BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Hey everyone, name is Sean. I am totally new to this. I don't own any gear but want to learn. Would love your advice on how to learn and what to buy. I don't know anyone who does this so I have no one to go to for advice. Can you help me so I don't kill myself?? I don't even know where to go in the area to look at and/or buy the equip since I'm not from here. Again, any help you can provide would be great!! Thanks.

First thing you need to do research local kite schools (WOW kites, Kitewindsurf, Boardsports, etc..) and take a lesson from them. Once you have had the lesson, your instructor can help you with the recommendation for equipment purchase.

Practice on a trainer before the lessons. If you have kite control skills you will learn much more.

Thanks for the info. Do you recommend any particular type or brand of trainer kite? How about a school, is there a really good one that you recommend?

there is no point in paying a school to learn to fly a trainer kite. You should really get comfortable flying a trainer, holding it in place, learning the edge of the window, twisting yourself to untangle the lines instead of looping the kite, bringing it really close to the ground and holding it there, laying down and flying, basically be able to close your eyes and know where the kite is. Then take a lesson and your money will go much further.

If the school is any good, when you sign up for a lesson, they should instruct you to buy a trainer and tell you what you should be able to do with the trainer before your lesson. When I was giving lessons, I told the students that they should be able to fly the trainer kite blindfolded and better they are with the trainer more they will learn during the lesson. I also spent about 15-30 minutes with the student who signed up for a lesson on the trainer weeks before their land lesson.

I agree with Sonny. Also, as long as the trainer kite doesn't break, the cheaper the better.

Advice here is spot on - more time on the trainer the better before any lesson.

Also, I tried Alameda 6 times and got skunked each time. I'd recommend going to the Sherman Island in the Delta for wind. Nat at edgekiteboarding (www.edgekiteboarding.com) is the guy to go to - excellent instructor and he's right behind you in a boat giving you instruction the whole time

Mr. Kong is correct, I highly reccomend Nat & Edge Kiteboarding, safety is #1

But KK forgot to mention, for a beginner (like me), though I have windsurfed Sherman Island for the past 20+ years, I still wont go kiteing there unless I hire Nat and the use of his boat. At least till I can stay upwind with no problem.

Sherman is no place for a beginner to launch or land unless you launch up-wind (in a boat) and land at Kite Beach. Unless I am mistaken, you should wait till you can stay up wind before you launch at Kite Beach....


I don't know, it's something to do with the rocks and my head...

Good luck and give Nat a call, 775-721-1132

Another awesome school at Sherman Island is Kitopia.
You can call Sandy or Donny at 209-480-2067

Both Sandy and Donny each have a jetski for support.