Hi -
I hope I'm asking in the right forum but I'm an American coming to visit your amazing country at the end of March for my step son's wedding in Sydney. I'll spend a few days in the Sydney area but plan to spend most of my time up near Cairns and want to sail & view the GBReef.

While I'm there I would like to try kite lessons on water. I've got very limited time flying kites & my boyfriend says I do well flying the kite. I've tried snow kiting a little bit & scooted around some. I've flown a 4 meter and 7 meter kite with the harness & usually don't crash the kite any more. I should say I'm 54. In very good physical shape and ski & do all kinds of outdoor stuff but the kiting thing is on the top of my bucket list now.

So - I'd love to find a really good shop or person to help me learn to kiteboard in the water. I really don't know where or who I should check into but please - if you could keep in mind my age - recommend someone who is a good communicator and ~patient~ . My boyfriend says a place with boat or jet ski support is important. Would I be better off getting lessons in the Sydney area or up near Cairns
? How many days should I dedicate to lessons?

Thanks so much for suggestions and help.

Hi SP,

Welcome to kiteboarding! You will love it.

In Cairns, I cannot recommend highly enough the guys from KBC (Kiteboardingcairns.com.au).

They reside right next to the ever popular Yorkey's Knob beach which is perfect for all kite surfers from beginners to pros, with plenty of room for all. The bonus is that there is a nice flat water lagoon area for beginners about 15min walk along the beach. KBC will either teach you there or take you to other locations nearby. They are very good and have been very patient with my wife that asks a LOT of questions about equipment, location and technique. She was doing a refresher course. They are very good with beginners of all ages and are certified.

Give em a call on 0466914200 or [email protected]

Just a note from their website ... WE ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE SEASON AND WILL RESUME LESSONS IN MAY 2014.

Also another great instructor is a guy up in Port Douglas at Windswell.com.au. Forgot his name - guy with long hair looks Latino. Again they reside right on the beach when it's a good day and provide tuition, spare parts, kite hire and other equipment to get anyone out there doing it. Port Douglas is more an intermediate beach but then again with these guys any beginner can go out the enjoy the conditions. Again my wife had a lesson with them and they were very good teaching her water starts.

Let me emphasise that my wife loves asking questions and wants to know everything there is to know about kite surfing, including equipment maintenance and techniques. I've seen some students in other schools that don't ask enough questions, expect the trainer to say everything and then they walk away disappointed that the trainer did not "talk enough" to them. These guys are the opposite. They love to talk about everything and they ask if you have any questions to make sure you understood everything they said. They do not run it off a script if you know what I mean.

Yeah those two schools are great in Cairns and would not go anywhere else.

If you're in Townsville by any chance, the only other guy I can recommend is Flo from InTheLoop (intheloopkiteboarding.com.au). He is brilliant at kite surfing and at teaching it. He takes his time with you and again makes sure you know what you've learnt by keeping you informed, motivated and progressing. I know this because I've kited past him giving lessons and he speaks very clearly to his students.

Good luck.

Hi K
Unfortunately you are arriving at a time between our wind seasons
Sydney's season is coming to an end. And Cairns is just starting
You may get wind in either location. Book a lesson at each location and hope for wind

As for the boat thing I don't think anyone does that in Oz
If you have no experience on a board it maybe useful.
A cable Ski park will give you a similar experience. There is a cable park in Sydney and I think there is one in Cairns.
The cable park could be a good fall back if the wind is no good

Lessons should be mandatory with every kite sold in my opinion.

Just be aware that it's stinger season in Cairns up until June. Going in the water requires a full length lycra suite to avoid either death or serious stings.

eezeegowin said..

snowprincess said..

Thank you for the help. Since 1 person recommended the Cairns area & the other Sydney......Would there be an advantage to Cairns or Sydney for learning?
K

Please be aware that Queensland is an amazing state, however, the wary traveller needs to be aware that Queensland is full of Queenslanders. This may be a problem if you are used to using words of two or more syllables. Try wearing maroon and offering bananas at the first sign of hostility.

Say What? "offering bananas" you should mean "try offering Bundy Rum" instead. Much better as a peace offering to Queenslanders