Kitesurfing is one very emotionally charged activity. And these emotions vary from the elation of your first flight to frustration when things do not go according to your plan. Our advice to you is to be prepared for both sides of this coin. Let’s have a look at different stages of kitesurfing and see what does it feel like to kitesurf.
What does it feel like to watch other kitesurfers ride?
The thrill begins right here when you see a bunch of colorful kite canopies up in the air near the shoreline. When you see other kiteboarders ride, go fast, catch big air, perform tricks and stunts, all this can TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. This is when you may fall in love with this sport. And if you manage to get really close to where the action takes place the THRILL is almost guaranteed!
What does it take to select the RIGHT WIND AND WEATHER conditions?
This step highly depends on your location. If you live anywhere near the Trade Winds where it’s always windy, consider yourself lucky. You only have to find the time to go kitesurfing. As for the rest of us, living far away from the Trade Winds Belt, we have to wait for the right wind to come around. Sometimes several days can go by waiting and for this we do need a ton of patience. HERE is more on wind and weather forecast.
What it feels like to learn the THEORY OF THE WIND and kitesurfing?
This is classroom time. I bet you did not see this one coming. As much as kitesurfing IS an active sport, there is A TON TO LEARN. We put together a PROGRAM with over 50 DIFFERENT TOPICS in it. Every kitesurfer should learn all of them. So, how do you feel about this step now? Perhaps you can share in the section down below. But wait! There is more!
How much time do you spend with a TRAINER KITE?
Seems like you’ve learned EVERYTHING at this point. Can you go and kitesurf now? Not yet… You should spend a few days flying a trainer kite. It’s a smaller version of a big kite. You will be building your MUSCLE MEMORY steering a kite and this process TAKES TIME. You see, this is yet another step where you need to be patient.
Where do you go to kitesurf?
Finding and selecting a place for kitesurfing will require some research and scouting. Not every body of water is kiteable. There is a long list of factors that will come into play during this process. Your safety is important, so, do your due diligence on Google Maps, local kiting forums, and kitesurfing communities before heading out on the water. And even after you’ve scouted THE SPOT you need to make sure that the wind is right for THAT location. Once again, patience is your friend. HERE is more on WHERE TO KITESURF.
What it feels like to get ready for a kitesurfing session?
This part usually takes about 30 minutes. And we are not including the time when you are loading your gear and equipment into your car, travel time to the beach, finding a parking spot, and bringing all of your equipment and gear to the shore. We start the countdown when you begin to unwind the kite-lines and set them straight. Next, you inflate your kite. Then you close all the strut valves. After that, you connect the lines to the bridle system on the kite. Your equipment is ready at this point.
Now it’s time to suit up! Rashguard, wetsuit, booties, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat (if needed), and harness. You see, it’s quite a lot! Oftentimes, new kitesurfers do not realize how many little elements are involved in this process and this may make them feel frustrated. Sometimes new students become impatient and overwhelmed during this process of preparation.
What does it feel like to pump the air into your kite?
I briefly mentioned this in the previous step but wanted to focus on it a bit more. You will have to inflate your kite. The leading edge and all the struts. You will need an air pump to do this. And this can be physically overwhelming because you will have to make between 100 and 200 pumps to complete this step. This feels like a WORKOUT in and of itself. Unless your girlfriend can do this for you. 🙂
HERE is more on INFLATING YOUR KITE.
Let’s look at this from the bright side! This step is like a warm-up, and we need to warm up before EVERY kitesurfing session anyway. So, this is like achieving two goals in one step. Moving on!
How does it feel to BODYDRAG with a big kite?
This will be your first exercise on the water with the REAL kite and you may be all pumped and excited but riding is not the next step, body-dragging is. And body-dragging is a slow, now fun, boring activity. It’s needed, hands down, but there is little excitement in this step. Take a look HERE for more details on BODYDRAGGING.
Next step: Getting on the Board.
This is the long-anticipated part and you will be VERY EXCITED and thrilled when you take your first ride, yet you may need a good number of takes before you get the good one. You’ve come a long way, my friend, and the goods are just around the corner. Just a bit more patience, please! HERE is more on WATERSTART.
What does it feel like to RIDE UPWIND?
When you start riding, chances are you will be riding DOWNWIND, away from your starting point. How do you come back up to the point where you’ve started? You walk… we call this walk a “WALK OF SHAME” in kiteboarding, and you may feel embarrassed and humiliated while doing this. But hey, you are just learning and taking your first steps in this exciting and beautiful sport! So, cheer up!
And this is the time for you to learn to ride upwind to eliminate those uncomfortable walks upwind. When you master this technique you will FEEL PROUD! Most definitely. Not only this skill will save you time but you also will feel like you’ve accomplished something!
Making turns.
U-turns or transition as we call them is the next step in your evolution. Once you master these u-turns you will no longer have to take a dip in the water to change the directions of your ride. And it’s a stylish thing to do, especially when you carry some speed through the turn! You will enjoy this one!
What does it feel like to jump when kitesurfing?
This is the HOLY GRAIL in kitesurfing! Jumping! There are not enough words to describe the feeling of your first controlled flight with your kite! You probably will just clear the water yet you will feel ELATION, EXCITEMENT, and PRIDE, to name just a few. You will feel more powerful, more in control when you come to realize that you can harness the power of Mother Nature. Your CONFIDENCE WILL SOAR! Every beginner kitesurfer is looking forward to this step. Everybody loves the feeling of a flight. You will understand once you get there.
What does it feel like to end a kitesurfing session?
You are tired. You are exhausted. You’ve spent several long hours on the water wrestling that kite. And now you need to pack up. The sound of compressed air coming out from the valve when you deflate the kite is the saddest sound in kitesurfing. It means that the session is over. It means that riding has come to an end for the day. Yet you will be FILLED WITH JOY…
Now you need to fold and pack your kite, and this takes several minutes. Disconnect the lines for the bridle system. Reel your lines and wind them on the control bar – an additional chore. Take your wetsuit off, dry yourself up and get ready to drive home. It’s time to REFLECT ON YOUR SESSION and I’d definitely recommend focusing on the POSITIVE MOMENTS, on what you’ve learned, on the TAKEAWAYS.
Final thoughts.
So, what does it feel like to kitesurf? As you can see, kitesurfing is a great physical exercise that gives you a boost of endorphins and dopamine, yet it’s also an outlet for your emotional fulfillment. It’s great to have a hobby, especially when a hobby is loaded with so many positive aspects and has a ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT. I like to compare kitesurfing with meditation. A good kitesurfing session can clear your mind just like a DEEP MEDITATION can. I hope you will join our kiteboarding community soon!
See you on the water!
Related Posts:
Why Kitesurf – 20 Benefits of kitesurfing
Can I teach myself to kitesurf?
