Please recommend an instructor

Personally I’ve purchased from all 3 shops on the northern bayside.

I have been treated like **** every time I’ve been into Briskites to buy gear (I’ve spent $ everytime) and after 4 visits will never return – yeah, I’m obviously not too sharp, it took 4 head shaking experiences. I purchased my trainer from them back in 2011, was treated like a moron so went looking elsewhere for lessons.

My next visit was to Surf Connect, friendly advice, great lessons and fantastic service ever since. They are visible and actively helping at the beach nearly everyday, they have free advice from the “duty rider” every weekend and everyone that looks green is assisted – mate has just done lessons, purchased a 2nd hand kite (buy and sell on seabreeze) and got a free 20 minute setup session once they spotted him at the beach – not asked for or expected. I purchased new kit from them after lessons.

I’ve been into KitePower twice lately after some gear, and been given friendly helpful advice both times, spent $ both time - will definitely return. The guys are also friendly when we see them at the beach, they often run lessons up at the Sandgate end. At the time I was looking for lessons I didn’t know they were there – over the other side of the bridge.

Ironically, one of my purchases in late 2012 from Briskites was my 2nd kite, 12month old, offered of course with no warranty, and I stupidly didn’t pump it up, believing that a shop wouldn’t pass on crap. When it leaked during its 1st outing, Surf Connect took it off me and put a new LE bladder in it for free - and gave me a loaner BWS while it was out of action - Sorry, I just can’t beat that service.

Hi Grainne. Where did you do your original lessons? From Carindale there are a few options.

1. Over gateway bridge to Sandgate and Brighton for lesson with any of the 3 shops mentioned. Kitepower, Briskites and Surfconnect

As you have your own gear and are up and riding.. If you just need some assistance and confidence (not a full lesson per se), then kitepower has 2 hour supervison session for $100. Great value. These are the final lesson of their learn to kite package after you get your own gear. Many people using these sessions as a refresher early in the season also.

If you havent had formal lessons before, then one-on-one with full safety equipment instruction would be needed- $200-220 per 2 hour lesson with most shops.

Surfconnect tend to teach in groups as well as one on one. I have helped several riders recently who haven't been shown to use their safeties properly on their new LF kites from there. Briskites, great guys, one-on-one quality instructors. Same with kitepower, very experienced instructor crew with a great reputation.

2. Trevor at Moreton Bay Kiting teaches on southside - Wellington and Victoria point usually i think. Great guy who will always look after you.

All of these schools / shops have IKO registration and have IKO trained instructors, so the basic contents of a lesson are very similar. Have a chat to some of them at the shop or the beach and go with the ones you feel you connect well with. I did this when I chose Kitepower.

Hope this helps

Utube.,,, is the best teacher. School of hard knocks

Grainne,

hopefully the wind comes through late in the avo for you tomorrow, the forecast isnt looking fantastic and that wont help you much as a beginner, you will be thinking the problem is you, where it is really not enough wind. If you can i would suggest changing it to Sat though they are probably booked out and you would have to deal with a packed beach, something i am assuming you dont want to do.

Any time there is wind you will find that there are kiters at sandgate and brighton so there will always be someone around and the more experienced guys tend to keep an eye on the newbies even if you dont know they are.

The best place i know for keeping up to date with the going ons in Brisbane is the Brisbane Kiters facebook page. And dont be scared about going out on your own, it teaches you to be independent which is invaluable in this sport. Hope this helps.

+1 Lostinspace ;-]

+2 lostinspace for mayor.

Lost in space is the best instructor on the coast. ..

I see the OP already found an instructor but I'll post my experience as I'm sure there will be many other people asking the same question like I was.

I'm brand new to kitesurfing. Seemed to be heaps of people in this thread recommended Kurtis (LostinSpace) for lessons so I contacted him and I'm so glad I did.
I've completed my two lessons with Kurtis and got up to doing some 'mini runs' on a twin tip.

Kurtis is an all around nice guy, really easy to get along with. Really thorough with his explanations and helps out everybody where he can. I really got the feeling he's that guy who is always looking out even when not teaching. He's not out to make money from you either, both my lessons went overtime and he wouldn't even accept the extra from me.

I'll try be specific on the things I really liked so it's not another 'this guy is really good' type recommendation.

- Terminology. He's precise with wording. e.g. Stand perpendicular to the wind, keep your bar parallel with the leading edge throughout, sheet in the kite 5 cm, steer the kite and park it at 45 degrees. Not like stand here, pull the bar in, turn the kite to here etc.

- Teaching the subtleties. e.g. Smooth direction changing when upwind body dragging, kite aspect ratios, walking upwind, tuning kite for conditions AND how to check it's right, gear maintenance. The little things you might miss from just watching youtube.

- Gear, all late model gear and he is not afraid to wreck it. Plenty of intentional crashes. Relaunching the kite became natural.

- He's his own man! Gives you gear recommendations but doesn't force you to any one shop,brand,style.

Hopefully this helps out someone a little. I've started piecing my own gear together so looking forward to meeting a few of you over time.

Best quote from Kurtis while telling me to body drag both of us back to pack up using some power:

Me: “Sorry in advance if I launch us way to aggressively”
Kurtis: ” That's why they call me LostinSpace”

Scotty.