Learn To Kiteboards

Click here to buy used kiteboard equipment

We recommend you use our home page here to buy a nice used rig. That is the smart way to get in the sport and get a good deal. With a little time and instruction you can be out kitesurfing. A kiteboard rigging generally runs $1000 to $3000 but you can find one here for much less.

Getting Started

Depending on the quality of equipment and the age of the gear you choose you can get started kiteboarding easily. The gear consists of a kite, board, lines, bar and harness. After that all you will need is some wind and off you will be enjoying the good times. Additional gear may include a wetsuit, booties, gloves, hood, life vest and possibly even a couple different kites for varying conditions.

Lessons are offered at many plasses including camps or at many action equipment rental stores. You can look these places up on the interentet. There are plenty of entry-level packages available as the sport has become very popular. Kitesurfers sell their gear online at ebay all the time. As I said it would be very advantageous to buy your gear through eBay. Click here to see what is currently being sold on eBay for the beginning kiteboard surfer of the experienced person looking to upgrade their equipment.

Once you have your equipment you will find that it more than likely it consists of four lines. The middle lines connect to he edge that inflate. You would need to ensure that all lines are properly positioned and not tangled before use.

One of the safest way to get harnessed is to lie down or sit with you legs extended downwind in shallow water. Then one would place their foot into the foot straps of the board while the kite is kept overhead in "Neutral Position". Then, with a little coordinated movement, the kite is dived towards the water into the "Power Zone" in the direction that you are planning on going. By pulling on the bar and generating speed you will gain lift and power from the kite with the board initially pointing downwind. The kitesurfer is then pulled up and you along with the board are pulled up and out of the water as the board goes downwind. At this time the kitesurfer can then steer the board with their feet. Using the edge of the board acts like a keel on a boat. If the board is not edged into the water or wave, one will be pulled across the water like wakeboarding.

To turn a beginner can put the kite up into neutral by stopping and sinking backwards into the water, then turning the kite in the opposite directio. After that you can just start again. A heel turn jibe is a quicker, more skillful turn that is executed by slowing down, flattening the board, then reversing the board flat on the water by bringing the rear foot around downwind to eventually become the new leading foot. The direction of the kite is then reversed, which swings the surfer's path in a half circle, centered on the kite. As the turn ends, the kite is flown over to be in front of the surfer again. Turns away from the wind steal lift.

Click here to buy used kiteboard equipment

Controlled flying is possible and one of the biggest attractions of the sport, but more difficult and dangerous. Flying occurs when the momentum of the surfer pulls the kite. Before jumping, the surfer builds up as much tension as possible by accelerating and strongly edging the board. Then in controlled, straight flight, the kite is flown quickly (snapped) to an overhead position, usually just as the surfer goes over a wave. The kite must then be quickly turned to glide in the direction of motion, usually into the wind. A large variety of maneuvers can be performed while jumping such as rotations, taking the board off one's feet etc. Jumping has associated risks and as such riders need choose locations with suitably sized downwind clear areas usually referred to as the downwind buffer zone. Much cause for litigation has come about due to riders not exercising due care when jumping and placing the public at risk or themselves should they land on hard objects.

All kitesurf power kites designed to be used in the sea are called LEI, or leading Edge Inflatables. The kites have a number of inflatable struts along the kite and one long inflatable strut across the front or leading edge of the kite. The inflatable struts keep the kite to the correct shape for flying and also make it float in the water if it does drop into the sea.

A majority of people will use a 4 or 5 line set up on their kite which gives more control over the power of the kite and re-launchability. The original kites used were flown on 2 lines which uses the maximum power of the kite and is popular with the wake style kite surfers and boarders. Not until a couple of years ago all kites were C shaped kites, but recently the introduction of Bow kites has improved the safety, power control and wind range available from just one kite, but there are pros and cons for both.