| #1 You must be strong | | | | trainer kite that by the time you take a lesson, you'll |
| First of all, let me tell you that I am 5'4", female, I | | | | feel much more comfortable handling the real thing |
| weigh 100 pounds, and I have only been to a gym | | | | and your lesson will go much smoother. You can learn |
| once in my life. Even though my arm muscle is | | | | mandatory kite flying skills the hard way (with a |
| virtually non-existent, I can still manage to kiteboard | | | | powerful kite), or you can learn it the easy way |
| hours straight because of the harness worn with | | | | (with a trainer kite); it's your choice. |
| kiteboarding. | | | | #7 Kiteboarding is expensive |
| #2 I'm too fat / too tall / too small / too old / too | | | | If you go out and buy the complete kiteboard set up |
| young | | | | (kite, bar & lines, harness, board), you're looking at |
| Many kiteboard stores require you to weigh at least | | | | around $1,500 - $2,000. Ok, that number may seem |
| 80 pounds in order to take a lesson. I've seen just | | | | big, but let's think about this. If you want to |
| about every size and shape out there kiteboarding | | | | wakeboard, you need a boat plus plan on spending a |
| even guys in the 300 pound range. | | | | good chunk of money on gas each time you go out. |
| Height doesn't matter, but if you are a petite rider, | | | | In the winter time, you spend money on lift tickets |
| consider buying a seat harness rather than a waist | | | | every good powder day. Why not just strap your |
| harness. This will move the bar closer to your body | | | | snowboard/skis on your feet and go snowkiting (use |
| and put the power/depower strap within better | | | | the same kite and harness, just add your skis/board). |
| reach. | | | | When you think of it that way, the $1,500 for |
| I've seen plenty of guys in their 60s & 70s | | | | year-round fun doesn't look so bad. |
| kiteboarding. If you have back problems, buy a seat | | | | #8 Kiteboarding can only be done in the ocean |
| harness rather than a waist harness, and buy a kite | | | | Wrong. Kiteboarding can be done in any large body |
| that has a lot of depower (bow, SLE, or hybrid kite). | | | | of water. Heck, I've kiteboarded in a large mud pond |
| #3 Kiteboarding is very dangerous | | | | that was only about a foot deep (not |
| As long as you take the necessary pre-cautions, | | | | recommended). A sandy shoreline along with clean, |
| kiteboarding is relatively safe. I say relatively, because | | | | steady wind is ideal. Open areas like the Great Lakes |
| everything in life has risk, even driving your car to | | | | or oceans typically get smoother wind than inland |
| the grocery store. However, if you don't know what | | | | spots like lakes and reservoirs. Kiteboarding can also |
| you're doing, things can go bad, very bad. Take a | | | | be done in the winter time (snowkiting) on open |
| lesson! When in doubt, don't go out. Never ride by | | | | fields or frozen lakes with a snowboard or skis. And |
| yourself. Don't kite in storms or other times when | | | | then there is kite ground boarding (KGB) where you |
| the wind isn't steady and reliable. And again, take a | | | | use a landboard with a kite, the possibilities go on and |
| lesson (the more the better)! | | | | on… |
| #4 I don't need a lesson | | | | #9 I have a wakeboard, all I need is a kite |
| Just because you're a pro wakeboarder | | | | The bindings on a wakeboard are boot-like and are |
| snowboarder, etc., doesn't mean you're a good | | | | hard to get into, compared to the easy-entry, |
| kiteboarder. You need to learn how to fly the kite as | | | | sandal-like binding of a kiteboard. Basically, when |
| well as learn how to setup the kite, relaunch, perform | | | | you're in the water with the kite, you're going to |
| a self rescue, etc. | | | | want it as easy as possible to put that board on |
| This is not wakeboarding, skiing, or surfing. It is more | | | | your feet while you're flying the kite. |
| comparable to scuba diving, except if you screw up, | | | | Try to imagine wakeboarding in a choppy ocean, |
| not only are you putting yourself at risk, but also | | | | doesn't sound too good does it? A kiteboard on the |
| everyone on that beach. It is absolutely critical that | | | | other hand, lets you cut right through chop and gives |
| you know what you are doing. A minimum of at least | | | | you a nice ride, thus opening up the possibility to ride |
| one lesson is mandatory. No exceptions. | | | | basically anything. |
| #5 I'll take a lesson and be riding by the end of the | | | | #10 I found a great deal on a kite off eBay! |
| day | | | | Have you ever noticed how every kite listed on |
| Each year the gear is getting better and better. | | | | there is "great for beginners." Don't believe |
| Three years ago, it would take weeks to be able to | | | | everything you're told. Just about every eBay kite |
| learn what people now learn in a matter of days. | | | | that I've seen people bring to the beach makes me |
| Even so, do not expect to be up and riding the first | | | | cringe. Many times, the kite is old (old in kiteboarding |
| time (or second time for that matter). It does | | | | can mean anything over 2-3 years old) and unsafe. |
| happen every now and then so to improve your | | | | Remember, kiteboarding is still a new sport, and the |
| chances spend as much time as you can with a | | | | equipment today is three hundred times better than |
| trainer kite and work on your board skills. | | | | it was 4 years ago. |
| #6 Trainer kite? I don't need a trainer kite! | | | | Overall, you get what you pay for! Talk to someone |
| Buying a trainer kite is one of the smartest moves | | | | at a kiteboard store for what kiteboarding setup |
| you can make (along with taking lessons and buying | | | | would be the best for you and buy it through them. |
| the proper gear). You can learn so much with a | | | | The right gear makes all the difference! |