FAQ

Safety, Safety, Safety:

Safety is my top priority.  The power generated with a large kite is intense and can be unpredictable.  Kiteboarding can be dangerous if you don't learn proper kite control, know what to do when things go wrong, or if you go out in the wrong conditions. In addition we want to be respectful to other beachgoers and avoid any unnecessary accidents. However, things do happen and kite equipment can fail. My goal is to teach you how to kite safely for both you and those around you. I will help you practice procedures for when things do go wrong. We will use life vests and helmets as well. 

For beginners we will hold lessons in the 4 hour window surrounding low tide. This provides ample beach space and in most places you are able to stand up in shallow water, which will help in the early stages. As you progress, lessons can be held at higher tides as you learn to do deep water starts and gain confidence with the conditions. In general, I highly recommend you only kite around low tide for your first year. Kiting within the 4 hours surrounding high tide adds many layers of complication and I only recommend this for intermediate and advanced riders who know the conditions and location very well. 

Lesson Availability:

Kiteboarding is one of the fastest growing sports and there has been a lot of interest. I will typically work with 3-4 students at any given time, ranked in the order in which they signed up. When the forecast looks good, and conditions line up well for teaching, I will contact the students on my list in order, until I fill the lesson slot. Conditions in Maine change quickly and frequently, so sometimes conditions will pop up and lesson slot will become available on short notice. In addition, sometimes the wind doesn't cooperate and we may have to reschedule if the winds fade or are unsafe.  I have no control over the wind. In the event the conditions do not cooperate during a lesson, we may need to stop part way through and reschedule.  As stated above, for safety, the majority of lessons will be held at mid to low tides. In the summer, the beaches in Maine get very crowded, and teaching will only be done when safe to do so and can be done away from crowded areas, typically at dead low tide. 

Wetsuits:

There are about two weeks in August when you won't need a wetsuit! Otherwise you will need some type of wetsuit to be comfortable kiting in the chilly waters of Maine.  Wind chill is often a factor as well. Wetsuit technology is constantly improving and modern wetsuits can be quite comfortable. 

I highly recommend neoprene boots and gloves. These can help expand the range of your wetsuit by quite a bit. Boots can also be helpful for protecting your feet from anything sharp in the sand. There are also great neoprene jackets on the market that can add a lot of range to your setup. Here is a general rule on wetsuits and their general range for Maine Waters:

4/3mm Fullsuit- Good for June-October

5/4mm Fullsuit- Good for May-Decemeber

6/5mm+ w/hood- Good almost all winter! 

Lesson Format:

Most folks need 4-6, two hour lessons to become independent riders. Lessons are $125/hr. I can teach a two person lesson assuming both students are about the same weight. There is a 50% discount for the 2nd person when doing a group lesson. 

Below is a general lesson format. 

Lesson 1- Intro to Kiting (1 hour/$100). Can be done anywhere and without wind! Introduction, safety, wind theory, kite setup, harness fitting and bar simulation. We will cover all you need to know so we can hit the beach running when the wind does show up!

Lesson 2- Revisit kite setup, launching and landing, trainer kite practice, regular kite practice, waist deep water practice, body dragging

Lesson 3- Kite Setup, brief beach practice, waist deep water practice, introduction to board and shallow water starts.

Lesson 4- Shallow water starts, maintaining control, riding upwind if ready.

Lesson 5- Deep water starts, riding upwind, transitions. 

Lesson 6- Additional time for above steps and hopefully supervised independent riding.

Cost of Kiteboarding:

Kiteboarding isn't the cheapest of sports, but compared with most adventure type activities (skiing, biking, etc) it is similar in cost. 

If no prior experience, 8-12 hours of lessons will cost $1000-$1500

A full used setup will cost you around $1000-$1500, a brand new setup can range from $2000-$4000

If buying used, I strongly suggest you don't purchase gear older than about six or seven years old, as the kite technology and designs keep improving, making it easier for you to progress.