How you can learn to kitesurf in 15 hours: avoid my mistakes!!

There's a lot of factors that go into learning to kitesurf, and as a result you never get a simple answer on how long it will take. Here's my timeline, along with my mistakes, and some simple tips that should get you up and riding faster than me. I just didn't know what I didn't know until I had gone through a lot of extra work! #kitesurfing #kiteboarding

Gear:

Camera - Panasonic GH5, Panasonic 100-300mm, GoPro 9, GoPro Max, DJI Mavic Air
Kites - Core Xlite 12m , Core Nexus 2 9m, Core XR4 15m, 12m, 9m, 7m, Sensor 3 Bar
Kiteboard - Core Fusion 138, Nobile Infinity Foil Splitboard, Slingshot Celero Surfboard
Foil - Slingshot Hoverglide with Space Skate , Infinity 76, Apollo 60 wings
Gear - Ion Booster Vest, NP Helmet, Patagonia 3/2 wetsuit, Solite Boots

0:00 - Intro
0:34 - Quick Take
1:17 - Lessons timeline
3:20 - Riding upwind
6:37 - Riding independently
9:23 - Jumping & tricks
11:08 - Conclusion

Music:

Little Pieces by Sebastian Pangal
Anytime by Walz
Finale and Out Muddin by Milano
Get Hit by Monako
Champion by Cosmonkey

[JamesLamb]

I took my first lessons at age 59. Maybe because of lack of flexibility, but compounded by choppy water (and depth), the hardest/slowest part for me was getting my feet in the straps without losing control of the kite.

[bodurango]

Great informative video. Thanks. My kiteboarding journey has been much slower than yours . . . for many reasons that I won't get into. Friends of mine have tried to get into kiteboarding and given up. It can be an expensive sport. It is also frustrating at times. You are at the mercy of the wind . . . which can be fickle. But the beauty of the sport keeps me motivated. I love playing in, and with, nature. I am resigned to being the "world's slowest progressing kiteboarder". Yesterday my kite inverted and in the ensuing chaos I lost my board. But I am not giving up. It really is about the journey for me. And I am confident the journey will be worth it. My best advice for getting into kiteboarding: find a good kiteboarder friend with a jetski who can watch over you and get you back home.

[stephenbarron]

I got myself a 4-line trainer kite after flying larger kites in strong winds. This was still on land while just practicing with the kites. I found it very helpful. After just a couple hours with a 2.5m kite, going back to the bigger kites just made so much more sense, especially the power/de-power aspect of the bar. I enjoyed your video a lot. Your experience matched mine quite closely, with exception of your remarks about a trainer kite.

[stevefaulkner]

Super helpful and organized! Thanks for collecting and sharing your journey

[OCEANBOUND]

A few months late here but better late than never!
I honestly kinda cringed when I saw this title, I thought you were going in the direction of you can do it on your own without lessons. But I'm glad I watched, sweet video bud. Love your thoughts. Great job editing. High 5!

[slappysurf]

There are two huge things that can either drastically reduce the time it takes to learn or drastically reduce the cost and increase the opportunities to learn that I would like to add:

1. Shallow water! It makes such a difference to the physical aspects of learning to kite when you can stand up at any time which means more endurance, better focus, more enjoyable experience.

2. Flysurfer Peak 4 (and maybe the new Hybrid they have coming out). This kite is simple amazing for learning to kite for a few reasons:

2a. It's super safe. You can be flying this kite safely independently after an hour on land intro course. It generates almost no lift and is pretty much impossible to jump with. It also has a very big top end so if you are overpowered it's still manageable and the kite will let you know it's overpowered by all the flapping.

2b. It flies in light winds amazingly well. With LEI kites you have to know what you are doing to fly them in light winds but the Peak 4 flies like a normal kite in only 8 knots. This makes it so you can learn to kite in safer conditions when then winds are 8-12 knots and it gives you way more opportunity to get out and learn because if it's sunny out near the ocean you'll usually get a 8-12 knot sea breeze.

2c. It's a real 4 line depower kite that you can fly and crash on land without destroying it.

2d. If you pair up with another person for relaunching this kite works very well in shallow water. Often the great shallow water spots will only have light winds so learning in them can be difficult, but not with the Peak 4. On top of that the fact that it completely stops once it hits the water is another big safety plus.

2e. It's super well suited to teaching kids. A 100 lbs kid can fully ride down wind in 10 knots of wind and if they loop the kite 8 knots of wind.

I have taught both kids and 175 lbs adults on this kite in 7-12 knots and it really does accelerate the learning process. It's also very affordable and has great re-sale value as they are really fun kites to hydrofoil with.

[truthhurts]

My tip is learning on a big kite like a 15m or 12m with small bar setting, big kites move slower so you won't mess up as much, once you ready to water start make sure you are well powered makes it much easier and you will be able to stay up wind just park and ride, flat water makes it easy to get board on your feet let the kite pull you onto board, I find jumping in waves makes it easier as it gives you something to time your jumps off

[adlbh]

Great video 👍
A lot of people were waiting for this one.
Keep it up 🏄🤙

[TomKitesurf-Passion]

Perfect video i can´t remember the count of people they ask me: "how long it takes to learn it" 😂 Most time i tell them: "if you have time & wind in 1 day" but normal like me 1-2 years on splittet sessions with dumb gear & conditions.

[yonasalem]

Thanks buddy, these are super helpful tips 👌🏽

[artyfly]

I think trainer kites are great, had a peter lynn impulse i played on the beach with long before i ever kitesurfed and going over to a big kite felt very intuitive.

[ItsNotFate]

Dude your videos and tips are top notch. I’m going to get into kitesurfing hopefully next summer since I’ve spent an arm and a leg on camping and backpacking gear. I already started doing a couple of jumps for sky diving. My goal is to conquer land, air, and sea!

[jrescpa]

Nice video. It's definitely an investment in time and money for the lessons but it's a great feeling to be finally independent after 20 lessons and two summers.

[anthonyg]

Simple - really good information - thanks Anthony ;-)

[SENIXCNTR]

I learned when i was 60Yrs old. now i am 67 and with over 100 sessions i have to agree to be consistent and practice.

[rubyherring]

Evan, that was a fantastically made and super motivating video! I really like your data-focused systematic approach. I'm currently taking lessons and there's one thing where I disagree: 2:50 - consistent wind spot. We've been having real bad wind - gusty and aggressive on one day and barely enough to launch on others. But I felt like this is actually the best way to learn to control the kite - I have an instructor right there who can help me overcome these difficult conditions with hands-on tips. If I learn to control the kite in difficult conditions, I'll be able to control it in good conditions any time. But if I learn it in good conditions - what will I do in bad conditions when there's no instructor around? Just some thoughts I have after a couple talks I had yesterday on the beach with others.

[verdura]

started my first lessons last year at 15, was gone all year without kiting but now i’m back at 16 and Im riding independently now with rented equipment. I remember seeing this video last year and thinking i’d be doing jumps on my first days of lessons 😂😂

[simontube]

Thanks for the nice video, really helpful - the only thing I'd add is the choice of board can be important, especially in light wind. Using a 160cm (something like the Slingshot Glide) made a big difference for me, it's more forgiving when learning to water start and take first rides

[EmanueleScanziani]

Gradation thanks a lot, I am on the verge of having an initiatory session …. And I am considering your advices… thanks

[CaspersCuts]

Sweet video! As I learn I'm using Anki spaced repetition flash cards to revise whatever I've learned from Kiteboarding videos on Youtube like safety stuff. I would recommend it to help the learning to stick, especially for guys like me who have months between days out on the water due to other commitments.