Kiteboarding for kids

The kids program is designed to be fun and teach the kids the basic kite flying skills. Sharing these skills with young kids helps prepare them at an early age for wind powered sports as they grow, and master the necessary skills.

Kids first day: Kids are very impressionable, and forming a positive first impression, is vital in shaping their attitudes to the wind and water for the rest of their lives. The first day is one of the most important in a kids Kiteboarding career. Many newcomers will decide on this day whether this is the right sport for them or not. Much depends on the experiences that kids will have in the first few hours or even minutes. At Action Sports Maui we know how important your kids first day is, and we do our very best to give kids a safe, fun and empowering experience.

About Kids Lessons: The kids program is designed to be fun and teach the kids of different ages the appropriate kite flying skills for their level.

Kids aged from 5-9 years: Younger kids will focus more on basic kite flying skills primarily on land. Kits will learn about the wind, kite control, safety systems, and proper kite etiquette, then they may do some tandem body-drags with the instructor. Our instructors have specialty training to prepare them for our kids program.

For Kids 9-12 years Old: Kids lessons are shorter than adult lessons, usually lasting between one and two hours. Siblings, friends and families can learn together as a fun group activity.

LESSON ONE: Kite Skills. We start with the trainer kite on land to teach kids the steering reflexes that are so important to successful kite-flying. The trainer kite is smaller than the full size kite kids will be using in the next steps. Ground School: Beach flying with the trainer kite allows kids to experiment with the wind and get the feel for the kite. During this process kids will also learn about wind direction, flying in the wind window, using power-zones. Bigger kids will be using the harness and using the other safety systems.

LESSON TWO: Depower Kite and Water Skills: We show the correct way to set up the equipment and how to use the various safety systems. In this lesson we move onto the larger inflatable kite. These kites have a 4-line system, making the power adjustable. Kids learn to control the power and use the harness. The inflatable kites are what we use in the water because they float and are able to be relaunched. Kids will go with the instructor in the water on a  *body-drag. And discover how to handle the kite and use kite power to return to the beach and to provide locomotion.  All students will wear a life jacket and harness. Next kids learn to steer the kite “single-handed” while using the harness (must be confident in water).

LESSON THREE: Solo Skills. Kids will learn how to launch their kite solo, enter the water safely, and perform a downwind body drag. Kids learn how to maneuver in the water, steer around objects , change direction, water re-launch the kite, and they will learn the kite self-landing and kite recovery on the water (self-rescue). One handed kite-flying, and the upwind body drag is next, which is a vital skill needed to progress. Kids can attempt all of the prerequisite skills to prepare them for the board. Including board-drags and steady-pull (strong swimmers only).

Anticipated progression: Kids start with land flying, ground school and progress to tandem body-drags then may do solo runs when they are ready. Kids will be trying the board if they have mastered the prerequisite skills or on about their third session, however we do not push kids too far out of their comfort zone. *Care must be taken to always teach kids at the level they can tolerate, pushing them too quickly will often result in a negative and often permanent reaction to the sport.

Family Support: Kids will also do better if older family members are also involved in the sport, as they will need active support to participate in kiteboarding. Kids will not be independent until they get more experience [e.g. 15-20 hrs] and should be actively supported and supervised until they reach about min. age 12.