who to take lessons from?

[mdc632]

Hi. I'm from San Mateo and just wanted to get some suggestions on who to get kiteboarding lessons from and when. Is it too late to get started this season? Thanks in advance.

Martin

[OliverG]

Lots of choices - for South Bay lessons you can go with Wind Over Water or Kite415, for summer Delta warmth give Kitopia a shot...in any case, not too late for lessons.

Here's some lessons listings:

https://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/for ... f=20&t=804

[Loscocco]

John from KiteTheBay.com is a great guy and has a boat that he launches you fron and takes you out right where the wind is the best. Def recommend him

[le noun]

Captain John has a great set up to get you going in the water and bring you where there is wind. Definitely not gonna get skunked with him.
However, I would recommend to play with a trainer kite for a while.
Then take a land lesson at least so you know how to rig up a kite, launch it and land it on the beach ( which you don't do with captain John since the lesson is from his boat).
Boardsports, and the ones named above do those land lesson.

[steve]

In my opinion, schools that should be at the top of your list:
Those that use a boat or jet ski for the water portion of your lesson
Those that use radio helmets
Those that give private on the water lessons... Unless requested otherwise by the student

Also make sure the school has current liability insurance

Steve

[Thor29]

The tricky thing is trying to progress after those lessons. Alameda is the safest place to learn but it rarely has wind this time of year. I took one lesson and then flailed and struggled all season at Alameda in super light wind. Never got upwind and barely was able to get up and going by the end of the season. Since 3rd Ave has the wind and is the next safest place after Alameda to learn (but significantly more problematic since it doesn't have that nice long beach) I think it might make sense to take lessons there so you have some idea of the local conditions. It's also closer to where you live, so that's a definite plus. I took my one lesson with Boardsports in Alameda, but they also do lessons at Coyote Point which isn't very far from 3rd Ave so might be a good option. (You don't want to kite there until you are advanced though).

[Aloha]

I support Boardsports and also Live2Kite which has not yet been mentioned but are solid folks also

Capt John is a good dude as well

There is no shortage of good instructors in the bay.. this is a great place to learn!

[mdc632]

Thank you so much for all your replies. Any feedback with Helm and Kite415? Capitan John sounds really good but I prefer to take the lessons at 3rd Ave or Coyote Point since I live so close to it. I'll be buying a 2m trainer kite this week to start putting hours in flying so that when I finally decide on whom to get lessons from, I'll be ready.

@Steve - I think Helm and Kite415 have the requirements you listed. So any will do?

Thanks

Martin

[ino]

I d say go to Ovi.

[mdc632]

Will visit Kite415 at 3rd. Thanks

Martin