Hello Everyone,

I have been taking kite lessons since August 2012 I have learned how to control the kite, body drag, one hand body drag, how to release the safety and retrieve it back, Lunch and re lunch a kite. I am currently stuck with water start so far I have taken around 4 lessons one hour each just for the water start but i still cant get the hang of it. Money isnt an issue but sadly all schools are almost fully booked on weekends in my country.

My question is should I start learning on my own how to water start or do I need to stick with more lessons until i get the hang of it.

regards,
Omar

I stopped having lessons about the same time I was trying out waterstarts. It really is just a case of getting out there and trying it over and over again until it starts to come together.

Also as a fellow beginner, I can't recommend the Progression DVD enough. Go out for a day on the water, come home and revise via the DVD. Go out again and try out what you've revised. It will come eventually. Now it feels like second nature (almost).

+ 1 for Progression DVD.

For me it was repetition, repetition.

I personally don't think you need to do anymore lessons... at least try another 3hrs worth going solo.

You need to concentrate and feel what's going on... you probably know enough to get going. Also, on low wind days, if there are other kiteboarders around, have a chat to them if they're hanging around. Get their take on it.

Have a look at the Newbies lesson learned thread as well, as water start seems to be the No. 1 thing people struggle with and it has some suggestions on there.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Newbies-Tips-Tricks/Newbie-Lessons-learned-so-far/

Baby Steps!
I still remember the 1st time I got up and that was 9 years ago!

We had a great place that was knee deep for about 200m in every direction and nobody else around.
After trying unsuccessfully for over an hour (don't know how many sessions this had gone on) I decided to take a break and head towards shore (which was about 45 degrees down wind). Thought to myself: Try riding the board back rather than walking with the kite! What do you know, got up for the 1st time! I'M KITE SURFING!

I think the big difference was not actually even bothering to stay up wind at all, I was just happy to be riding rather than walking. Once you are actually riding, it's just a matter of time and practice before your "walks of shame" become less frequent and eventually non existent.

Benefits of a "down winder" have been mentioned countless times on this site but I recommend starting with a few short runs at about 45 degrees down wind and then a walk up the beach to get back up wind.

I'd say go for it solo for a few sessions as long as you are safe and always with someone watching you to start off with.

Happy kiting

Many thanks to everyone
ill try to avoid weekends, as it gets really crowded, and I really hate to cause any harm to anyone.

I bought 13.5m Best Kite Kahoona 2012 and I really regret taking that decision as I weigh around 86 kg and wind ranges from 10 to 15 knots maximum. I am planning to buy a bigger kite around 16-18 meters. should I buy a used kite or just get a new one?

See if you can talk one of your mates into taking it up too. Or post an advert looking for someone else in the area at the same level you can buddy with.
I'm learning with a mate and we are both at that stage trying to get up, and stay up, on the board. We take one kite out at a time and have a few goes each in turn so that when we come off we only have the kite to worry about while the fetcher chases the board.
It also helps that we can see what each other are doing wrong.
Oh, and the safety aspect of having a buddy there is priceless at this level.

Oh, and thanks Boardgirl, I'm still a long way off the 100 attempts so I don't feel so un-co now!

seat harness + big TT + lots of practice, solo or lesson = easy waterstart

If you stick with lessons get a 3 - 4hr, 1hr is not long enough.

first whats your height/weight

is there enough wind/are you using the right size kite/enough power

do you have a adequate sized board for the above???

what I'm getting at is if your using something like a smaller size 130cm board as a learner, at 6ft and 80kgs with a 8m kite in 15 knots obviously this may be the problem....

Ive had a couple of lessons and about to buy some gear.

I am just starting to get up and riding. Buying new gear I can get 4 hrs of lessons for $200. Should i take it or bar it.
Im trying to keep costs down but think the lessons are a good idea and I'm checking if I can have one now and the other in a months time.

I had a 3 hour lesson before and I can say that I was so tired and full of info by the end of it. I like 2 hours or less per lesson.

I found that I preferred being shown what to do by an instructor, him/her correcting my (many) basic mistakes, and then it's just a matter of going off and doing it by yourself over and over and over again until it clicks. After a certain amount of time you are just wasting money having an instructor there for hours on end when instead all you need is repetition. Once you have it nailed, go back to an instructor for the next piece of the puzzle and repeat