kitesurfing

Kiteboarding Lessons – Overview Oceans are not like Lakes or Rivers: If you are new to ocean sailing then you should get an Ocean sailing 101 lesson from one of our local experienced instructors. There are many common pitfalls and basic survival techniques that you will want to learn before getting yourself into trouble. Talk to Suzie about our “Ocean Rider 101 class”. Shorebreak Warning: Watch out for shore break. Especially when the tide is high and the swell is up. There tends to be more shore break. Shore break is waves breaking into the shoreline, and they can be especially dangerous even when they are small. Take care when crossing through the shore break, and do not linger there. Get in and get out quickly, do not lose your footing, and definitely, do not drop your kite in the…

Learn to Kiteboard on Maui Learning to Kiteboard is Fun, with our patient and professional Instructors. We have all kinds of beginner lessons and advanced lessons too. Our lessons are located at Kite Beach on Maui’s north shore. This location has a sandy beach in a cove surrounded by a protective reef. This creates a…

WHY CHOOSE ACTION SPORTS MAUI? Not all schools are the same. So when you are comparing schools you should look at the quality of the instruction, their track record, reputation, and the teaching methods they use. The first few lessons and hours that you spend learning will either make or break your future in the sport. Kiteboarding is an extreme sport that requires accurate information and specific techniques to be done safely (Just like scuba diving) So you definitely want to seek out the very best instruction available. Originality When compared to other schools, our school should be your first choice. We were the original (first) kiteboarding school in Hawaii since 1996 and have been teaching full time since 1997′ (far longer than any other school). We have taught more people to kiteboard and have developed many…

  Kiteboarder’s Blind Spot Learning to deal with traffic on the water is not just about knowing the ROW rules. You should also take into account that kiteboarders have a large blind spot. If you ride in someone’s blind spot they cannot see you and you could become involved in an accident. More than meets the eye: Most collisions occur because someone wasn’t looking where they were going. Beginners look at the kite, and intermediates look where they want to go, and surfers look at the waves. How often when you are riding do you look behind you? The Blind Spots: Behind and upwind of every kiteboarder is a large blind spot where they cannot see and where they do not normally look. This is made worse by kiters using helmets which may reduce their peripheral awareness. Also salt spray…

When communicating on-water or over a distance, wind and wave noise will drown out almost all verbal communication. So it is necessary for kiteboarders to use visual communications to signify their intent, and especially useful is using hand signals. There are a specific set of hand signals that are in wide use, and are widely understood. To be a responsible kiter, you should learn the kiteboarding hand Signals listed below. Understanding these basic hand signals will improve the level of safety for you and others. These hand signals are based on the standard signals used internationally by IKO certified kiteboarding instructors. When to Signal: Good communication is essential when launching and landing kites. Also between a kiter on the water and their on shore support crew. Sometimes it will be necessary to communicate with other kiters, and communication is…

IKO Kiteboarder Handbook The New IKO Kiteboarder Handbook goes hand in hand with your lessons from your instructor. It follows the same Kiteboarder Program that your lessons are based on, and includes very important information on Equipment, Weather, Tides, Safety, Riding Techniques- as well as lots of other very useful information. At the end of each Section, there is a short test to make sure you have understood the information. You will use this as a way of checking your progression. The IKO has released a NEW AND IMPROVED 6th Edition! The handbook covers the first 3 IKO Recreational Kiteboarding Levels: Discovery, Intermediate, and Independent . This new Edition has now been expanded to 92 pages with more full-color pictures for demonstration along with updated quizzes and answers designed to test your knowledge ensuring that you know safe kiteboarding. This…

Kiteboarder Certification Card When you are a student learning from an IKO Instructor, you receive an IKO Kiteboarder Certification Card as part of your training package. The IKO Card certifies your skill level and is verification as you continue to train and develop. Your Instructor will fill in the remaining levels until you are a Level 3 independent rider. Future schools, instructors, rental centers, and shops then know how competent a flyer you are and most centers request you present your kiteboarder card in order to rent equipment, which is a great way to promote safety. Carry this card with you as Proof of your ability and Training. Kiteboarder Certification Cards, are your proof of your ability and training. These Cards are required on many beaches where access is restricted to certified kiteboarders. Already have kiting experience and need a…

  Join the world’s largest kiteboarding community Join the IKO’s Global Instructor Network IKO Assistant Instructor Course Duration: 5 days Location: Kanaha Beach, Maui, Hawaii USA Host School: Action Sports Maui [metaslider id=562] The AITC is a recognized IKO certification course. The assistant instructor program is perfect for candidates with no prior teaching background in kiteboarding. Assistant Instructors can begin working in kiteboarding schools and under the supervision of an IKO L2 instructors.  The AITC is a prerequisite if you intend on following an ITC (instructor’s course L1). The courses can be scheduled on demand, or are listed on the IKO Training Calendar, and can be arranged before ITC courses. Training Course:  The training is organized in 3 steps and is completed in a minimum of 5 days. The 2 first steps are: – Evaluation…

WHAT IS KITESURFING Kitesurfing is the natural evolution of extreme wind-powered watersports. Combining traits of windsurf and wakeboard, the powerful air-foils and lightweight boards give the kiteboarder higher performance capabilities than ever before. In its short but exciting history kitesurfing has brought together the most exciting components of other extreme sports. The simplicity of the kite-board concept allows every rider the ability to create their own ride styles that reflect their creative imagination and personal expression. With every new move the definitions are changed and the sport continues to expand in possibility. Nobody knows what kiteboarding will look like in the future. But already at the present time kiteboarding has expanded into snow-kiteboarding and has taken new directions into foil-boarding and land-boarding. What makes a kitesurfer work: The kitesurfer flies the kite across the wind to provide traction…

      Frequently Asked Questions Is kiteboarding difficult to learn? Is kiteboarding easier than windsurfing? Where can I do it? How much does the gear cost? Do I need to take lessons? Is Kiteboarding safe? Can I learn Kiteboarding from watching a video? How about books and DVD’s? When should I take a lesson? Where should I take a lesson? Should I buy a trainer Kite before the lesson? Is flying a trainer kite a substitute for a lesson? I have windsurfed for 20 years, will that make me a better kitesurfer? How long will it take me to learn? Can I check it out first? What is the maximum age that you will teach? What is that minimum age for your students? Is kiteboarding fun?   Q. Is kiteboarding difficult to learn? A. Learning to kiteboard…