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Kitesurfing is the most adrenaline pumping extreme sport around. A divine mixture of flying huge, powerful kites whilst strapped to a small surf or wake style board. Carving endless top and bottom turns on the face of a wave, pulling technical aerial tricks off flat water or small chop in a wakeboard style, boosting massive jumps... it rules! Is kite surfing easy to learn? Kite surfing is a serious sport with serious risks - if you get it very wrong you risk serious injury or death. However, with proper instruction from a reputable school using the latest equipment, learning to kite surf is fairly simple and a lot of fun. The learning curve is steep so you'll be blasting safely across the water in no time. Although it is possible to teach yourself, this method is time consuming and dangerous and we recommend that all beginners seek instruction. The British Kite Surfing Association (BKSA) will be able to provide details of your nearest kite surf school. Many beaches now require kite surfers to hold 3rd party liability insurance. This can be obtained for as little as £30 from the British Kite Surfing Association. Do I need previous kite flying experience? Previous power kite experience will make learning to kite surf significantly easier. Kite skills are fundamental to kite surfing and learning how a kite behaves prior to trying to use a board will accelerate the learning curve once you enter the water. Many people wanting to get involved in kite surfing choose to purchase a small power kite as their first step. The new HQ Scout Power Kite is a perfect first choice since it has a bar control system similar to a kite surf control bar and is designed specifically to aid learning. There are plenty of entry level packages available and any reputable kite shop will be able to sort you out with suitable equipment. For starters you will need...
Many kite surfers also use a windmeter to determine the strength of the wind on the beach. This helps to make an assessment of the current conditions to decide whether it is safe to enter the water. Unfortunately, yes. Kite surfing is a very young sport and kite surf equipment manufacturers are currently spending a lot of time and money on research and development of better equipment. This inflates the cost of equipment for the consumer but we have seen massive advances in performance over the last few years with the current 2007 equipment making kite surfing safer and a lot more fun. Can I use older equipment if I can't afford to buy new kites? Kite surfing barely existed five years ago so kite performance and safety is still developing at a phenomenal rate. The 2008 kites provide improved safety, performance and convenience, and will allow beginners to enjoy the feeling of progression, success and confidence building during every session. Although older equipment is readily available, it will not be as safe or user friendly. Can I launch and land the kite on my own? Kite surfing kites can be easily launched and landed without any assistance. There is a specific technique required for different kite styles and launching or landing should not be attempted without assistance unless you thoroughly understand the technique involved. Other kite surfers on the beach will always be willing to assist. Can I kite surf in very light winds? Depending on your weight, kite size and board size, it is possible to kite in as little as 7-10 knots. This has accelerated the popularity of kite surfing, especially since wind surfers need considerable more wind to get planing. Can I kite surf in very strong winds? Kite surfing in over 30 knots is very dangerous. High winds are usually gusty and unpredictable, making kite control exceptionally difficult. However, advanced riders with the correct equipment will be able to kite in winds upto around 35 - 40 knots.
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