How should you choose a kitesurfing school? The question is simple and recurrent, yet the answer can be tricky. The best kitesurfing school is the one where you'll learn the basics of kiteboarding and safety in the water.
The first rule of kitesurfing is that you should never try to learn how to fly a kite by yourself, especially if no one is with you in case everything goes wrong.
Kitesurfing can be extremely dangerous.
Becoming familiar with power kites is the best way of starting. Traction kites will help you understand how wind and kites work together to generate speed.
That is why taking lessons from a qualified instructor will protect you from severe injuries.
As always, there are highly professional kitesurfing schools and mediocre learning centers.
If you want to learn how to ride a kite, you must start your lessons by understanding the sport's dangers.
High-end kite schools will teach you the basics of kiteboarding while protected by proper insurance coverage.
Helmets, buoyancy aids, and a basic emergency supply kit should always be available.
So, what should a kitesurfing instructor share with his/her pupil?
- What to expect from kitesurfing lessons;
- The kitesurfing equipment;
- What is the wind;
- How is a wave formed;
- How does a kite fly;
- The types of clouds and kiteboarding safety;
- How to use the Wind Window in kiteboarding;
- The right of way rules in kiteboarding;
- The kite rules and safety sailing procedures;
- How to self-launch a kite from the beach;
- How to avoid collisions between kiteboarders;
- How to water relaunch a kiteboarding kite;
- The Self-Rescue and Pack Down kiteboarding guide;
- The Glossary of Kiteboarding Terms;
- The best kiteboarding books of all time;
Unlike surfing, the sport of kiteboarding has not yet defined the rules for setting up kitesurfing schools. However, the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) has been developing a series of standard parameters for teaching and training at a professional level.
IKO Kite Centers follow the organization's safe, progressive method so that students can develop their skills with maximum confidence in sheltered environments.
The Kitesurfing Schools Directory | List of Kite Centers by Country
USA
SoCal Kitesurfing, Long Beach
Kite Club Hatteras, Kinnakeet
Action Sports Maui, Kahului
Urban Surf, Seattle
KGB, San Francisco
New York Kite Center, Amityville
Miami Kiteboarding, Key Biscayne
Kite415, San Francisco
Australia
Kite Power Australia, Clontarf
Adventure Sports, Noosaville
Surf Connect, Brisbane
West Oz Kiteboarding, Safety Bay
The Zu Boardsports, St Kilda
Margaret River Kitesurfing & Windsurfing, Margaret River
GoKite, Melbourne
Greece
Flisvos Kitecenter Naxos, Mikri Vigla Beach
Paros Kite Pro Center, Paros
Surf Club Keros, Limnos
Naxos KiteL Life, Mikri Vigla Beach
Paros Kiteboarding Center, Paros
Thalaseasports Naxos, Mikri Vigla Beach
Italy
VKC Kite School IKO Center, Farra D'Alpago
Kite's Angels Beach, Marina di Grosseto
Kitesurf Mazara Kite School, Mazara del Vallo
PKS Kite Beach Fiumara, Grosseto
Jamakite School, Marsala
Sicily Kite Park, Marsala
AWC Kite Center, Porto Corsini
AK School, Otranto
AVID Kiteboarding, Lake Garda
Wind Riders, Lake Garda
MB - Pro Center, Porto Pollo
NewKiteZone, Reggio Calabria
North Kite School Sardinia, Porto Pollo,
414 Kiting, Gera Lario
Netherlands
KiteSafe, IJMuiden
Kiteboardschool.nl, Kijkduin
Kitesurfles, The Hague
Movement Sports, Kamperland
Blow, The Hague
KiteSurfSchool Challenge, Zoetermeer
Spain
René Egli Fuerteventura, Fuerteventura
Kite Progress Tarifa, Tarifa
KTS, Tarifa
DeltaKiteSUP, Sant Carles de la Ràpita
KiteCenter.Es, La Manga del Mar Menor
Club Mistral Golf De Roses, Sant Pere Pescador
Bull Tarifa, Tarifa
Costa Noroeste Lanzarote Kite School, Lanzarote
Egypt
Kite People, El Gouna
Kite Junkies, Sharm El Sheikh
ProKiteAcademy, Marsa Alam
Red Sea Zone, El Gouna
Tornado Surf, Safaga
Colona Watersports, Hurghada
Club Mistral, Safaga
Cape Verde
Kook Proof Activity Center, Santa Maria
Mitu & Djó, Santa Maria
Club Mistral, Ilha do Sal
Dominican Republic
Kite Club Cabarete, Punta Goleta
AKWA, Punta Cana
Kite Club Punta Cana, Punta Cana
Front Loop CNS Cabarete, Cabarete
LEK - Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding, Cabarete
Club Mistral, Cabarete
New Zealand
Airzone, Rangiputa
Blue Adventures, Omaha
Portugal
Eolis, Cabanas de Tavira
Kook Proof Activity Center, Esposende
South Africa
High Five, Bloubergstrand
Windchasers, Langebaan
France
Accrokite, La Palmyre
SNK (Sport Nautique & Kite), St Pierre la Mer
Poland
Wake.pl, Chalupy
SurfPoint, Jastarnia
KitePark.pl, Władysławowo
Aloha Kiteboarding Center, Rewa
Belgium
KSS Kitesurfschool, Nieuwpoort
Surfers Paradise Kiteboarding School, Knokke-Heist
Stevo Kitesurf, De Panne
Mexico
Kiteboarding Baja, Los Barriles
Girl On A Board, La Ventana
United Kingdom
Paracademy, Portland/Dorset
Airzone, Fareham
Brazil
Pura Vida Club, Itarema
Kite Friends, Paracuru
Thailand
Kiteboarding Asia, Pranburi
North Kiteboarding Club & Kite School, Hua Hin
Morocco
Ocean Vagabond, Essaouira
Club Mistral, Dakhla
Tanzania
Zanzibar Kite School, Zanzibar
Paje By Kite, Zanzibar
Croatia
Water Donkey Kitesurfing Center, Viganj
Germany
Boardway, Loissin
Sweden
Kitelife, Malmo
Kenya
H2O Extreme, Diani Beach
Mauritius
Club Mistral, Le Mome
Tunisia
GlobalKite, Djerba
Vietnam
C2Sky Kite Center, Mui Ne
Argentina
D.K.S., Buenos Aires
Uruguay
Escuela De Kite Y Windsurf Laura, Laguna Garzón
Venezuela
Venturi Kite Center, El Yaque
Canada
Progression Kite, Métabetchouan
Halifax Kitesurfing, Nova Scotia
Peru
PeruKite, Paracas