, where you can learn calmly and afterward give you the chance to progress your learning experience into more the challenging spots. Ideally, you’ll find an amazing school with great conditions and you’ll find an expert teacher with knowledge on how to handle the waters, the winds and the waves. That is the reason why Miami is the best location to learn and advance, because of its natural conditions and because you’ll be sure to find a certified IKO Kitesurf school with the best spots to learn kitesurf, where you’ll find shallow waters and consistent breeze.
IS KITEBOARDING DANGEROUS?
People frequently ask – Is kitesurfing dangerous? – The appropriate response is always: no, if learned and practiced correctly. In the event that you learn with a certified instructor and at a safe learning spot, the risks are insignificant. If you try to learn by yourself with just a couple of online tutorial videos you may be at great risk of becoming injured.
In general kiteboarding is more secure that some other water sports however it is not to be taken for granted. In any case, in the event that you don’t follow the guidelines or if you ride in hazardous spots, kiteboarding can represent a genuine danger, so consistently I advise to enroll in a certified Kitesurf school with professional instructors prior to going to the water. Consider it like a driving a vehicle – you need and instructor next to you to learn how to drive-.
Are the kite instructors certified?
Instructors should all be certified by one of the major kitesurfing organizations such as IKO (international) or the VDWS (German).
Is a professional kite school better than learning with people who do it as a hobby?
Definitely yes, to learn quickly and safely choose a professional and certified IKO kitesurf school.
Do Kitesurf Schools take care of your safety?
A qualified Kite school must provide their students with appropriate safety gear such as helmets and life jackets, if they don’t have the appropriate safety gear it’s not a good kitesurf school. (Just in case ask if they work with safety boats as well).
WHAT GEAR WILL YOU NEED?
For kiteboarding, you’ll first need a surf kite, which may come in different sizes relying upon wind strength, rider weight and the student’s level of control. The kite is connected with the rider with a bar that has 20-25 yard lines. The bar is joined to the riders’ harness, making it simple to hold the intensity of the kite. Under the rider’s feet there is a board that can come in different shapes depending on the level of the rider. Also, depending on the climate I advise the rider to buy a wetsuit.
There are different types of boards. Check with your instructor before buying your gear:
Kite sizes
Kites come in sizes ranging from 0.7 square meters to 21 square meters, or even larger. In general, the larger the surface area, the more power the kite has. Kite power is also directly linked to speed, and smaller kites can be flown faster in stronger winds. The kite size—wind speed curve tapers off, so going to a larger kite to reach lower wind ranges becomes futile at a wind speed of around eight knots. Kites come in a variety of designs. Some kites are more rectangular in shape; others have more tapered ends; each design determines the kite’s flying characteristics. ‘Aspect ratio’ is the ratio of span to length. High aspect ratios (ribbon-like kites) develop more power in lower wind speeds. Your certified IKO instructor should explain in detail what exact gear is appropriate for you.
WHAT CONDITIONS DO YOU NEED?
To begin with, you need the wind! Kitesurfing is associated with water kite surfing which is the subject of these blogs, but there is a variety of kite surfing that can be performed on different land surfaces as well, for the time being let’s talk about kite surfing on water. Depending on the style, riders look for different qualities and conditions of the breeze, light wind, deep or shallow waters, big or small waves. Amateurs, free-riders and freestylers would lean toward shallow waters where it’s less difficult to ride on a continuous stroll and give chance for maneuvers. Particularly amateurs look for places with shallow waters, so their learning cycle is simple and safe. The ideal spot for kiteboarding is the place where the breeze blows every day and is not obstructed, so the force is smooth and unsurprising.
If you decide to practice this amazing sport, visit us here in Miami or visit our website to learn more.
