In hindsight, one of the best things I did when starting off was to have a dedicated kite buddy to go to the beach with, so you're definitely on the right track and good luck with the search.

Kite buddies:
- make launching & landing easier
- watch each other and are ready to assist case of accidents or runaways
- can learn off each other in what's working and what isn't
- can share the kite as you'll get knackered after 15 minutes and gives you rest time (expect this until you can comfortably go upwind - say ~10 hours)
- can share the stoke when you get each bit worked out.

Hi kts,

The way that myself and many others have learnt would be...

1. Grab yourself(and buddy) a small foil trainer kite. Something like a 1.5-2.5 meter foil preferably something with 3/4lines. You want something that is going to fly in lightish winds but not make you faceplant when you send it accross the wind wind into the powerzone. Fly this for a fair few sessions until you can keep it in the air while saying the alphabet backwards with your eyes shut. If you get a 7m and start playing with it on the beach you will break it or yourself.

2. Get a lesson with a local instructor. The 1st 1 or 2 lessons are the most important. These lessons are the ones that will save you money on hospital bills and broken kites. The main aim will be to get you safely launching, landing and body dragging.

3. Using the advice of your local kite instructor it's time to buy a kite and Harness (wetsuit,impact vest and helmet highly recommend). Your instructor will happily give you advice on what size kite based on your weight and local wind speed.

4. Remembering what you learnt from your instructor body drag, body drag, body drag and do more body dragging. When you think you are ready for the board body drag more it will seriously help with the next stage. (Don't be tempted to fly your big kite on the beach it will end in tears)

5. Buy a large board (I'm 80kg and use a 145x45). Take the board out in the water and start trying to get up. You will fail a lot and lose your board a lot (glad you can body drag like a pro now aren't you)
At this stage it's very hard to analyse yourself as you are trying to concentrate on so many different things from board position, kite position, leg position, bar pressure etc

6. Go back to your instructor explain what stage you are at. He/she will be able to quickly point out what you are doing wrong and point you in the right direction.

7. Get in the water and have fun.

You might be one of the lucky ones who gets up and riding straight away but most likely you will be like everyone else. Don't get demoralised if it takes you 10+ sessions to get up you will when it all clicks

After a good session remember to remove the massive grin as people will thing you are crazy.

You're better off with lessons in the earlier stages rather than the latter stages.

I understand the reluctance of spending good money on a lesson only to stand on the sand with a trainer kite and not go near the water. If one of your buddies kites and has a trainer kite, you can get him to teach you basic stuff like the wind window and basic theory, but as soon as you want to progress to an actual kite - it's time for professional lessons.

The good news is that once you learn most of the safety aspects of the sport and body-dragging (one or two lessons), you can learn the rest pretty much on your own with some help from internet videos or DVDs (Progression is a good series).

zarb said..
You're better off with lessons in the earlier stages rather than the latter stages.

I understand the reluctance of spending good money on a lesson only to stand on the sand with a trainer kite and not go near the water. If one of your buddies kites and has a trainer kite, you can get him to teach you basic stuff like the wind window and basic theory, but as soon as you want to progress to an actual kite - it's time for professional lessons.

The good news is that once you learn most of the safety aspects of the sport and body-dragging (one or two lessons), you can learn the rest pretty much on your own with some help from internet videos or DVDs (Progression is a good series).

thanks zarb - yep, I've had 3 lessons but since I'm not a natural at this I actually WANT to spend more time body-dragging! I've spent many happy hours on my slingshot trainer kite and feel pretty confident with the basic theory. I'll get there... if the wind would just meet me half way (nothing favourable for some time now...)

kts said...

first class advice Jimbobfredjack - but is it daft to attempt to take a small kite (7m) into waist deep water and practice body dragging by myself? Seeing as I'm still low on buddies!

Kite size really depends on your weight and location. If for example your 85kg and local wind is 15-20knots. I Wouldn't waste your money on a 7m and go straight for a 11/12m. But get one last lesson with your new gear so you can understand the workings of the kite and what it feels like. It will be a lot faster/slower/weaker/stronger than any other kite you have flown. You probably want the instructor to launch the kite and walk it out waist deep first time you fly it. At the end of the lesson ask him to let you land the kite then launch you so the first time with the kite on the beach you have someone to help guide you