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As a novice kitesurfer, you might ace the entire learning process and get shared with the same basic tricks time and time again.
With that being said, you have the chance to learn many things through experience. With them, your kiteboarding life will be in the breeze and your learning curve will become more seamless. Better yet, they allow for your possibly highest safety.
This guide is revealing some of the best kitesurfing tips for beginner from the veterans who have known them by making mistakes and through experience.
It is worth mentioning that the rundown of tips and tricks below handles a lot of aspects of this sport. These include grabbing your things, arranging the equipment, moving into the water, climbing onto the board, keeping upwind, relaunching and landing the kite, after your kitesurfing session, tidying things, and leaving.
Without any further ado, let’s dive into them.
Kitesurfing tips for beginner
Before you go to the surfing spot
1. Do not forget to bring all your equipment
Can you find anything worse than this situation? You come to the kitesurfing location after a long car drive just to figure out that other people are enjoying playing with their twelve-meter kite yet you did not take yours there after checking the 25-knot forecast.
So, the lesson learned here is, however certain you are about the weather and whatnot, try and take your multiple kites. Just in case, a few people bring their foil kiteboard. There are exceptions, undeniably. That is when you are in the area that vehicles may be broken into.
Remember to check our list for what equipment do you need to go kitesurf.
2. Prepare and tick off a checklist of essentials
Just count the essentials (on your fingers) before you move to the kiteboarding spot. These include kite(s), board(s), bar, harness, wet suit, and pump.
If you are among those who do not store the gear together in a specific space, it is crucial to make certain you get everything before you go out to the kiteboarding spot. A missing bar, for example, can make you lose some sessions.
We suggest putting your wet suit and harness in a sizable bucket. Protect the suit from any possible damage from the traps of your harness by placing it in a plastic bag as well. For the bar, use a longer bag.
When you set things up
3. Depending on only your wind meter is not enough.
Other kitesurfing tips for beginner? Speaking of selecting a kite for the current kitesurfing session, we recommend considering your natural body sensors and common knowledge.
Talk a walk to the beach close to the water, allow your face to be right there in the wind, and use your brainpower to compare the current speed of wind with your past kiteboarding sessions.
Else, for sheer novices, you may want to have a look around to discover anyone is pumping their kite, approach and ask them, and adjust based on your amount of skill, board, and weight.
However much you think you are aware of, do not just depend on a wind meter. Apart from the meter’s relative precision, the other kitesurfers may have an idea of something unfamiliar to you about the conditions of the day, say heat expansion and tide.
4. Use a proper wetsuit.
In case, owing to your level as a newcomer and/ or the conditions, you subsequently do not manage to relaunch the kite or lose the board, put on an adequately thick wetsuit which should make you stay warm. That helps in case you end up drifting downwind ashore for a considerable time.
For those who are a complete newbie to kitesurfing, for example, a fresh graduate from a kiteboarding school, we suggest you leverage a floatation jacket, particularly at times with the presence of waves and/ or blustery conditions.
5. Pump your kite later on.
Particularly with big wind, pumping the kite is advisable to be among the last steps before you get out. It will last longer when spending less time getting whipped by a heavy blow, etc.
For instance, after getting to the beach, you may want to take your pump, bar, harness, and kite out of the vehicle. Follow with wearing your wetsuit. After that, set up your lines. Next up, pump your kite.
6. Unroll your lines when walking downwind or upwind?
You can take two common approaches to extend the lines in the grass and whatnot. One is unrolling them when walking downwind (with your back to the wind). The other is walking upwind (towards it).
As for walking upwind, it is beneficial in that you are connecting the lines to the kite’s back. This way, you will see promptly whether the bridles are highly structured.
Meanwhile, how about unrolling the lines when walking downwind? The way allows saving the lines against tangling, especially in windy conditions, to be a breeze. Except that the space is not enough, we suggest going for this option. On the other hand, please bear in mind that it implies connecting from your kite’s front side.
See more about downwind and upwind here.
7. To pump the kite, be sure to brace the spine.
Your back may feel strained while you are pumping the kite. To stay away from that situation, avoid bending at the spine. Instead, bend at your hips while pushing the hips backward. Be certain to brace the lumbar muscles and in a gentle manner, you bend the knees. This is one of the surefire kitesurfing tips for beginner, indeed.
Once you do it properly, it can work as your warming up and cooling down exercises as well. It improves your blood flow through your heart. What is even more? Your calves, glutes, and then some will get a decent stretch when you are pushing the hips back and applying more tension on the lower back and abs.
8. Do not forget to close the struts.
Picture this: While you are kitesurfing far away from land, the bladder of your leading edge gets inflated. This is when your struts are of help. These will make the kite stay afloat. Best yet, thanks to them, you can sail the kite into shore. Considering their significance, once you have pumped your kite, make certain you close the strut valves.
Important: In the long run, deflating your struts might get more difficult because the rubber tubes become less firm to the touch. Do not worry, though! It is simple and not expensive to take the place of the tubes. And most of the time, there are replacements in new kites.
9. Do some strength training exercises like squats and stretches.
Ready now? Lines prepared, harness on, done with pumping your kite? Before running and hooking the bar to the harness, make sure you do several stretches and squats!
After your kiteboarding session, you will be pleased that you did so. Decent stretching makes a world of difference and helps you ward off back problems.
It is time to launch.
10. Take the kitesurf board out of the way.
Novices tend to allow their kitesurf board to lie in the sand/ grass between the kite and the bar prior to launch. It comes with no surprise if their lines catch their board at the time of launching, possibly dropping on somebody’s head.
The kitesurfing tips for beginner are, set the gear up in the half-circle. We mean the lines are as radius and the center point is for the bar. Get your board and place it in the space upwind from your bar. This way, the board will be behind you when you take the bar and face your kite.
11. Before you walk around your kite, tense up the lines.
Just disregard this trick in case you are on a big beach with plenty of vacancies around you. Yet, if between the kite and you are something lying all the time, for instance, someone else’s boards and rocks, you will thank us for the tip.
After hooking up the loop and being ready for launching, you are better off taking some steps back. Doing so helps tense up the lines somehow and allows them to hover above any hindrances. When walking around the kite to position yourself for launching, you will not have trouble related to your lines being caught in something at the shore.
12. Before launch, ensure the canopy is tense enough.
You might learn this in kiteboarding lessons. But as far as we know, many newbies overlook it. Since you are ready for launch and someone is grabbing your kite up waiting to release it, remember to see whether the canopy is sufficiently tense before you give the okay gesture.
Stepping pretty further upwind is necessary in case the kite is still sort of flapping. Never disregard it and get someone to release still and all; otherwise, the kite may bounce around, to begin with.
Come in the water.
13. Trim the kite.
This is among the most practical kitesurfing tips for beginner. To prevent any arising problems, say being dragged when getting into the water, make certain you trim the kite to the extent necessary.
On the other hand, in case the wind is not legit strong and you are close to the beach, you do not need to do so. Trim it when riding out into the area with heavier air.
14. Await until other kitesurfers leave.
Since you are going to get into the water, there is a good chance that you will run into other kite surfers riding near the shore. Some are moving out of the water Others are intending to ride back out at sea.
It is not uncommon that novices cross lines with another surfer. We suggest awaiting them to either walk back to the water or move to the shore. At the same time, your kite heads inland. In this way, it will not hinder their way.
15. Be careful with where you step.
The likelihood is, you step into sharp reefs, stones, rocks, among others, with your kiteboard in your hand and the kite up. So, the best prevention is being careful. Have the feet off the ground as quickly as possible.
Water start: The best kitesurfing tips for beginner
16. Dive and body drag the first time you deal with the shore break.
As a newbie, you may have difficulty water starting in a strong shore break. When getting into the water with the board in your hand and the kite up, you had better move the kite somewhat lower seaward, producing a little pull.
As the kite has that slight pull, you will be able to plunge the initial waves and drag over the shore break.
17. Avoid edging ahead of time or tardily.
Once getting up, many novice kitesurfers edge too-too. Indeed, doing so too soon prevents you from gaining speed and possibly makes it impossible for you to proceed with your track and power the kite.
On the contrary, you might begin to go overly fast at once, fail to have control, and crash in case you cannot edge after gathering a certain first speed in the windy condition.
Stay unwind,
18. Edge the board in small touches.
Have you seen veterans kiteboarding? If you have, you will recognize that they love edging their board in small touches, especially when the wind is variable. These are rightfully valuable kitesurfing tips for beginner.
Essentially, when you kitesurf, each time you notice a strong wind appearing, try and edge as much as possible. Be all set to let off the pressure on the board since the blast ends. Doing so enables you to make the most of wind boosts and steer clear of growing weaker in wind lulls.
19. Before working your kite, head downwind.
Beginning to work their kite once the wind drops is another mistake newbies often make. Conversely, when it comes to veterans, they deal with lulls by changing the course and then heading slightly downwind and not moving their kite hard at the same time.
We suggest working the kite just in case the lull lasts. That way allows for more apparent wind generated and the board saved from sinking. Again, only do so when you have to. You will lose a substantial amount of ground when moving the kite in eight shapes.
20. When you cross waves, head downwind.
Do you smash into waves head-on to ride across them? Please do not do so. Because it would negatively affect your ligaments and bones. Moreover, you may get sent flying the way you never want.
In preference, head kind of downwind before hitting the wave when you are raising the kite near 12:00. This way enables a little upward pull produced and accordingly assists you in hopping over the whitewater or something.
21. When possible, walk back.
Add this to your kitesurfing tips for beginner. When feeling you are being underpowered owing to the wind speed reducing, walk back up before you are way off downwind and suffer losses.
What if you continue to ride out expecting the wind to pick up (aka increase in its pace and intensity)? Else, what if you drift for overly long? Then, there is a high chance you wind up in a terrible zone downwind, say no stir in the air and reef.
After all, you will need to do way more walking so that you can return to your starting point. On many occasions, the wind will get stronger when you begin walking!
Drop the kite.
22. Hold the backline and pull.
Now and then, a minor part of wind is left yet the kite cannot relaunch, for example, because the current drives you toward your kite. Do your best to pull one steering line, allowing the kite to head around you and directing the lines at a dissimilar angle to the windward side.
As a novice, still, be cautious of the wind getting stronger and the kite relaunching out of the blue. If this comes up, the line held and pulled on by you is likely to cut your hand seriously.
23. Do not hold on to the board too tightly.
After crashing the kite, newbies tend to stress over their board floating off. So, they try and do their best to hold on to it, unfortunately preventing them from having the two hands free. As you are in the know, hands are legit necessary to relaunch your kite in light wind conditions.
Another possible hindrance is whether you are putting on a board leash. Make certain to untie it and let the board loose before you try to relaunch. Otherwise, there is a good chance that your board will relaunch with the kite. It is not hard to do body dragging to recover the board regardless of how far this gear has been drifting.
24. Leverage the wind to return inland.
Do you not manage to relaunch the kite? Also, is the wind either cross-short, side-on, or onshore in the bay? If so, do not sweat it. We suggest waiting until the light wind pushes the kite back to the shore. Unless you notice the wind turning offshore, avoid parting with the kite. Do remember these practical kitesurfing tips for beginner.
To return to shore, you may need a few hours based on beach configuration and windward side. Again, wearing a decent wetsuit should help you ward hypothermia off.
Let’s jump.
25. Select the proper area.
Remember, before you jump, observe whether there is anyone ready to rid or riding downwind from you. Plus, be certain about the zero presence of buildings or something far downwind. That is because you cannot be sure how far you possibly land, for instance, becoming lofted due to an unwelcome upper-atmosphere wind.
26. Select the proper timing.
We know it is not simple, particularly for novices. Yet, you are better off knowing the wind well before an attempt to jump big. In case of extra blustery conditions, you are likely to hit a lull and fall straight down after stepping up in the air.
In general, be careful when you jump in super-duper unstable winds. There needs a fair share of control and experience to do likewise.
27. Be at speed when sending the kite backward.
Other kitesurfing tips for beginner? Before you jump, avoid sending your kite not quite past 12:00 into the contrary half window since you are all set to pop.
For the best jump, you should edge extra hard. Follow with sending your kite backward in a flash and low when you are popping.
Leave the water
28. Once getting up, you should trim the kite.
While this is mother wit, many newbies often forget to trim their kite entirely in windier conditions, and once they get to the beach, and get up on their feet. Again, it may be dangerous to walk with the kite up when the wind is big. Thus, before you do, we suggest you depower the kite.
29. Unless the area becomes free, make the kite stay towards the water
This is the opposite of the previously mentioned kitesurfing tips for beginner about walking into the water.
As you get out of the water, observe whether the area has none of the other kitesurfers coming in the water with the kite up. With the free zone, you can prevent crossing lines. Otherwise, make your kite stay low toward the water. Do so until the other riders ride away.
30. When nobody is around, position the kite on its ear.
When the wind is high, you are better off not keeping the kite at 12:00 for a considerable time.
Have you seen nobody come to assist you with landing the kite? Also, do you have no idea of the best way of self-landing? Indeed, it may become hazardous in case you do not have any clue about what you are going to do.
We suggest putting the kite in the lower position to the ground. At the same time, have its ear on the grass/ sand. Follow with your attempt to attract somebody’s attention.
31. After the kite has landed, secure it.
Put down adequate sand onto the kite so that you cannot fly off. You may want to ask the one who assisted you with landing the kite to help you do so as well. Else, allow no power by holding it with the ears up. Maintain that condition until you walk up to the ears, seize and place it down on your own.
Either this or that, unfasten the bar from the harness once your kite works to land to prevent being dragged because of an abrupt, unanticipated relaunch.
It is time to pack up.
32. Before you disconnect the lines, roll them up.
Other kitesurfing tips for beginner: when your kiteboarding session finishes, once you manage to land and secure the kite in one of the ways mentioned right above, you can begin rolling up the lines on the bar. Keep walking until you get to the kite and disconnect your line.
34. Before you take off the wetsuit, deflate the kite.
As addressed earlier in this guide, pumping the kite should be the last step after you have carried out the entirety of the other setups. That way helps diminish the flapping time of your kite in the grass/ sand?
And this tip is the opposite one. Once you have rolled up the line, deflate the kite. In other words, do so before you remove the wetsuit, put on clothes, take the gear back to your vehicle.
35. Do not be in a rush to deflate the main strut.
This trick is helpful when you roll up the kite. To begin with, deflate the leading edge, especially in high wind. Next off, flatten your side struts. Allow the main strut to be inflated for the time being. Roll up the kite’s two wings toward the center.
As soon as you virtually completely finish rolling up the kite, deflate and folded the center strut. This one makes packing your kite a breeze.
36. Avoid folding the kite overly tight or small.
When it comes to collapsing the kite, the useful kitesurfing tips for beginner are: Do not fold it as small as it was in the packing state. Doing so may make fabric worn out more quickly. Instead, let your kite be as loose as possible when packing and collapsing it.
We recommend leaving a mild touch of air in your struts. In other words, avoid deflating them frantically. This way works to save the fabric from collapsing overly tight. Above all, more often than not, kite bags are sufficiently sizable to enable loose packing.
37. Before you leave the kiteboarding spot, do the checklist
Before you leave, it is always advisable to check the checklist you do before going to the beach. In this way, you will stay away from unpleasant citations, for example, leaving your kitesurf board behind without being able to find it again.
38. Make the kite free of dust and dirt.
Do you know the unmatched culprit behind the shortened durability of the kite is moisture, sand, and the sun’s UV? So, in case, following your last kiteboarding session, you packed the kite with plenty of sand and humidity, be quick to make it clean at home.
To be more specific, stretch out the kite, allow it to dry under the sun (with low UV). Use a broom to wipe up the fabric.
Have you soaked the kite in plenty of salted water? Then, we suggest pumping it up and use clear water to wash it. But on the other hand, do not rub the fabric; else, the coating will get removed.
Some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs)
In comparison with surfing or windsurfing, kiteboarding is simple and quick to learn, and needs less strength.
On the one hand, picking up the techniques on your own is okay. Yet, on the other hand, this sport is a high-risk one in case you have no idea of what you are doing. By and large, self-training is not worth the hazards.
With that being said, in case you are an avid self-learner, be certain you adhere to these steps (Discovering essential wind theory and then beginning with a trainer kite).
You may need between six to twelve hours of lessons to figure out how to kiteboard. Still, again, this is just a rough estimation.
In some cases, it takes over twelve hours. And in many real cases, it rarely takes less than six. Our best piece of advice is never allowing this to lower your motivation and passion! At the end of the day, not everyone has an innate capacity for flying a kite.
In a nutshell
Kiteboarding is among the most remarkable extreme water sports that might be technical to novices. Yet, when you do it for a while, things will be all way more understandable and you will see how everything can impact everything. We hope the kitesurfing tips for beginner mentioned above help out a lot in your journey of acing this activity.
For those of you who find the guide is useful, do not forget to spread the word. Also, let’s meet again in the next helpful posts!
