VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

HI, I'm new to the sport and wanted to know what the best way to go about getting started was. I am thinking of starting off with a training kite, practicing and reading lots on the net, then either lessons or maybe try to find someone to teach me (if that's even an option).

So basically I am looking for any good advice about starting up, I don't have a ton of money (starting school in sept) but I will spend it where needed.

I've been around water for my entire life and I recently just got back from sailing across the pacific ocean.

Kite boarding has really caught my eye these past few years and I've been itching to give it a go.

Any help is welcome,

cheers

Fly your training kite until you can do figure eights with your eyes closed. Then take a lesson (or you may die or worse) from Dwayne or Mary at Nitinat Lake (a 2hr drive), the best place to kite on the Island (unless you count all the other spots). And DO NOT go learn at dallas road/cook street, that is the equivalent of a skiing black diamond; go to Island View beach instead. One last thing, take a lesson. Or don't and in your will give your stuff to me. With proper training you'll have fun, it will be safe and you'll meet a great group of people.

Thanks for the help!

I would like to buy my gear first, is that a bad idea? I am very set on learning the sport, I've done some snowboarding and love it (though they probably aren't that related) and I know that I am not going to back out. I will for sure take lessons before going out if you advise.

My height is 6'3-6-4' and I weigh around 180lbs.

Where is the best place to get a training kite and what is the average cost? I've seen them online starting at around 100 and going all the way up to 350 (for water launchable suckers). There are 2 line 3 line and 5 line ones as well, I understand these help with control and will probably help me cross over the easiest but are they necessary?

What will lessons run me?

thank you for wanting to take lessons. Serious injuries and death are a blight on watersports.

Rabu wrote:Thanks for the help!

I would like to buy my gear first, is that a bad idea? I am very set on learning the sport, I've done some snowboarding and love it (though they probably aren't that related) and I know that I am not going to back out. I will for sure take lessons before going out if you advise.

My height is 6'3-6-4' and I weigh around 180lbs.

Where is the best place to get a training kite and what is the average cost? I've seen them online starting at around 100 and going all the way up to 350 (for water launchable suckers). There are 2 line 3 line and 5 line ones as well, I understand these help with control and will probably help me cross over the easiest but are they necessary?

What will lessons run me?

Buy your trainer kite first and work with it before buying all your gear since you are most likely 1-3 months away from needing any gear depending on how often you can squeeze lessons in and how fast you progress. You'll do more damage/wear and tear to a kite in your first 10 days on the water than the rest of the year combined so you might as well rent gear from a school.

A 2 line trainer is the least expensive, but you need someone to launch it for you when you crash it. Not a big deal and that's what most people get....I would also suggest you get a instructional DVD like The Fat Sands Progression Beginner one...there is no point learning to fly a trainer kite like a jet fighter since that's not what you are going to do in your lessons with a full size kite. Instead learn to fly your trainer the way you would a real kite which you can see in the DVD.

http://www.shop.bellinghamkiteboarding. ... 70-005.htm

Once you are kiting you won't use the trainer again so no point spending big bucks on one.

As others have said get lessons from a quality school. Elevation at Nihtnat is a good one, but they are about to close down for the season so not sure how much room they have left this year. I assume Dwayne teaches all year, but I don't know that for sure. And the season at WWW [Port Alberni] is still rocking with warmer weather/water than anywhere else on Van Isle so lessons there with Matt are a good option as well. If not there is kiteboarding instruction at Squamish as well as Bellingham Kiteboarding in WA. If you can 6 days in a row is way more effective than three 2 day sessions on the water spread over a couple months.

If you do buy your gear now don't be tempted to do anything with it until you are fully trained or under the supervision of an experienced kiter. Being badly hurt and/or dying is not unrealistic.

All that granny stuff said you'll love KBing and have a ton of fun once you get your basic skills sorted!...

Wow thanks for the great advice!


This is some very helpful info. I have been looking at some kites and I was wondering what you thought,

http://www.amazon.com/HQ-TRAINER-TR-1-8 ... 057&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/TRAINER-POWER-KIT ... 057&sr=8-2

Would one of these do the trick?

I am based out of Victoria, are there any lessons offered closer to my location? I'll be going to university but I really want to pursue this, the trainer seems like the best option until I can devote a good stretch of time to take some lessons.

Any rough idea on lesson pricing? If you're saying that 6 days would be ideal then that's what I want to do, I would rather do it all at once rather then having to travel in separate trips.

Hi Rabu,

Great idea to take lessons to get into kiteboarding!

Wild West Watersports in Port Alberni is open and offering kiteboarding lessons with the jetski assist up the inlet. And, the season is definately not over. Had lots of great, steady wind yesterday!

Contact Matt for more details. 250 918-9463

http://www.wildwestwatersports.com/kiting.html

Have fun!!

Rabu wrote:Wow thanks for the great advice!


This is some very helpful info. I have been looking at some kites and I was wondering what you thought,

http://www.amazon.com/HQ-TRAINER-TR-1-8 ... 057&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/TRAINER-POWER-KIT ... 057&sr=8-2

Would one of these do the trick?

I am based out of Victoria, are there any lessons offered closer to my location? I'll be going to university but I really want to pursue this, the trainer seems like the best option until I can devote a good stretch of time to take some lessons.

Any rough idea on lesson pricing? If you're saying that 6 days would be ideal then that's what I want to do, I would rather do it all at once rather then having to travel in separate trips.

I have the 2m Rush from HQ and it's a good trainer. Personally my advice would be to buy from a kiteboarding shop and develop a relationship with someone that can give you the advice you need as a beginner. The money you save hunting down deals online is easy to blow by making a poor choice and it's nice to be able to call/email someone at a shop with the inevitable questions you have. I lost part of my kite bridle when I was new and wasn't sure what to do...the shop I bought it from got me a spare for free and they also took care of a warranty problem on a harness for my buddy...worth the extra cost...just my $0.02.

Lesson prices vary, but if you budget $100/hr with boat/jet ski support and rental gear you'll be in the ballpark. You'll get better package prices if you book several days of lessons vs. a la carte. There is no telling how many lessons you'll need, but I'd expect 5-10 days at 3hrs per day is a reasonable range.

It takes 2.5-3hrs to get to Nitnaht and Port Alberni on the island and 4-4.5hr to get to Squamish/Bellingham incl the ferry. If you are going for a solid 6 day set of lessons I'd pick the spot with the best wind at the time of year you are going and best instruction vs. the closest.

Rabu, I'm 4 lessons into kiting now, I'm nowhere near going out by myself and haven't even got sustained ride in yet. I'm old and a slow learner though. Lessons are expensive (usually around $100 an hour) for two reasons: insurance and beginners being hard on the equipment. WildWestWatersports at Port Alberni is another alternative noone's mentioned yet (edit: I see Sandy has jumped in to fix that). Good conditions for beginners at the right venue are too unpredictable for anyone to offer lessons in town.

You could learn to windsurf for about a third of the cost, even with lessons! At Floras Lake, Oregon, kiting lessons are about $100US an hour but you can get a 3-hour windsurfing lesson from the same school for $75. Most of the difference is insurance, with gear a smaller part.

May i suggest to all kiteboarders who wish to start kiteboarding
later than September.
There are only a few weeks of good weather left of good conditions
to learn.
As a experienced kiteboarder and teacher.
I would like to say that it would be to you best interest to take lessons
in the spring that way you have the summer to practice and you will
have teachers on the beach all of the summer to help you.
Check out www.elevationkiteboarding for lessons,
and www.strongkiteboarding.com for Custom Private 1 on 1 lessons.

AC wrote:May i suggest to all kiteboarders who wish to start kiteboarding
later than September.
There are only a few weeks of good weather left of good conditions
to learn.

La Ventana [Baja Mexico] is nice place to learn KBing from Nov through Mar if you want a jump on the summer season and some winter warmth. Westjet offers reasonable air fares.