Once you decided you would like to learn how to kitesurf you can choose how many lessons you want to book and if you want a private lesson or rather share with a buddy. On request we do group lessons or family lessons as well. Our recommendation is to do the first two three sessions with a buddy as the sport of kitesurfing is quite technical and requires lots of concentration at the beginning. It is good to swap the kite now and then to have a little “thinking break”. One session in a buddy system should be 2,5-3 hours depending on the conditions and your capability. Usually after 2,5 hours the human brain can not soak up any new information anymore.
Our Manager and Head Coach is certified by the VDWS and follows the highest international standards and latest teaching methods. Kitesurfing is a very safe sport, unless you try to teach yourself or if you start jumping over obstacles or more then 10 meters high. There hadn’t been even one accident in our lessons since we started the school in 2013. We teach in shallow water and very soft sand and focus on the risky parts of kitesurfing as starting and landing the kite.
If you are a total beginner we start with an introduction on land. You learn how to set up the equipment, how to use the 3 safety steps and all you need to know before to get an inflated kite up in the air for the first time. This can take up to 45 minutes, later you will only need 10-15 minutes to set up your gear.
Next step happens in the water. You learn how to start and land a kite, how to launch it from the water and control it once it’s in the air. You will understand the different positions of the kite in the power window and how to keep it in one position.
In the second water session you should have automated your basic handling of the bar and start to body drag (let the kite drag you through the water in the direction you wanna go) crosswind and downwind. You learn to estimate the conditions (wind, water, weather, obstacles) realistically and start making your own decisions. Additionally we will start with handling the board in different situations. You learn to walk with the board in one hand, body drag with the board and how to get the board on and off your feed.
The third session is about getting on the board. Sometimes the first meters happen automatically, sometimes it takes a bit of time. Most important that you have understood the whole concept of the sport and understand how to practice in a safe way without breaking the gear, hurting yourself or others. How to “self rescue” in certain situations must be fully understood by now. If this all makes sense to you, you are very close to becoming an independent Kitesurfer.
The self rescue and the theory lesson (right of way and physics) is part of the kite course. As mentioned before, nowadays Kitesurfing is a secure sport if you learn it in a proper way.
How quick you get on the board depends on you. For sure we always push you to your personal limits and move on as soon as you feel comfortable with your skills. The average learner gets the first meters after 10-12 hours. Some students are riding after 2 hours, others are keeping it a bit slower 🙂 In the end anybody has the chance to learn kitesurfing. If you are young or old, fat or skinny…. you will love it.
To book a lesson you are welcome to whatsApp (+27 64 64 567 33) us. We are looking forward to meeting you in our little paradise Witsand on the Breede River! We also offer accommodation right at the kite spot, for more information check on the main homepage.
Cheers,
The Crew