The time spent learning to kitesurf depends on the involvement of each learner. The most important thing is to discover the pleasure of the sport, but also to set performance goals to achieve. Whether you are kitesurfing for fun or competitively, it is important to listen to your own physical and mental capabilities. How long will it take me to learn to kitesurf? We answer all your questions!
Control: the first step of the learning process
The basis of kitesurfing is the control of your equipment and your body. This first phase of your learning process is crucial, as kitesurfing requires your full visual and physical attention. Thus, this approach to kitesurfing requires the acquisition of a good ease on the board, but also the perfect control of the kite.
It is then in this discovery phase of the sport that you learn to work on your muscle memory, develop strength in your limbs and sculpt a good hand-eye coordination. Your first few hours of kitesurfing are then about getting to grips with balance, the waterstart, and the wind.
Learning to kitesurf in stages
Step 1: The basics of kiteboarding
Learning to kitesurf can only be done in stages. First, you will discover the equipment you will have to master. Because it is by knowing the functioning of each part of your kite that you will be safe enough to start surfing. You will also learn about the technical terminology of the equipment, as well as the safety gestures and postures to adopt in all circumstances. You can only move on to the next stage once you have completely mastered all the elements of this first stage of your kitesurfing lessons.
Step 2: Discovering the kite, in the water
That’s it, it’s time to get in the water! The second phase of your learning process consists of discovering the kite, handling it and handling it safely. This starts with the body drag and ends with the Waterstart.
In kitesurfing, the body drag is a technique that allows you to recover your board, at several speed levels. You also have to learn how to get back to the beach in case of an emergency. While the Waterstart allows you to pull the kite out of the water and get back on your board. This technique calls on your basic piloting skills and must take into account your good knowledge of your own body, the size of your kite, but also the progression of the wind.
Stage 3: your first solo kitesurfing rides
In this stage of your learning process you will learn how to control your solo riding. To do this, you will discover how to manage tacks, but above all how to deal with a windward run. In order to master this last stage of your training, you will need more than 12 hours of lessons in total.
Patience: the key word in kitesurfing!
The wind being the essential element to the practice of kitesurfing, with the water of course, your lessons are often dependent on its presence and its strength. Indeed, depending on the season and the weather conditions, it can happen that the wind is capricious. In such circumstances, don’t worry, your instructor can reorientate the lessons in order to deepen certain notions in order to optimise your learning!
Ideally, you should work with a wind of 15 to 20 knots of average strength. In addition, lessons are usually held on a beach with little traffic, away from underwater reefs and other potentially troublesome phenomena.
How to get the most out of your kitesurfing lessons?
Kitesurfing is a very physical sport. A good muscular preparation is essential and allows you to enjoy your passion. For this, prepare your body before and after each session. For example, by stretching to avoid the risk of cramps and to improve muscle recovery. You can also do yoga exercises, for good breathing control and stress management. And most important of all is a positive state of mind, because kitesurfing is, above all, a sport of pleasure!
The most important thing to remember is that the length of time it takes to learn kitesurfing depends on many parameters. On the one hand, it depends on your level of involvement in the sport, but also on your ability to adapt to each situation. The wind also plays an important role in your learning process, as kitesurfing is entirely dependent on it!