One glorious day you came to the knowledge about the existence of one of the most exciting sports ever to be conceived by aquatic sports developers: Kiteboarding. You most likely made up your mind about wanting to know every little detail about kiteboarding and to quickly master all the tricks like a pro so you immediately booked your first kiteboarding course. Luckily there are countless kiteboarding schools and fellow wind addicts out there that have previously paved the way for you so that you can reach your kiteboarding goals and avoid all the pitfalls of learning. Here is a small list to ponder:
1. Not setting up your kite the right way
Never connect your front lines without checking first that your bridles are free from any tangles. Always double check your lines prior to launching.
2. Not placing your board at the right angle
Make sure your board is perpendicular to the wind. The board works like a steering wheel so make sure to put your feet in quickly and apply equal pressure on both feet once you hitch the winds with your kite.
3. Not knowing what to do with the bar
Stop pulling on the bar when launching. Make sure to lean forward and bend your shoulder toward your bar so you can have the bar pushed out before launching safely. Note: If you’re generating enough power with the kite you will feel no desire or need to pull the bar in and you will feel the lift through the harness. Soon enough you’ll learn to naturally gauge the power of the winds you’re harnessing.
4. Landing the kite and creating chaos
When it comes to landing your kite, don’t pull the bar so hard after the kite has landed, it can still hitch the winds and become severely entangled or pull you and/or anything in the way; also, it will be very uncomfortable for you and for whoever is helping you grab your kite. As soon as the kite lands and / or the helper catches the kite, let go of your bar and release the tension in the lines by walking quickly toward your kite.
5. Using the kite as a parachute
This one is self-explanatory. When you reach five to ten feet above the waters (or even more) you should always re-direct the kite forward. This will do two things:
1. It will pull you forward
2. It will set your kite at a 450 angle so that you can land downwind and use that speed to keep your board on a plane level. If you leave the kite overpass you and reach noon (+/- 900) you’ll begin to sink and will take a direct fall.
6. Kiteboarding too close to onshore winds
You should never do a water start without clearing some distance between you and the shore; your fins will get stuck in the sand, and you will face plant if you attempt to surf in waters that are too shallow. Take the time to walk away or do some body dragging outward, away from the shallower waters until you are at a good enough distance.
7. Not follow the safety rules
Safety rules regarding your gear are there for a well thought reason, no matter how experienced you’ve become, always follow the rules. Also, before your kiteboarding session, always ask the local kite center or local kiteboarders about the safety rules of the place, there might be some no kiteboarding zone or other dangers.
8. Kiteboarding is a cool sport, don’t improvise anything
Embarrassing Kiteboarding mistake… screaming or making weird faces or gestures when you are about to launch your kite; your instructor got your back! You should raise your thumb as an international sign to launch the kite.
9. Not learning from a IKO certified kite center
The worst Kiteboarding mistake you can make is to learn it by yourself. Always look for an IKO certified kiteboard center to learn the right way from the beginning; you can find great certified kiteboard schools here in Florida.
10.Not taking in all the good advice from experienced IKO certified kiteboarders
We know it could be a little hard in the beginning, but we also know that you will master it fairly easily if you love the sport. Establishing good habits from day one will help you master this fun sport in no time.