Hi all - I'm a snowboarder by nature but have wanted to get into kite surfing for ages. I've just booked some lessons to get started, but now after looking into the lessons a bit more I'm concerned that the location & timing aren't right.

The lessons are located at Pelican Point, and I've seen some posts indicating that this isn't a good spot for beginners.

The lessons will also be in March, and now I'm starting to wonder if I might be better off waiting till the start of next season.

Any tips or info would be appreciated! Cheers

Wow i never knew snowboarders were a species!! Better let Mr Attenborough know we have a new one ;)

The summer sea breeze season can go until the end of March and sometimes the odd day into April.
But if your lessons go well and you get the kiting stoke, you'll have to wait until next season to get out there and keep developing your ability
on a regular basis. There are kiting days in the winter, but generally they involve stronger and more unpredictable, gusty winds. Not great conditions if you're learning.

The good thing about the end of the season is that if you take some lessons and like kiting, you might be able to pick up some well priced second hand gear that people are unloading.

Can't speak to Pelican Point as a learning spot. But Pinaroo on the coast is a good learners spot.

cheers,
B

I'd say wait, the wind is tapering off and you won't get the consistent sessions you need to progress. (Unless you kite over winter, when the wind isn't nearly as predictable or much fun IMO)Also, take lessons in deep water. Pelican Pt is shallow and the wind is straight onshore in a S - SW and onto trees. I've never felt the need to kite there but some people seem to make it work.

Pelican Point is a pretty **** place to learn to kite. Dead onshore in the SW Seabreeze and the launch area is as big as a postage stamp. I've been kiting over 10 years and I always wonder why people kite this place instead of driving ten more minutes to the coast - this applies to both beginner and expert. I was once tempted to kite it, but arrived at the exact moment someone dropped their kite between two of the numerous obstacles on the foreshore adjacent to the car park (which in this case where signs), and ripped their kite.

As for learning in March. Go for it - whilst you might not get to practise as much in the Metro area, you can always head north to Exmouth or QLD for a kite out of the normal metro season. I reckon Exmouth still gets a seabreeze in May (I've had some epic sessions up there then).

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snowboarder94 said..
Hi all - I'm a snowboarder by nature but have wanted to get into kite surfing for ages. I've just booked some lessons to get started, but now after looking into the lessons a bit more I'm concerned that the location & timing aren't right.

The lessons are located at Pelican Point, and I've seen some posts indicating that this isn't a good spot for beginners.

The lessons will also be in March, and now I'm starting to wonder if I might be better off waiting till the start of next season.

Any tips or info would be appreciated! Cheers

Buy a trainer kite and spend the rest of the season learning to fly it as good as you can
Hit up the lessons first thing next season.

With a few hours trainer kite under your belt and a fresh season, you will get much more out of the lessons.

if you spend minimal time in the lesson messing around on a trainer kite and more time on the real kite and board - buying the kite pays for itself i reckon