THE LESSON
An Introduction to Our Learning Process
Over the last few years, advances in kitesurfing equipment have made the sport much safer and more user friendly. However, large sport kites still generate enough power to pull a car down the beach! With that kind of potential power in your hands, it’s easy to see the importance of proper training. Many people have come away from their first kiting experience with scrapes, bruises, or worse. Beginners have often given up, their newly-purchased kites and boards going unused, taking up space in the corner of their garage.

With our process of safety, planning and experience, First Coast Kiting aims to change that.
Learning to kitesurf does not have to be a dangerous or frustrating endeavor. Our training program is designed to make the new student safe and self-sufficient. We have broken our lesson plan into 14 separate steps. Each student starts with the most basic principals necessary to safely enjoy the sport, and each step builds on the one before. Students learn to “read” the beach and conditions. Then they learn to assess the wind. Our Safety, Weather and Wind Window discussions make up the first three steps.

We train with both c-shape kites and flat kites, and we explain and discuss the pros and cons of both. We use some of the newest and most friendly equipment available.  

Once a student chooses their style of kite, we select the correct size kite for the day. Then students are shown how to properly set up and rig one of these monsters.

OK. It’s time to fly. This is the first thing that makes our lesson different from other training programs. All of our students learn to fly with kites that are tethered. This “safety line” allows the instructor to control the kite and make corrections while the student actually flies the kite. In the event a student makes a mistake, or a sudden gust of wind pulls hard on the kite, the instructor can “kill” the power almost immediately. This type of training quickly builds confidence, helping the student to learn more quickly.

The emphasis in the first session is on smooth, precise control. Students learn assisted launching and landing, unassisted launching and landing, water restarts, and power generation while the kite is on the “safety line”. Once a student demonstrates good, smooth control, we remove their safety line and let them practice what they have learned.

At this point, depending on wind and conditions, most students are ready to stop for the day. Trying to finish the whole lesson in one shot is often too exhausting. 

When the student returns for the second session, they are refreshed and ready to apply what they learned in the first session. For the best results, sessions should be as close together as possible. We allow the student to practice (sometimes on the safety line) and get the feel back before we take them to the water. The last three steps are a blast!

Up-wind body drags are one of the most important skills the new student has to learn. This technique uses the power of the kite to bring the kiter back to the board when they fall, and is the best and fastest way to get back to the beach if the board is lost at sea. Board leashes are never used, because of the danger of being hit by the board.

Finally, we train students to do two types of board starts. Students learn shallow-water and deep-water starts. Then they spend as much time as strength and daylight will permit practicing these new skills. Nearly all of the water training is done in knee- to waist-deep water.

Cost is another important difference separating First Coast Kiting from most other schools. Because safety is a high priority for us, we do not set a time limit on the lesson or charge by the hour for the basic lesson. A student is only finished once they complete all of the steps. The average person completes the lesson in less than 10 total hours, but if it takes longer, that’s fine with us; the lesson carries no additional charge for extra time needed to learn those basic skills to start kitesurfing safely.

The total cost of the basic lesson is currently $400.00. A $50.00 deposit is required to secure a place on the schedule. Deposits are placed with Extreme Kites in St. Augustine, Fl. at (904) 461-9415. If a student has completed all of the steps, additional time can be purchased by the hour for supervised practice sessions at a rate of $50.00 per hour.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Because of the extreme liability related to kitesurfing, we do not rent out large traction kites. We do, however, offer demo sessions to experienced kiters. We also make boards available to traveling kiters who find themselves on our beaches away from home. With a deposit equal to replacement cost, boards can be rented for only $35.00 per day. Different types and sizes of boards are available. Inquire before you arrive to find out what we have in stock. If we don’t have it, we might be able to find it for you.