Beginner Kiteboard Series
The Beginner Kiteboard Series is designed to give you a basic skill level with solid control of the kite, so that you will be able to go kiteboarding on your own safely. You should expect to need three to five lessons. Having experience in other sports that involve sailing or flying is an advantage. Experience in wakeboarding, waterskiing, surfing and other water sports can help accelerate your learning. Experienced athletes tend to get to a basic level in three lessons or a more proficient level (kiteboarding upwind) in 5 lessons. Some people have flown 2-line kites for hundreds of hours and can translate this experience directly into kite control. They can reach a basic level in two lessons and kiteboard upwind in three lessons. If you are almost up and going, but cannot stay on the board, you might want a one or two lessons, Often the thing keeping students from riding is lack of kite control. If the kite is undercontrol, you will progress quickly. We will start with a through description of how waterstarting should work, followed by a demonstration, and then a series of exercises that lead you toward waterstarting and moving across the water under control.
This series generally requires three to five lessons to complete. It is designed to bring kiteboarders to the level where they are ready to buy equipment and start kiteboarding on their own. Every student learns at a different speed and we will progress through the skills at your pace.
Ground School (This will be part of each lesson.)
We will start with a 30-80 minute classroom session to give you a clear understanding of kite control, how to utilize the wind’s power and how to avoid the dangers of kiteboarding. This discussion is critical to your safety and will speed your learning once you are in the water.
Kite Control
This lesson is designed to help you learn to maneuver the kite through the patterns you will use to waterstart and kiteboard in the following lessons. You will learn to launch and land the kite as well as learn to relaunch the kite from the water. This lesson will finish with some bodysurfing behind the kite. You will use a small 4-meter kite in waist deep water.
Kite Power
This lesson will be focused on using the kite to generate controlled power with bar presser and precise movements of the kite. You will practice moving the kite to pull yourself out of the water and across its surface on your chest at a controlled speed. You will also work on improving your kite relaunching skills. You will use a medium sized 4 or 6-meter kite in waist deep and deeper water.
Waterstarts and Basic Riding
In this lesson you will learn to use the kite to lift yourself out of the water and across the surface on to your board. We will use a number of different exercises to break down this critical set of skills so that you can move through the learning process quickly. We will work on waterstarting to the right, waterstarting to the left, controlling your speed on the board, and stopping without crashing. You will use a medium sized 4 or 6-meter kite in waist deep water.
Combined Lesson for Transfer Students
This lesson is designed to develop the more advanced skills necessary for good kite control during sustained rides. We will review the subjects that should have been covered in ground school, including how to generate controlled power and use it to kiteboard, as well as a full safety discussion. Once in the water, we will go through the skills you need to get on your board and stay there. We will evaluate your skills and focus on clarifying any misunderstandings and correcting any problems that are holding you back.
Availability and Reservations
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 Teaching kiteboard lessons at Hood River since 1999
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