How Long Does It Take To Learn How To Kiteboard?

The most common questions we get asked about kiteboarding are "How long does it take to learn?" and "How hard is it to learn?" The answers might surprise you. tulasendlesssummer.com
New Wave Kiteboarding newwavekiteboarding.com
Trainer kite that you can practice with without lessons (this is what I started with) amzn.to/2mJUimD

[@christinaparmarter1420]

Thank you so much for this video. I was getting a little upset with myself on not being able to get up on my first lesson. Being an older female glad to hear I will be able to get it in a few more years lol lessons.

[@crankynomad3786]

I can see myself getting hit by a boat if I tried that. A friend tried to teach me to water ski. My only thought during the entire process was, "This bastard is trying to kill me." Admittedly, a lot of fun, but my beer was back on the boat.

[@samiamisme]

This was awesome. Interesting how you give your i structiins, the terms etc. You addressed all my questions!🤗

[@andrewodgers193]

From what I saw you are an honest guy stating the obvious about young kids learning quicker and there is need for some fitness. I am 47 and took a good season or two to get reasonable but I reckon if I had as clear as instructions as what you were giving I would have got there quicker. One thing us old guys get is far more addicted to this sport than any of the young fellas 🤗

[@vonritter4945]

5-10 hrs in decent conditions (steady winds, not too light/strong).

[@ronblume3071]

Good answer Bill. It's a lot like how long is a piece of string? I've just taken it up at 64 but have surfing & windsurfing experience. I was staying upwind & feeling safe enough (once onto the water) 3rd time out but I'd strongly recommend having at least a few lessons. Now after a dozen or so sessions I'll go out in anything under 35knots. I'm loving the new learning. You've got the life 👌

[@danherlong]

I looked back at footage..... Great content!

[@paralife8784]

Great video brother. Answered most of all my beginner questions

[@robwilkinson8497]

self taught, like me..can take a while. Took many hours of failed board starts until I finally got the idea. I was 40 when I learnt, average fitness. Skiff sailing background helped, with wind patterns and shifts and so on. Used to fly foil power kites in the late 90's so had a very good understanding of how to handle a kitesurf kite. Thinking of learning? go for it...lifes short. Use an instructor!! I would have but non around locally. Its possible to self learn but you MUST weigh up the risks.

[@TomBoomsheeva]

It took me 8 hours with instructor. - Now i'm riding

[@shetkentnoid5880]

i know you will think it's weird a fan of your channel you have never met but it would be amazing to spend a day with you 2 on the boat fishing and diving etc etc would be bloody amazing love the channel keep it up :)

[@Vara91391]

One thing is certain, forget these Zero to Hero and you are pro none-sense.... It all depends on your level. You can take ages to learn how to waterstart while you can learn how to transition in one-go (while others take hours)... it all really depends ! But DO NOT ASSUME 10 hours does it !!!! Before that forget it anyway. From experience and talking to others, I would say 15-30 hours to be able to: - Water start always - Do transitions - Keep Kite dry For kite-board recoveries in the water, which I think is the hardest part for new people, to be pro at that you might need even more time depending on winds, currents etc where you learn to kite surf. I think in training much more emphasis should be given on kite recoveries. It is very sad feeling for newbros to be able to kite, do transitions, have a blast, then fall, do as told in training but still not be able to recover the board, it happens A LOT, and this is very frustrating. Nobody teaches you initially how to use your arms/face underwater for additional steering...Courses should include several hours teaching the most important and efficient technique right away, instead of just teaching the regular kite board recovery technique which is useless with the tiniest amounts of currents for instance. Let alone you will lose visual contact with the board fast as well....

[@Reviewoutlaw]

Nice Video!

[@carmencarrazana7314]

Very helpful video

[@wesgibb]

1st Do you use a wake board similar to what you tow behind a powerboat? 2nd Have you ever seen it done with water ski's?

[@btxpres9912]

Always wanted to try it. While i am older - I am still think it would be a blast to learn. Is it next to impossible to try it with no lesson at all?

[@suziq5293]

Does knowing how to water ski help at all in kiteboarding? It looks so similar, wish I had tried in my youth!

[@aidanberridy6767]

I lived in Palm city till I was about 8 and it was amazing and so much fun and it's so cool knowing how close you are to my home town

[@andrewkraskiewicz3739]

Hi captain Billy I love your video I wish you made more vids like daily vloger bit I love the vids and keep up the hard work

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Thanks so much man!!! I would absolutely love to do daily blogs but right now it is nearly impossible to do it well and still work teaching kiteboarding when the wind is up. We'll see though..

[@indizona4610]

Tula's Endless Summer what a difference a year makes!

[@WadeWilson-]

I wish I could live in a place like that.

[@athleticnumber1551]

How soon will you do daily uploads?

[@lovetofly32]

I'm training myself here in kansas and it's difficult but still would be nice to have some things explained in person. My biggest issue was losing power and sinking after I get up. Today I was out and I got to see and play with how when the kite is steered back up out of a dive how sheeting out on the bar and not edging so much with the board help keep you up and riding. You really have to let the kite "have the reins" when it's going up or you kill its power.

[@annastasiat.6287]

I’m in Missouri!! Are you in the kc area?! Where do you go to kiteboard??

[@motorboatinjohn4941]

sweet!!! I kiteboard in black water sound key largo.

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Looks like an awesome spot. Do you need a boat to access it? What are the best wind directions?

[@SailabilityAuckland]

Billy what was your student receiving your messages on? was it handheld VHF each way?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Sailability Auckland One way radio through a radio helmet. Like a walkie-talkie

[@justaskdad]

What kind of radio are you using for communication? I could definitely use one. Thanks.

[@nigcrusher3322]

Edwin Hernandez a 2 way

[@mamasthree2649]

Am looking to buy a paddle board. Never done but looks fun as we embark on boat living. What kind are good?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Mamas Three it totally depends what kind of performance and paddling you are looking to do but generally inflatables are really good for a boat for their durability and small storage they take up. Give flying fish paddle sports a ring. They will be able to help you out.

[@vikingtirado7903]

Cool video and info, but i would add that it´s a little harder than you´re putting it in general. I kite in Veracruz, Mexico (Gulf of Mexico), in kite season we have some days with 20 something knots others with 30 to 40 knots, with waves, tides, etc., and even in calm days if you are not fit you will not last an hour of class. I understand it´s convenient to make the sport interesting and appealing to everyone but it also demerits the sport when yo make it like it´s the easiest thing......

[@liamsmith5188]

How do you go up wind

[@cleversongross7055]

I live in Deerfield Beach, where do you teach kiteboarding and how can I sign up?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Hey Cleverson. I am not currently teaching but the school I work for is New Wave Kiteboarding in Stuart. They have a great location and some great instructors. Here is there website bit.ly/NewWaveKiteboarding

[@FrankLadd]

Maybe tandem kiteboard rides would be popular. I don't know how you would set it up. But these days a lot of people go for tandem skydiving as a neat thing to do and they seem to enjoy it as much as real skydiving where you learn and do it on your own.

[@senditkitecoaching]

Frank Ladd unfortunately it's quite difficult to do as you need extra power to pull you both along. Also if you have someone bigger than you as a passenger it gets reeeeeeally difficult from a physical standpoint and really exhausting. Even with someone small it's tiring, like 10/15 minutes with a child as a passenger and I'm totally wrecked!

[@jink6091]

I think older person who has skills in other board sports, hand eye coordination leans fast. Also good instructor counts for A LOT. After struggling with a horrible instructor for a month and almost quitting because of bad instructions, face plants, no progress, I switch and this other instructor taught me to ride upwind on 2nd tac and riding and transition turning without struggle by end of the session. The horrible instructor had a history of purchasing gear from kiters who quit in frustration, then selling that gear for a profit. He bragged about how cheaply he got kite gear from his former student who quit because he found it too hard to learn....

[@markfetters3571]

I've always wanted to give this a try. What is the typical cost for gear and lessons?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Mark Fetters all the gear is included in our lessons. We charge $225 for a semi-private and $350 for a private lesson.

[@robwilkinson8497]

for your own gear..once you learn. Shop around, a used board can be quite cheap. Kites..now I would get brand new. You can find some real bargains, say kites that are a couple or more years old, still brand new of course. I got two kites, a 6 and 9 mtr, for under £750 sterling. They last a very long time if looked after well.

[@hotrodhog2170]

So if I become a kiteboarding instructor how much should I make?

[@Ahmed4real_]

Hotrod Hog billion of billions lol

[@davidl3115]

I think u will need to be able to do more than 1 pushup to do kiteboarding, lol. u really need to be a physically active person especially in the beginning. Ive had a few people quit after 1 or 2 lessons of really flying a trainer kitea as they were burnt out physically . I try to be honest with people up front and tell then this is a physical sport and if ure someone that dosent work out at all its not for u . Yes its very easy after the learning phase and your body takes most of the pull of the kite but what happens when confronted with an emergency situation or have to swim back to sure when your kite goes dwn in the water. You need to be able to react not only mentally but physically . Kiteboarding is fun but not for everyone. I think 5 or 6 lessons will give you most of what you need to know to be a self sufficient kiter but it takes about one summer season to become a decent kiteboarder.

[@vikingtirado7903]

I totally agree, they don´t say all this when asked. The example of the kite going down in water and having to swim while in control of the bar and lines to get it in to the window to lift it up again can be hell, sometimes you have to try for long minutes, and when lines get tangles worse.

[@jimmyjames1411]

I agree. I see large people kiting but it is an aggressive sport where even the simplest movements may seem easy but are hard on the body. I find that body dragging over a large distance can be hell on your core. I also think the amount of strain on the core while twisting body to get upwind is gonna wear a person down. The last point I’ll make is your back will be tore up after 4-6 hours on water

[@ericlemay9580]

@@jimmyjames1411 It is physical!! I am 47, 240lb, I am doing ironman triathlons, marathons, Escape from Alcatraz, mountain biking marathons...Crazy endurance stuff. Flew power kite in the '90, snow kite in the winter, snowboard, waterski, ride skateboard, unicycle... I am at 12h lessons and 8h practice in the water and still can't get it constantly!! I think people with no board sport experience will learn faster, my snowboard reflex screw everything up for me on water start, edging. Yesterday did 2h lessons +4h practices in the water trying to be constant, crashing, retrieving board, walking back upwind... At the end of the day, I was drained. This morning, I am stiffer than after a full ironman. As I get older, it look like bad habit, muscle memories are more difficult to break and focussing on many aspect get harder: I can get a good body position board control but my kite driving goes wrong or I can get perfect kite control but my legs, body position goes into snowboard ride mode.

[@kyan9589]

Just wondering I'm 13 and I'm really into it but don't know if I'm big enough. I have a huge surfing back ground though. Thankyou

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Yeah man as long as you weigh more than 65 lbs you can def do the sport. Just make sure you take lessons from a good instructor first. You will just use a smaller kite than a heavier person.

[@davehunter703]

I think it's better if you weigh less you can fly

[@AdiAsaf]

I guess some winsurfing experience (which I do have) van help

[@bjjmmafighter5339]

Is it expensive ?

[@RedWaterGlow]

Yup!

[@sparky5894]

I’m 14 and I can go by myself and stay upwind in about 7 lessons

[@raulynazere4538]

What are your rates?

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Raulyn Azere $350 for private and $225 for semi-private

[@raulynazere4538]

Is that per session or is that the complete price until you learn?

[@nigcrusher3322]

Raulyn Azere you know you can just sleep at a holiday in and wake up knowing how to kiteboard

[@QuietPines]

Lucas: "Billyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!"

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Boat Fam Lucassssssssss!!!!!!! And Dyesssssssssssss!!!!!!!! hahahaha looks like you guys are having a great time over there!!!

[@flat4314]

Can someone that weighs around 300 pounds kite board? I can wake board but I have to have a powerful boat to pull me out of the water.

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

Absolutely! You just need a bigger kite and a little bigger board. Thats it.

[@mitchell9169]

Starts at 0:50

[@CoreyDrew]

"the older you are the longer it takes you ..." So you're saying I'm old?!

[@Tulasendlesssummer]

+Corey Drew haha only you can answer that

[@ruthgunneson-poling2477]

I had the same thought!😉 It's more like too many birthdays make me scared I'll get hurt! I may be old, but I ain't cold brother...lol

[@robertbass6039]

Don't knock being old. It beats the alternative. If you didn't get old it means you died before you got old

[@adeledesimone260]

I will take sooo long .....I'm old....ahahah

[@MonochromaticBlues]

Collage kids ain’t young they ain’t even kids