urban surf kiteboard lessons

[flemondo]

Hey everybody,I saw these lessons in the resources section of the site and was wondering if they're good ? Also would you do all 3 steps or just some of them ? (I have lots of expirience wakeboarding and dh skateboarding).Would buying a cheap trainer kite and flying it by mysellf be a better idea than getting the first step which is teaching to fly the kite?

[jake s]

Hahaha. Is this a joke?

Urban surf is one of the premier places to get lessons. Take the three lessons as you feel you need them. Just make sure you have reservations now. Wind has been fluky this year and there are a million of people that want to learn how to ride. Could be a while that you get in.

Take the ground course through the end. 1,2,3. You will not be disappointed. You will be up and riding by the end.

Have fun and be sure to take the lessons. They will save you time, money, and have discounts on gear if you go through them as do all kiting shops.

Good luck and which ever shop you go through you can be assured that you will get top notch service from the best kiters from Seattle, to Hood River, to Bellingham.

Well I think I remembered to say take the lessons...right? Hehe

[flemondo]

I'm going to buy all of my stuff used so the discount wouldn't be usefull then what do you think motionboardshop vs urban surf. The rates for mobo are better.but I don't know much about u-surf and do you think just using a trainer kite for like a week or two before my lesson would help/save money ?

[C.J.]

Both schools have top notch instructors. Urban Surf has the larger school and is the more popular option.

Your wakeboarding experience will come in really handy once you have the kite control down. Have you ever flown stunt kites before? Were you good at it?

Most people who get into the sport only fly a trainer kite for a short period of time. This is just supposed to get you comfortable flying the kite.

My advice, take the ground lesson. Based on how that goes either buy a trainer or don't buy one before taking the water lesson. You'll find out right away with the water lesson if you are a natural or if you're going to need more work.

I'd also recommend skimming youtube for kiteboarding 101 and progression how to videos. This will give you an edge when you take your lessons.

Then of course you could always say F lessons and teach yourself with a DVD and some used gear. This is not recommended but for some people it works out okay. Fortunately our summer conditions are pretty light wind which makes for a more forgiving learning environment but it can also be more frustrating because of light wind challenges.

Good Luck and welcome to the sport!

[theory]

Hello Flemondo,
I work for Urban. What I can tell you is that some people do skip level 1 and just get a trainer kite and practice for 6-8 hrs on their own. If you take the level 1 ground course we let you borrow a trainer for 1-2 weeks so that you can get some practice in on your own time.
Personally I went the route of skiping the level 1 class (when I was learning) and just bought a trainer. I had lots of stunt kite experience as a kid, so it came naturally for me. Also, I wanted to have a trainer so that I could get friends interested in the sport by letting them fly my 3m trainer kite.

Many of my students come in without having done level 1, but I also have seen some of these students come in with really bad habits when flying the kite. Having taken the course means you learn the right way, and we do not have to spend time in the level 2 kiting course breaking any bad habits.

That being said, I tell most students the #1 thing that speeds up the learning curve (outside of knowing how to fly a stunt/traction kite) is wakeboarding experience. If you are a advanced wakeboarder, chances are that you will be up and riding at the end of level 2 kiting course...and you may not need level 3. It is rare, by the guys that do it have been wakeboarders. This is because riding the board is very natural if you are decent at wakeboarding.

Other skills that help are knowing the basics of sailing....because that is also what we are doing. We have to tack upwind to be able to jump..which takes us downwind very quickly. So, knowing what angles you can ride upwind, what sheeting in and out means and does, are all things that help as well.

My advice to you is do what you think is best for level 1, take the course or buy a trainer and practice. You can also watch videos on flying a trainer (and other skillz) ..as CJ pointed out.

Then take the Level 2 Kiting course.
During the course make it your goal that by the end of the level 2 course you will be able to know how to practice on your own:
1) safely for yourself and for anyone around you
2) self rescue if neccesary
3) confindent in the 2 above listed criteria
4) know what beaches and conditions are good for you to practice on your own

Then, if after the kiting course you might practice at Jetty a few times on your own...and if it doesn't click and you are not riding upwind after 6-8 hours of practice at jetty island, then come take the Level 3 course and get a jetski assist where we can tow you out 1 mile or so and let you practice riding back in, where we get you some consistant riding and work on solidifying the more intermediate upwind riding skillz.

At Urban Surf we are fully insured to teach at all the PNW beaches. We have alot of fun getting our students into this awesome sport...and I think our students have a blast out there learning with us as well. If you are over 21 this oftne includes a nice cold post session beer in the pontoon boat as well.

That being said, all of the local instructors are IKO certified and are awesome people....so no matter what decision you make for lessons, you will have a great time and be riding in no time.

I might also mention that Urban has the largest fleet of IKO certified instructors...so planning this late in the game, we are probably the easiest to still get a spot reserved in the next 2-3 weeks...which will probably have the best winds. Once we get real hot, like in the 90s everyday, the winds start to be lighter and not near as nice as they are right now in July.

Good luck and hope to see you out there.

[flemondo]

Do you or anyone else rent trainer kites out .(I do have lots of sailing expirience so this will help too.)

[PMCD]

I will rent mine for 2 weeks for a 12 pack of redhook ESB

[flemondo]

I can't I'm 15 and renting from mobo now

[CarrotHead]

Find safe, fun places to fly the trainer. Don't be a kook. Talk up this forum. See you on the water once you get there!

[Sick Nick]

Have fun and be safe. I wish I could've started kiting at 15 you lucky dog. Good choice with MoBo

You'll be tearing it up in no time