brettoabroad said...
Hi,
I was an intermediate to advanced windsurfer about 10 years ago and still sail skiffs and yachts regularly. I am really keen to get into kitesurfing.
I should pick it up quickly (however I am ready to eat some humble pie with a side of sand) so I would like to know what would be a good kite and board combo to learn all the basics including water starts and self launching etc.
I am 98kg and live in Sydney.
Appreciate any advice
Thanks,
Brett
Get a trainer kite and learn to fly a kite first, my business will even by the trainer kite back, although we very rarely ever get anyone who asks us to buy them back, because continuing to fly the trainer improves you kite control and understanding of the wind window and how it changes with wind strength, shifts and gusts.
Once you have spent 15-20 hrs on the trainer kite book a lesson, preferably a One on One lesson with Kitepower. If you already know how to fly a kite you will get maximum value from your kitesurfing lesson, and almost all people that have flown trainer kites as we recommend learn faster and easier and require less lessons.
Its great that you are familiar with outdoor wind sports, but the reality is that you don't know how to fly a kites and good kite control is at least 80% of the skill required to learn to kitesurf.
IMO any instructor or school that does not promote the use of a trainer kite as above is more interested in getting you to empty your wallet with them by taking more lessons that you really need to. Any instructor that talks a lot is not a good instructor, the kite does the teaching the instructor facilitates safe learning, sets you tasks, observes you and then either resets and re-explains the task, or moves you to the next step and observes.
