LEARN KITESURFING ON YOUR OWN OR AT A KITESURFING SCHOOL?
You have got some kitesurfing equipment at a very good price and you decide to learn on your own because you think kitesurfing courses are too expensive or simply because there is no kitesurfing school available near where you live. At first it may seem like a good idea as you think it doesn’t have to be very difficult to learn, in fact it is not. Learning to kitesurf is no more difficult than learning to drive a car or a motorbike; the sport is based on knowing the right techniques and having a minimum of coordination. It doesn’t require any unusual physical strength or extra balance to practise, but just like learning to steer one of these vehicles on your own without any prior knowledge, it can be dangerous.
Risks of Learning Kitesurfing on Your Own
First of all, it should be noted that beaches in countries such as Spain are public. This means that they are for the use and enjoyment of all users as long as they comply with the specific rules of each beach in question. Therefore, if you choose a beach to practice kitesurfing where this sport is prohibited, you may have problems with the authorities.
In the event that you choose a learning beach where kitesurfing is allowed, you must keep in mind that other beach users also have the right to enjoy it. If there is any possibility of endangering someone by trying to control your kite, you should stop and look for an area on the beach free of other beach users and with enough space on the sand free of obstacles so that, in the event of losing control, you minimize the risk of getting hurt. Without someone to instruct you, it is very easy for this to happen.
Importance of Wind and Safety
The wind is a essential factor for the practice of kitesurfing, because without it your kite will not fly. It is very important that you choose the right wind directions and intensity to learn. If you choose wrong, you could put yourself at serious risk. For example, if your kite were too big for the intensity of wind that is blowing, it could drag you out of control. Or if the wind direction is not suitable for kitesurfing, there is a risk that the kite could drag you into the sea in an unwanted way. Therefore, it is highly recommended that someone who is an expert in this sport informs you which wind is the most advisable to learn kitesurfing.
All kitesurfing equipment has a range of safety systems that allow you to avoid a possible unwanted drag in case you lose control. It is very important that someone with sufficient experience tells you what each of these safety systems consists of, how to activate them and when it is necessary to use them.
Advantages of learning kitesurfing in a kitesurfing school
Having an experienced friend to teach you may seem like a good idea, but keep in mind that it is not as effective as learning in a kitesurfing school with qualified instructors with a lot of experience training kitesurfers. In the schools, they have the right equipment to progress quickly and safely with small, medium and large kites for different wind intensities. They also have lines of different lengths to adapt the control of the kite safely depending on each exercise to be performed. In the kitesurfing courses, the instructors teach the appropriate specific techniques at each stage of the progression so that students have a good base and can then practice on their own.
Progression and Specific Techniques
Kitesurfing is a sport that requires a progression in which it is absolutely necessary to be very clear about how and when to activate the safety systems, how to re-launch your kite when it falls into the water and how to control the kite out of the water to then practice various techniques in the sea. One of these techniques is the “body drag”, which is learning how to use the kite to drag your body in the water in the directions you want. This will allow you, when you are trying to learn to ride, to recover the board in case you fall and it disconnects from your feet. It will also allow you to get back to shore in case you can’t retrieve it.
Specific Water Techniques
To learn this technique called “body dragging”, it is best to have a helmet suitable for water sports and a buoyancy vest. It is very important that someone experienced in teaching kitesurfing instructs you how to do this technique correctly and is watching you on the shore to offer support in case you have problems. In all the techniques you practice in the water, always be very careful not to endanger anyone who is also in the sea. To do this, you must have a free area of at least twice the length of your lines in all possible areas where your kite can fall in case you lose control.
Once you have mastered the “body drag” technique, it will be absolutely necessary for you to learn how to do the same technique of dragging your body in the water while riding the kite, but this time carrying the board with one hand and controlling the kite with the other. This technique is called “body dragging with the board” and will allow you to bring the board away from the shore and the waves. You can then put the board on your feet and try to surf without putting anyone else at risk and without being disturbed by the waves. The “body drag with the board” will also allow you to return to the shore with the board in case you cannot return riding with it. This technique is also highly recommended to be taught properly by someone qualified in a kitesurfing school because, if you don’t do it correctly, the kite could drag you against the board, you could lose the board in the sea, or a wave could throw the board over you.
Preparation for the "Water Start
Finally, after you are clear on the “body drag” and “body drag with the board” techniques, it is time to learn the “water start”. It consists of putting the board on your feet while maintaining control of the kite and then moving the kite to help you stand up and drag you to start riding. It is very important to practice the “water start” away from the shore and the swell, as this will make it more unlikely that you will be dragged out of the water, hurt a potential swimmer or be knocked out of control by a wave. Remember that, in order to gain distance from the shore into the sea carrying the board, you must use the technique of “body dragging with the board”.
Conclusion: Reasons to learn kitesurfing in a kitesurfing school
Having read the information explained in broad strokes in this blog, you will have understood that kitesurfing is one of the few sports that require a range of technical knowledge and stages of progression related to each other, which are necessary to learn to control the kite which moves you through the sea. It is a super fun sport that is not physically demanding but in the learning stage requires mental clarity, attention and coordination. In my opinion, it is highly recommended to learn in a kitesurfing school because you can always do it safely and in about 6 hours of lessons you can get a base that allows you to continue practicing on your own. Taking into account that Tarifa is a reference place for kitesurfing in the world and that it is also where the best kitesurfing schools in Europe are located, I invite you to come and learn at Capitan Kite Tarifa. We have new material of the highest quality, instructors with a lot of experience and very good vibes to make you feel at ease and have fun while you learn.
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