Kitesurfing
courses

Click here for Course Dates and Availability - Whitstable

Click here for Course Dates and Availability - Weymouth

An introduction to the kite surfing - a short familiarisation with the kit then it's off into the water for a full day of fun. The lesson starts off with some kite flying techniques then onto "body-surfing" using the kite for power. Finally all your flying skills are put together with a board for your first kite surfing experience.


What does it cost? £95.00

Outline of course...

We can't teach you everything there is to do with kitesurfing in a single day - far from it - however if you would like an introduction to the sport this is the best way to do it. Taster days also make great gifts so if you are stuck looking for a present this is probably one of the best!
This day is all about having fun! We even set all of your equipment up for you so you can maximise the time spent playing with the kit in the water.
The day starts with a brief introduction to safety to ensure you know how to release the kite and know the hand signals we use to give you instructions and after that it is straight into the water to start some basic flying.
After you get the hang of piloting the kite we get you body surfing, using the kite to provide power, and then for the last hour or so of the day we get out the boards and show you how to stand up on them, helping you get into position so you can take a short run across the bay.

For more information about the history of kitesurfing go take a look at this kitesurfing history page.
The natural progression from this day is either some 1-2-1 tuition or a 3-day beginner's course which will give you the full training and certification required to become a competent kite surfer.

This is the full kite surfing certification course that we offer, geared around making you a competent kite surfer. The course is 3 days and will cover all manner of subjects whilst spending the vast majority of the lessons actually in the water developing and practising your new kitesurfing skills.

What does it cost? £250.00

Outline of course...

This is a three day course, at the end of which you will be a safe and self-sufficient kite surfer. This course is broken down into about six lessons which covers all the fundamental skills you will need to start kite surfing. You will also receive an IKO certification indicating the kite surfing standard which you have attained.
Our instructors will try to pass on the benefit of their experience over the three days as well as teaching you core skills. Each day of the course is about 6-7 hours long broken up into two lessons, most of which is spent in the water.
An introduction to the sport will take you through the basic elements of safety comprising when and where to kite surf, site assessment, kite surfing equipment, setting up and self rescue and finally some basic physics to do with flight [how lift is generated, how objects create shear and updraft] - don't worry it's not that long or tedious but it is important!
After that it is into the water with the kites where you can put all this theory into practice. We use 2-line inflatable kites that can be relaunched from the water. For the remainder of the first day you'll be flying the kites, learning how to "body-surf" using the kite for power as well as learning to relaunch them.
For the second and third days we will keep on building up your kite surfing skills, also practising self-rescue techniques to help you get out of trouble if you ever get into it and once you are comfortable we add a kite board and teach you how to water start, plane, edge and off you go.
You will get plenty of practice riding with short runs to start and "Station to Station" runs across Tankerton Bay when you get more confident.
If there is no wind, rest assured all is not lost, we have other modules for no-wind days including a detailed look at 4-line kites and looking in more depth at the range of safety systems on the market and taking you through the things to consider when purchasing kite surfing equipment.
Where possible and conditions and student ability permit we will endeavour to take students through 4-line commercial systems. However the main techniques of kitesurfing will be taught on 2-lines.
The progression from this course is to join the BKSA [through the Kent Kitesurfing Club] then come down and hire some of our kit [£30 / half day for ex-students only at any of our schools around the country - you will need to phone ahead to confirm availability of equipment] in order to spend some time on the water in a safe environment.
For more information about the history of kitesurfing go take a look at this kitesurfing history page.

Whether you are feeling rusty after the off season, want help setting up your new kite system or want to develop your kite surfing skills to the next level, individual coaching is the best way to get you there. Quality time one-on-one with an instructor who can tailor your lesson individually will quickly have you progressing.

Price: £30 / hour [min 2 hours], £90 / half day [3.5 hours], £150 / day [6-7 hours]

Frequently Asked Questions about this course

Q: What dates are available? A: Please see the list of available dates on this page above. Q: How much does the beginner course cost? A: £250 Q: I'd like to buy this course as a gift for a someone. Can I do that? A: Yes, either book them in on a specific date using the links above and send an email letting us know how you'd like to present the gift. Alternatively call the office and we can help you out. Q: What happens if there is no wind on my course? A: It is pretty rare to get three days with no wind. If we lose time over the three days normally it means there is one day left to recover. At that point we get you back to finish it off by filtering you back in to the last day of a subsequent course. Q: How many people are on my course with me? A: There will be a maximum of 4 students to 1 instructor. Q: Do I need to be able to fly a kite or use a board for this course? A: No. We assume you have no kite or board experience. If you have flown traction kites before then you will have a significant advantage though. Q: Will this course teach me to be a kitesurfer? A: Yes, the aim of this course is to make you a competent kite surfer and gain you accreditation as being so. Q: I've been flying kites for years and have buggied or landboarded for a long time. Should I do this course? A: Ultimately only you can answer this. If you are an extremely competent power kite pilot then you should probably look at some 1-2-1 tuition to convert over to kite surfing that will build upon your existing skills. If you aren't very confident in a buggy or on a mountain board then whilst there may be a little bit of overlap in your existing skill base, the amount of time spent under tuition will probably bring your skill level along well. Q: Will I be able to ride at the end of the three days? A: About 95% of people are doing short rides by the end of the three days. The focus of the course however is to make you competent enough that you can continue your learning on your own without endangering yourself or anyone else on the beach. Q: Will I learn on 2 or 4 line kites? A: We primarily teach on 2 line kites as they are more easily managed for the beginning rider. Ultimately all kite boarding is about kite flying ability and the techniques are identical on 2 and 4 line kites - even though 4 line systems look more daunting. We recognise that the vast majority of riders purchase 4-line kites so on every course we take you through the things you need to look at when buying, how to rig the 4-line system, some basic flight skills to illustrate the depowering mechanism and safety features. We always teach the fundamental skills on 2 line kites however. Q: How do I book a course? A: Click on the Book Online link above. Q: What do I need to bring with me? A: If you are on a water course: Something to wear under your wetsuit [board shorts for guys, swimming costume for girls]. A towel to dry off with and in the summer months a pair of sunglasses are a good idea to reduce the glare off the water. A: If you are on a land course: As you'll be out in the sun a hat is always advisable as are sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of the sky. You may also want to bring a little cash to get yourself some lunch. Q: Is there an age limit? A: We take juniors from the age of 14 who must be accompanied by an adult at all time and we have taught people over the age of 60. Q: Do I need to be fit or strong? A: Not really. A general level of fitness is expected and you should be able to swim about 25 metres happily if you are on a water course. Besides that however, you don't need upper body strength to fly a kite. Partly this is because we only use the right sized kites for your size and also because power kite flying is more about technique than brute force. Back to top