Kitesurfing Online Lessons: The 3 Do's and Don'ts of Kitesurfing

[@kokis80]

Just bought the course. Your engaging and no-nonsense approach is refreshing and super effective. It's obvious that you do not only know how to do things, but you also have a self-reflecting attitude that is necessary for teaching. Kudos!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Wow thanks for the awesome feedback Kokis80! Great to have you with us :) Let us know if you have any question in the course.

[@dovereesserico7861]

7:00 30 knots with an 11.. I'm glad you are here to talk about this! 👌😅

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

For sure :)

[@aaronkent5826]

I have recently got interested in kitesurfing but have no experience or idea at all about it. Just watched all your videos for beginners and so impressed mate. You have helped me understand about it massively and can't wait for my first lesson now. Cheers mate and thanks for your time into making these tutorials

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Perfect thanks Aaron! Glad you found it helpful. Keep us updated on your progress!

[@awsomegamer-100]

Luke and Frances! I just bought your course and I’m so super stoked to get started! Love your instruction style and your course will be worth every dollar. Thanks!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Amazing! Thanks for joining the course :) Let us know if you have any questions.

[@moomin110]

You're videos are great mate. started kiting through covid and watched all your videos

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome to hear mate! Thanks and glad you like them. :)

[@delphinedamman3370]

Bonjour Luke, Merci beaucoup pour tes vidéos A bientôt

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Glad you liked them!

[@Gauthierbrad27]

I bought a kite last winter and LITERALLY learned to kite solely on your videos. Controlling the kite is still a huge issue for me. There’s something glaring and basic that I’m missing, even though I’ve been able to successfully snowboard with it over frozen lakes. You’re in a different continent so I can’t do the course but I’d drop some money just to chat for 15 minutes. I’m an experienced surfer and snowboarder and a general outdoorsman so I’m not a total novice but kiteboarding is a different animal entirely

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

oh awesome Bradford! thanks for letting us know you have been finding the videos useful! The course is actually online, so anyone can join it. It sounds like you might enjoy it if you are hoping to improve your basic kite piloting :) The Link and current launch discount code is in the description if interested :) You c an also chat with us privately from the course contact.

[@2007dalin]

i would have to agree with the getting a course part.. i was hard against it for many years and never really got anywhere teaching myself.. partly due to being scared of the kite lol.. we went to costa rica for holidays and ended up taking a few hrs lessons for 2 days and now im riding confidently. I could use some coaching on jumping at this point though :)

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Lol, yeah i think its pretty typical. Most people getting into the sport think they can "just figure it out" (myself included lol) and while they CAN... ultimately it takes way longer to progress as well as running the risk of getting hurt. Even today I get coaching sessions. its about progressing and theres no faster way than with someone who knows what they are doing telling you how what and why :) Might be worth finding an advanced coach to give a 1 hour lesson on jumping.

[@howleyboy3664]

Good on you. Thanks for the content. You have helped me a bunch. I think you have a very relatable teaching style. You treat your viewers/students as if they are your equal.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Oh thanks Howley! You are my equal mate :)

[@jakke1975]

I wish you were a teacher in my country... I've taken a few lessons and most of our instructors / schools really suck. Most of what I learned is from YT vids like yours and putting it in practice.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks for the complement and yeah, that can be hard if the instructions themselves aren't that good. Glad to hear you are getting some good info online :) and you can always checkout our online course if you are looking for more :)

[@polovoorde]

hi Jakke, sounds that you're from Belgium or the Netherlands? I started kitesurfing in De Panne (Belgium) and I really can recommend 'Stevo Kitesurf' (stevokitesurf.com). It's run by Steve Verelst, a former multiple-times Belgian kitesurf champion. Together with 'Flukes' vids he made me confident and I really got great progress over 2 sessions. One more to go for me, need to work on my waterstart :-)

[@jakke1975]

@@polovoorde Thanks but I just need practice now. My kite control is pretty good by now and like you, I need to get get comfortable with waterstarts. My first lessons were with the kite school from Billy Kite but since it was early season, the "boys" were very much interested in kiting themselves, less in teaching. I contacted Steve for lessons early this year through his website and via email. Never got an answer. Then I signed up for a full course (with my wife) at Icarus Surfclub in Zeebrugge... The first lesson (initiation) was pretty horrible. The 2nd lessons we had a different teacher and he literally told us to forget what she taught us... but they called us out at near storm conditions. There were only 2 or 3 others on the water and we were told they were professionals testing new gear.... then our lessons got cancelled for over 2 months. Never any wind on "our" days and on the days there was wind, they booked other people. When I demanded my money back after 2 months, they told me about their no-refund policy. So eventually we did manage to get a slot available but my wife was so out of it she basically has to start again. The last 2 sessions was yet another instructor and again one of these super young guys who's probably great at kitesurfing but not really good as a teacher. So yeah, pretty pissed at how they organize it in Belgium and I cannot recommend any of them. I've bought 2 kites and with the help of these videos and practicing myself I'm making way more progress without all the stress and disappointment.

[@jakke1975]

@@polovoorde By the way, I do like the Netherlands way more to practice. They have many places where you have calm waters, much easier for beginners! The bashing waves from the North Sea are far from ideal to learn how to kite.

[@Ron.Swanson.]

In Okinawa, Japan currently binge watching your videos. super helpful man! can’t wait for my first lesson

[@colecollett9517]

I'm just starting kiting now and your videos are coming in clutch! Love what you doing man Thank you so much

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome mate! Thanks!

[@freeriderJob]

Hello, I ask you once again, is it possible to make an instruction video " how to jump (higher)'? I hope you can make one.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Job, yeah we hope to get the twintip out soon for some filming

[@reddirtdigger4915]

Thank you i have a good feeling about this hobby , I live next to Lake Hefner in Oklahoma ,,Lake has wicked wind! perhaps you have heard of it? All the best mate safe travels

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Perfect! Its fun!

[@xaviermaulave1423]

Hello, great news you are back!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Xavier, yeah we have been pushing hard to make the 40+ videos in the course. Stoked to bang out some more YT vids soon :)

[@grownnotflown2]

I'm about to make the transition from winging to kiting. Any tips you have would be appreciated. Thank you for sharing.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Nice! Well i'd say that you will find it not to hard to transition. Most of the core concepts are similar. Just need to practise flying the kite. :) Let us know how you progress!

[@ypure3859]

wish I was in Auzz for your lessons!!!

[@KhunWigo]

Realy very good and cool !!!

[@martisutton2499]

Always great information, You guys are Awesome!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Marti! We appreciate it mate

[@Cabrinhakite]

Hey Luke great to see you on the channel again all the best from the Highlands of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Crew 🪁🏄🏻‍♂️🏄🏻‍♀️

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey John! Thanks mate and have fun up there

[@proTheologist]

Awesome thanks Fluke very informative and thought provoking

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Great to hear! Thanks mate!

[@JamesHMaGee]

Really sound advice. Lots of talking but sharing of good sense.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks mate!

[@GonkiePT]

Hi from Portugal. Awesome videos ! I was fascinated by the kites on air here in my zone Costa Caparica beaches but always felt that kitesurf is hard and dangerous. After watching a few videos from you, I feel more confident and search for kite surfing schools and turns out there's a lot of them here. Anyway, I will mutch more prepared to the lessons. After my first ride I'll share my experience. Thank you for the giving soo mutch to kitesurf community. Cheers

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Perfect! Go for it! and yes, let me know :)

[@freddydad1]

Good luck with the course

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks mate! Great to see some members joining already! :)

[@sandy_knight]

Some really good advice there. 99% of it also applies to paragliding and probably other sports. One thing that's maybe not quite as applicable to kite surfing but worth being aware of is 'group think'. When a bunch of you turn up to fly/surf a spot and really the conditions are too strong but you all convince each other it'll be okay. It might just be peer pressure or maybe there is one amongst you with the skills (or equipment) to do it safely, eventually someone thinks they'll go for it and the next thing you know everyone else launches and bad things happen!!! Also, just because other people are flying/surfing it doesn't necessarily mean it's safe for you. They could all be much more experienced and still finding it hard work to stay in control, which isn't the sort of conditions you want to be in as a beginner! Specifically, I remember one time I got to take-off and there were a few people still in the air but the conditions were getting stronger. I was about to start unpacking my glider, and I would have flown, but luckily Felix Rodriguez top-landed (Felix and his brother Raul are the godfathers of acro paragliding, they invented most of the tricks everyone does now), making it look like hard work and was very happy to be back on terra firma! If he was glad to be out of the air I'm 100% sure I shouldn't have put myself in that situation, but I nearly did because other were still flying!

[@lisboacortez3532]

when I'm on the beach, in the sand, watching water sports, windsurf, kite, often someone is alone in the water and that person seems to me that are having difficulties in raising the windsurf sail or returning to the beach... it would make sense - with so much technical progress - creat on those equipments a device that symbolizes SOS, something in red color, to be known if whoever is in the water is having difficulties

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hi Lisboa, yeah i think in many cases even when a kiter seems to be in trouble, they are not. In most cases they are just trying to relaunch, and even if they can't, they will often drift slowly back to the beach. Some kiters i've met in dangerous areas for kiting actually carry a phone just in case they need to call, but again, in most circumstances, unless they look physically to be in distress waving their arms (the international SOS distress signal) they are probably fine. :) All that said, it does highlight the importance of being able to swim, not going out further than you can swim back, and the ability to self rescue with the kite should you need it. :)

[@lisboacortez3532]

@@FlukesKitesurfing Thanks. In any case, its too important to doesn't exist - something that shows, if necessary . Also I've been seeing extreme situations of danger caused by the wind, and also doesn't seem smart to take both hands off the ... "arm" that controls the kite because if the cables get tangled up, we have no chance of doing anything because from then on, we are completely powerless, in all situations I saw, it was useless, even worst, ...sorry about my English.

[@megankershaw5700]

Hey do you mind posting the link for the course here? It never popped up in your video as you stated. At least, I never saw it. Thanks! Total beginner here, excited to learn.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Megan stoked to hear you're getting into kiting! Here's a link to the course :) flukeskitesurfing.funnelbundle.io/kite-coach-course cheers, ~Frances from Flukes

[@megankershaw5700]

Bought it! Thanks for the enthusiasm and I’m psyched to learn this sport that I became interested in 10 years ago while traveling in Antigua! Now I live on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off coast of Massachusetts and there’s a big kite community here.

[@jensmeggers926]

great stuff!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Jens!

[@ChrisJBooth]

Thanks for all these videos! Have wanted to try this for a long time, and will take my first lesson this summer on Lake Ontario. In another video you mentioned kiting in Canada - whereabouts?

[@daylemcmillan820]

Great video! Where is this video filmed? Looks like a beautiful spot!

[@pabloetchepare7160]

And for somebody who dare to say you should do something different, please, link all the pdf owners kite manuals, and let them deal with the book's. What's for me, I'll continue watching your videos over and over again. Regards !. Pablo

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Pablo, yes that would be good to have those resources. Im not sure exactly where from, but most people should be able to google their kite and get the PDF for that kite. It's a good idea!

[@jeroenoverwater6638]

Love the vids Luke! We gonna get some vids again where you're in the water? :)

[@daniel18aus]

Surely the don't buy old kite line has got to change over Time. Is there any difference between a 2015 to 2021 kite?

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Daniel. although i cant speak for all manufactures, overall, yes there is a big difference. 2015 kites are still fine, at the end of the date range what i would recommend being ok because 2015 + the kite safety and construction was pretty good. that said, the newer kites in the last couple of years fly and behave much better. they are lighter, more reliable, relaunch better, have new considerations for strengthening in high wear and load areas, as well as safer, more balanced and easier to pilot. The difference between a 2015 and 2010 is massive though... so i would avoid older ones like that. Im not saying you have to go buy a kite off the shelf... but if you can get into something 2 years old and in good condition, it will help you progress faster and also wont be too expensive. Hope that helps!

[@gulliverdalton8680]

In my experience depends on the kite, some are much the same, most are slightly better, some much better, some are worse. Anything 5years old bladders start to leak and then after that the fabric gets thin/stretched/weak depending on how much sun/flapping/dragging it’s done.

[@miko670]

Hi you are very good thank you i like your video

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thank you!

[@RockyMotion]

sticker! I think I'm overly excited about this sticker! Thank you in advance

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Haha awesome! can't wait to send it through to you! I see you just joined! Welcome to the course :)

[@bartden9668]

Do's and dont's start at 3:36

[@helengregan3099]

Hi, if I buy the course do I always have access to it? As will need to always refer back to it. Tnx

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Yes, absolutely. We built it so you can go back and continue to reference it when you need it, before and after lessons and into the future. Hope to see you there! :)

[@anthonygambi1]

I wish I saw that video 3 years ago when I buy my 2002 kite equipment I suffer like hell till I bought my new equipment where I live in gambia am the only person that kite so I lurn on you tube the only way but yeah recent equipment is so important

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Yeah for sure! thanks for letting everyone know. lots of people get stuck in the trap of old/affordable gear only to regret it later.

[@aidanoboyle4782]

I want to start this summer but because of Covid, there are no lessons available. Would the course be enough to get me by? Obviously only learning in light conditions. I have some experience flying a little 3m kite.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Aidan, The course is very comprehensive in learning to kite, so I think it would suit you well. It will help you learn now, plus also give you a resource to come back to and review as you progress. That said, we recommend you also take a lesson particularly for your first time flying a big kite, just to have someone there to assist should anything happen. It is possible to learn to kite without lessons, but discouraged as you would put yourself at higher risk. If no lessons are available, then i would suggest, yes - take the course - lots of time flying the trainer kite - start flying the big kite with a friend present to help you if needed - and do not fly a kite in wind above a gentle breeze (10 knots) until you have mastered all of the kite flying, and launching landing skills in the course. Hope that helps. :)

[@TheRaferaf]

Although I don't want to disagree with the don'ts kiting on your own is inevitable if you want to progress in the sport and so is the self landing and launching. Also, when buying used gear it's not really about the fact that it's old but about it's condition. Shape and design of kites hasn't really changed that much over the years. So it's more a question of kite condition and knowing what you're buying. The only new kite I've ever bought turned out to be crap and all the used kites I bought turned out to be great.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Rafal, thanks for the feedback and yeah, kiting alone might need to happen for some people that don't have much of a kite group in their local area., but overall, when learning, i think people should try and get a buddy. You never really know when you might need them. Theses days of course i kite by myself all the time, but I feel comfortable in my ability to deal with situations. That "don't" is really to keep beginners thinking safely. Regarding gear, we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. :) Sure, maybe the new kite you had was crap, but generally speaking kite equipment and technology and materials used has come in leaps and bounds. The difference between the kites im flying now to the old ones i used to have (and still have in the shed) is night and day. I personally progressed so much faster on the new kites... the old ones ones unnecessarily and constantly "teaching me lessons" and once i was on the new gear.. I could stop thinking about the kite and start thinking about the other things like jumping or riding waves. I dislike my older gear so much so that i don't want to even gift them to my mates to learn because i know they will have such a better time and progress so much faster on newer gear. As you say though it really comes down to exactly what you buy. i'm sure there are some old gems out there, and i'm sure there is some brand new garbage on the market. If you want old gear... Research is key :)

[@greyhnd001]

How much does the course cost if I don't there. Actually where are you that's the biggest beach iv ever seen

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey B green, the course is $67 on our website :) This is in Canada

[@pabloetchepare7160]

You are the most clearly teacher I ever dreamed about !. Thanks for everything !!!!!. Love you both for help building this awesome community. Regards. Pablo.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thank you Pablo! We appreciate the love :)

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

thanks Pablo! ~ frances from flukes

[@marzenaharris6618]

How do I sign up for lessons?

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hi Marzena, you can take our online course here flukeskitesurfing.com/kite-coach-course/learn-to-kite if that interests you. :)

[@A-fl1ln]

Thank you

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

You're welcome

[@christinaagoncillo5100]

Do you need to learn how to swim before doing a kite surfing?

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Yes.

[@bearlemley]

Great content. You should do the filming! ;-)

[@GUIDESPERSPECTIVE]

Great channel, great info, good content, and useful tips. With that being said as someone who sorts through so many instructional videos on KZbin looking for people who have content that works for my learning styles, I have seen it all. It's the same across all subjects I research and what I have found across KZbin in all lessons is that you have good content with long drawn out videos and lots of blah, blah, but the actual lesson when you get to it is brilliant. On the contrary, the videos that are short and to the point have terrible content, of bad teaching. Very rarely if ever do you get both short and to the point and a well explained, or demo of a topic or lesson. If you want to separate yourself from the rest, trim it down. Get in and get out. I'd say 95% of your videos that I have watched could be half the length. Nobody wants a 10 minute tutorial or explanation that can be delivered, explained, demoed, and reiterated in 2 minutes with quality editing, scripting and demoing. The best advice I was ever given teaching in my profession was 1. Tell them what you will teach them. 2. Teach them. 3.Tell them what you taught them. I find myself constantly scrubbing through your videos looking for the subject content. Less Blah, blah and just get to the down and dirty.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey, thanks and glad you like the content, sorry to hear its a bit long for you. We are always open to feedback. that said, our channel is intentionally filmed as if you where standing on the beach with us. We talk just like you would in a conversation and thats the exact point of difference we offer and why our subscribers like our channel. If it drags out a bit for you, set playback to 1.5x :) Have fun out there!

[@GUIDESPERSPECTIVE]

@@FlukesKitesurfing it's great content, I'll pretend I'm on the beach during the next one. 😂

[@pabloetchepare7160]

You are awesome up to the extreme!!!!!. You engagement, you teach, love the way you talk, how you approach everything, and it's the most awesome bla, bla bla, that anyone has ever given me ever !. Love to watch you explain everything, and constantly returning to watch it over and over again advancing little by little in this beautiful sport. Thanks for everything ! Regards. Pablo.

[@AndrewPattullo]

Dont just waffle in front of the camera .. learners after a visual stimulas ...

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

hey andrew, sorry if this ones not for you, check out the rest of the channel for heaps more kite tutorials but this is very much our style: 1 on 1 like your down on the beach with us :) ~flukes kitesurfing

[@joemcbride3426]

First 1/3 of the video is marketing

[@caballerocanarias5183]

If you come to the point without many Blabla, the video could be cooler! I stop watching at 3:30 and a thump down. There are better videos

[@PinwheelHomes]

Ouch, that’s harsh. I actually enjoyed it. Made total sense to me. Could have been shorter, but it would have missed the more I depth explanations