Learning to Kitesurf - 10 Things to Know

Yuri traveled to Hatteras with a kite school recently, and while he was there he interviewed a bunch of people who are learning to kitesurf. Here are the tips they had for anyone who is considering kiting and what they can expect as they learn the sport.

___

[Showmetheevidence-]

I’m new and making sure I learnt to release the bar fast was a help (I.e. when in trouble/too fast/unsure… it’s way easier to relaunch than to struggle with speed or waves or whatever it is you aren’t ready for).

[ShutUpandRideMTB]

Here's a tip from someone who kites 75 days a year in the Columbia River Gorge; me: Launch and land as many kites as you can when you're standing on the beach. It builds community and costs nothing, plus you get to see how better kiters kite. BTW, this isn't just beginner advice, it's for everyone. Great video! Great channel, glad I subscribed.

[jeffwilliams]

All of those are great -- one thing I'd add for progression (and comfort) is to kite with hands closer to the center -- especially early. With hands wide -- each input is: "Hey -- I wanna go that way -- RIGHT NOW!"

[jeradblazek]

Still trying to get others interested where I live, I don't know a single person who does this, so my learning curve is slow.
Thank goodness for the community on YT that I can learn from.
Peace out from Fargo, ND.

[jeromeserre]

Great video, so inspiring for beginners.
I got the Kite virus 4 years ago, and now bring with me friends to discover that amazing sport and I will sure share this material with them so that they get confident.
The first sessions are hard, but man, once you can make the waterstart, everything seems to get easier and more fun everyday!
Maybe one of your most useful videos to date (and that means a lot!). :)

[lrc]

Brings back memories. LOL. Only kiting for a few years. Started at 61 yrs old. So it's doable for an older person. I took lessons but I feel at least for me I would have taken more than one land lesson. Or get a trainer kite. Because I spent a lot of time in the water I was pretty good at body drag to get back to my board.
There were kiters that we better riders than me but didn't know how to body drag back to their board.
They would ask me how I did it. One guy bought a leash and the instructor told him not to use it.
Maybe a video on leashes. Thanks for another interesting video!

[davec]

Train in THE WATER. Just in case someone is a knucklehead like me. Developing kite skills with a small trainer kite on land is fine, but I used to practice flying a 13meter on a football field. Lucky i didn't kill myself. Get in at least knee ( better waist ) deep water a safe distance from shore and go nuts. An unexpected body drag there can be fun...on land, it will hurt.

[MrChrisnaron]

Perfect video for beginers like myself. My advice would be, if you respect and learn all the safty drills, you will have a blast on the water! With time it all comes.

[davec]

1:45 No. Learn from other people's mistakes whenever possible. I get what he was trying to say... i think... but mistakes often have consequences. If you watch a guy hot launch and break his leg... learn from that. No need to break your own leg.

[bctt]

Use short lines (5-8m) and body drag for 10 hours before doing anything else. Then get your board and do body dragging with the board for another hour. Make sure you can go upwind by now. Next, work on putting the board using one hand. Try power strokes to stand up on the board. If you can do all this, you are ready to use longer lines.

[jonathanheugens]

At the end, there are 2 things important in this order, keep yourself safe (you can't learn if you're injured) and having fun

[susansmith]

Hi nice vid! I'm sure I'm the oldest beginner, but I started progressing when I started kiting with a friend. I spent years trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, youtube videos, dvd's, you name it. But a friend can see and tell, and they phone you when the winds are nuking, so that means get out there!

[slawekkarczewski]

Great video for beginners, I would like to know more about point 5 😊

[upwindstockholm]

Good advices! Getting a big board and also dont being to eager to go upwind was two key factors that helped me in my progression. Also the thing about being focues and careful while setting up gear/rig the kite is fundamental. Ive been riding for over a year and always been careful but lately while i was out snowkiting it was could and i did not attach properly one of the center lines to the kite resulting in one of the lines loose after launch and kite went into loop. Still learning from mistakes :) P.s i got the accident on check snowkite in funäsfjällen, Sweden :)

[BooRay]

Well I started to kite in offsession - so all instructors didn't want to coach bcause of the cold weather.. But aniway I watched plenty of youtube videos, and realy paid more attention on safety videos. And most importantly everything I watched I tried to visualize how it works in reality and try to realy understeand it. I had some experience to ride wake cable(went about 2 times a year) and some kite flying skills from 10yrs ago, but you rly don't forget..Then I practiced flying kite on the grass field in light winds (round 6 knost) and got a good grips of it.. So later I waited for right conditions and went solo on the water.. Yea I know not a great idea but I was making sure I was safe at all times. Got planing but as I was more plowing trhu than surfing and I was also going rly downwind but later I had notices that i have to small board(128 - yea I know - but it was cheap).. So I later read on internet that for learning you need bigger board... So I bought a bigger board(153x46, 5 - this time the expensive one).. And I started planing right away, luckily this time the spot had many kiters so I could learn just by watching... So I figured that all are watching upwind, so I did the same... It worked and from then on I only had to master speed control and transitions.. I easily ride upwind in 2nd water session... But I think It is up to Individual how fast it learns.. For me in every sport start was easy but progression was always harder because I had to put more effrot in it and step it more out of my comfort zone.. I started this year in october and I had around 5 nice kiting sessions that I enyoied every single one. I had a chance to test stoke2 12m for one day and I realy liked it - specialy how predictable it is compared to my old kite, it was like it has autopilot.. Now winter realy hit us - so I have to wait now for a few months, but I got myself a stoke2 10m with a force bar for the next year and I am stoked already....

[kevinbradley]

hmmm.... aside from the obvious already mentioned (lessons, safety, etc...)

1. Get a Big Board to learn on. Can be your dedicated LW board later on. 2. Realize you WILL get this. It takes time. Just go. Then go again and again and again. All about time on the Water. yes, you will stink at first. 3. Pick the right wind days. 15 knots is about perfect for a Beginner / 20 knots and above starts to get questionable for a beginner. And lightwind (sub 12 knots) is really tough for a beginner due to inefficiencies as a Rider 4. Find a reliable kiter to help you buy used gear. I know this is controversial but there is so much good used gear out there for 1/3rd of new. But you have to have an experienced Kiter help you with this one.

[markthomas]

Hey, just started kiting in Toronto! Have a 3m training kite from ozone and was out at woodbine beach yesterday practicing flying the kite.

Would love to meet up why you guys at some point this summer 🤙🏻

[vvoss]

Where. Is this filmed? Looks like a great spot.

[synth]

Good tips, I like seeing the errors the beginners made trying to get up

[geokite]

Thanks so much for this video. A perspective I haven't had in 21 years, I don't remember these experiences.