Hi everyone,

So I'm planning on starting kitesurfing, and the next thing is to figure out what to look for in a kitesurfing school.

Some questions:
- what level of "certification" should I look for in a school?
- is it important to get an "AKSA tag" after the classes (I've seen this advertised)
- what are the independent regulating bodies in Aus are there and do they regulate/recommend schools?
- most schools offer a 6hr course and at the end you can kite surf at a basic level.

And of course, any other tips, or things to ask are most welcome.

Cheers

Make friends with the local crew.

You will learn stuff for free.

Sure, lessons are necessary ...

but in the end the kite teaches you how to ride.

Select to expand quote

j235 said...
Hi everyone,

So I'm planning on starting kitesurfing, and the next thing is to figure out what to look for in a kitesurfing school.

Some questions:
- what level of "certification" should I look for in a school?
- is it important to get an "AKSA tag" after the classes (I've seen this advertised)
- what are the independent regulating bodies in Aus are there and do they regulate/recommend schools?
- most schools offer a 6hr course and at the end you can kite surf at a basic level.

And of course, any other tips, or things to ask are most welcome.

Cheers

6 hrs IMHO isn't anywhere near enough, you shouldn't even be introduced to a board until you have complete kite control , learning about your kite, equipment,conditions,locations, wind window, safety, launching, landing, water safety,water relaunch, pack downs, your 6 hrs are long gone and you Havnt become skilled at flying your kite or become skilled enough at body drag technique , a good school won't claim to have you riding in any timescale, location is also important, 1 on 1 tuition is also important,, then you'll feel confident to go down your local knowing your proficient in the basics , iko for what it's worth is the recognised but doesn't mean that all instructors are the same good tuition is a skill, get some advice from local kiters as to who's the better school and instructor,

i'm just glad i have a mate to go out with now or at least until i can't keep up.

Hi j235 ,

Welcome to kiting !!!

My advise for what its worth :
1. buy or borrow a training kite ( 1.5 - 2m )and use it for a month or so before your lessons ..
2. go down to your local kite spot and what how it all happens . Particularly launching and landing. Do this quite a few times before your lessons. Talk to the locals about lessons and goods spots to learn. Generally hang out and watch.
3. I would try to find a spot to learn that is near to where you live and you are prob going to kite at ... Pretty good spot at Applecross foreshore. Last season was Sole Kite , Sea Breeze kite school . generally I think that looked like they knew what they were doing.
4. Make sure you use a qualified school
5. Arrange lessons for the very start of the season .. around beginning Nov so you have the whole season to learn.. If you start in Nov and you are riding upwind by Jan then you are doing pretty well. If you want to make an early start then head up to Exmouth in Oct ( Sept?) . The season starts early up there and there is a really good kite school there.. great place to learn..

Remember that lessons are really designed to teach you how not to injure or kill yourself or anyone else... so safety first :)

Make sure your trainer kite is a 4 line depower system .

Select to expand quote

greenhead said..
i'm just glad i have a mate to go out with now or at least until i can't keep up.

Great to see, how old is the little fella?

Select to expand quote

Monkers said..

3. I would try to find a spot to learn that is near to where you live and you are prob going to kite at ... Pretty good spot at Applecross foreshore. Last season was Sole Kite , Sea Breeze kite school . generally I think that looked like they knew what they were doing.
4. Make sure you use a qualified school

Soul Kite are a bunch of cowboys , blowin euro instructors that tell locals to f#ck off when politely asked to move to the northern end of the beach so people can get in and out without having to dodge beginners smashing kites everywhere and keeping their kites at 12 .


Really professional school that Soul Kite .

Select to expand quote

dusta said..

Monkers said..

3. I would try to find a spot to learn that is near to where you live and you are prob going to kite at ... Pretty good spot at Applecross foreshore. Last season was Sole Kite , Sea Breeze kite school . generally I think that looked like they knew what they were doing.
4. Make sure you use a qualified school

Soul Kite are a bunch of cowboys , blowin euro instructors that tell locals to f#ck off when politely asked to move to the northern end of the beach so people can get in and out without having to dodge beginners smashing kites everywhere and keeping their kites at 12 .


Really professional school that Soul Kite .

are they hireing? ive done my fair share of mustering and like to tell people to **** off :D not a euro but fnq close enough :)

He's 10

Ha ha Dusta.. I thought the Sole kite thing may stir someone up:)

hey at the end of the day I kite there heaps and from what I have seen they are resonable. They generally keep to the north end of the beach and generally help out when peeps are in trouble when they can.. Im sure there are some example of where they are cowboys.. Yes they are a bunch of euro 18 year olds who do some silly stuff ( eg tricks close to shore) in-between lesson but from what I have seen when they are taking lesson they seem to be reasonable . .. Given the high numbers of guys wanting to learn this growing sport Im pretty sure that we need to rely on blowin instructors as there are very few locals that are qualified or willing to teach ...

disclaimer : I have no affiliation with solekite or any other school.. anything I have said can not be used in a court of law :)

j235, I suggest that you brush up on your French or Italian language before taking your lesson .. might be helpful :) enjoy !!!!! and be safe.

Weee weee.....,. Madona ??

Select to expand quote

j235 said..
Hi everyone,

So I'm planning on starting kitesurfing, and the next thing is to figure out what to look for in a kitesurfing school.

Some questions:
- what level of "certification" should I look for in a school?
- is it important to get an "AKSA tag" after the classes (I've seen this advertised)
- what are the independent regulating bodies in Aus are there and do they regulate/recommend schools?
- most schools offer a 6hr course and at the end you can kite surf at a basic level.

And of course, any other tips, or things to ask are most welcome.

Cheers

here's a straight answer to a fairly straightforward question

if you live north of the river get your lessons from Christian at Action Sports WA

if you live south of the river Get Sonya at West Oz Wind to hook you up.

Season starts in November
Enjoy!

Plus 1 for Action Sports, professional outfit

Select to expand quote

Monkers said..
Ha ha Dusta.. I thought the Sole kite thing may stir someone up:)

hey at the end of the day I kite there heaps and from what I have seen they are resonable. They generally keep to the north end of the beach and generally help out when peeps are in trouble when they can.. Im sure there are some example of where they are cowboys.. Yes they are a bunch of euro 18 year olds who do some silly stuff ( eg tricks close to shore) in-between lesson but from what I have seen when they are taking lesson they seem to be reasonable . .. Given the high numbers of guys wanting to learn this growing sport Im pretty sure that we need to rely on blowin instructors as there are very few locals that are qualified or willing to teach ...

disclaimer : I have no affiliation with solekite or any other school.. anything I have said can not be used in a court of law :)

j235, I suggest that you brush up on your French or Italian language before taking your lesson .. might be helpful :) enjoy !!!!! and be safe.

well melville is going to be alot worse this summer

latest earth works on the southern end of the kiting area . This is going to just squeeze everyone closer together for the rigging , launching/landing

Select to expand quote

dusta said..

Monkers said..
Ha ha Dusta.. I thought the Sole kite thing may stir someone up:)

hey at the end of the day I kite there heaps and from what I have seen they are resonable. They generally keep to the north end of the beach and generally help out when peeps are in trouble when they can.. Im sure there are some example of where they are cowboys.. Yes they are a bunch of euro 18 year olds who do some silly stuff ( eg tricks close to shore) in-between lesson but from what I have seen when they are taking lesson they seem to be reasonable . .. Given the high numbers of guys wanting to learn this growing sport Im pretty sure that we need to rely on blowin instructors as there are very few locals that are qualified or willing to teach ...

disclaimer : I have no affiliation with solekite or any other school.. anything I have said can not be used in a court of law :)

j235, I suggest that you brush up on your French or Italian language before taking your lesson .. might be helpful :) enjoy !!!!! and be safe.

well melville is going to be alot worse this summer

latest earth works on the southern end of the kiting area . This is going to just squeeze everyone closer together for the rigging , launching/landing

Far out Is that the kite launching spot where do they run lessons

had a look at that over the weekend dusta, looks like they've extended the wall further north . hardly any beach yet and I doubt they will grass that area before the new wall. so the whole launch area its going to be smaller and more conjested. last year it felt like it was the worse year i seen at meleivle with the amounts of kites in trees, people getting draged up the beach not pulling safety etc.

i have to say tho soulkite do keep well north of that spot i would say there is more solo teaching further south thats the problem,...

back to your topic tho j235 i would definately get the aksa tag as it give you peice of mind if anything happens and you should be right after 4 hours, just make sure you go into the lessons having good kite skills by using a 2 line foil kite. i wouldnt worry about get a four line, u can always tie the two line to some sort of bar to get the same feeling.

To reply to the Melville Beach photos.

Hit these links.

They want to install a dual use path along that road edge. I am hoping that brown sand is soil conditioner and they will put in some turf between the path and the waters edge (not that it makes launching/landing too safe)..

http://www.melvillecity.com.au/services-and-rates/current-works?ls=meganav

Select to expand quote

Sauce said..
To reply to the Melville Beach photos.

Hit these links.

They want to install a dual use path along that road edge. I am hoping that brown sand is soil conditioner and they will put in some turf between the path and the waters edge (not that it makes launching/landing too safe)..

http://www.melvillecity.com.au/services-and-rates/current-works?ls=meganav

they are going to lay turf down . But even so there will be a strip of grass that will be barely wide enough to accomodate a 4m kite

You'd have to take a long hard look at yourself if you were asked to instruct or instruct in a spot like this, some nice rocks to crack your head or break a limb on