Before you go out you must know all your gear inside out. Spend some time on your lessons practicing setup and packing away. Be sure to ask your instructor to explain as much as possible about the gear you are using and how it works.
Parts of a kiteboarding kite
Parts of a kiteboarding bar
Recommended Kitesurfing equipment
An inflatable Kitesurfing Kite, free from rips and tears that holds air and is the correct size according to your body weight and the wind speed.
A working Kitesurfing pump that has the correct connection for your make of kite.
A Kitesurfing specific bar and lines that can be used with your kite and has an effective, modern safety release leash system that attaches to your harness.
A “twin tip” board that can be ridden in both directions.
Recommended personal Kitesurfing equipment
A Kitesurfing harness that fits correctly and has an emergency leash attached to the front or the side so it can be released quickly and easily.
A line cutter that attaches to your harness that you can access quickly
A buoyancy aid or an impact vest designed for use in the water.
A safety helmet that is designed to be used in the water.
A cheap mobile phone in a waterproof bag that can be carried in a pocket or in your wetsuit for emergencies.
Depending on your location a warm wetsuit, wetsuit boots, gloves, hat and sunscreen.
Check out my equipment buying guide and also my recommendations on how to look after your gear.
How to ride further and control your speed You are now standing up on your board but only for a few meters, it’s time to get in control of the power, your speed, your kite and your body position and ride further and further. If you are slowing down and beginning to sink into the…
Before you fly any kite you must know exactly how its safety system works. Firstly you must correctly connect your bar and lines to your harness. How to connect yourself to your bar, lines and kite. Always connect your safety leash first. Remember safety first. Your safety leash is attached to your harness and it…
Knowing how to set up and fly your kite in light wind can mean the difference between having the best session of your life or having a total “kitemare”. In light winds there is a much smaller room for error so your technique has to be spot on. “Golden” light wind trick and tips Light…
Launching your kite on the beach or on the water is arguably the most important part of kiteboarding. If you cant do it correctly then you are going to put yourself in danger or at the very least get seriously frustrated. Launching from the land and from the water has some fundamental similarities. These are…
An inverted kite is where your kite turns inside out. It will look strange and it is easy to tell that something is wrong because its shape will change. Pro tip – To minimise the chances of your kite inverting, make sure you pump your kite up so it is hard. A softer kite will…
All Kitesurfers are expert body draggers (also known as body surfing) even the pros. Body dragging is where you use the power of your kite to pull you through the water without your board. You have to be able to body drag to recover your board when you fall off, to get yourself back to…