Learn how to kitesurf: An online beginners tutorial

Even if it might look unbelievable at first sight, kitesurfing can be learned quite fast and easily. A few tough steps at first will be rewarded instantly, the second you glide over the water. Sun and the salty water on your skin, the wind blowing into your face and beautiful landscapes around you – you’ll be hooked within the first minute! Usually it takes around a week to learn the basics and to ride your first meters. The better you prepare, the easier it will be. So why not starting right now?

Learn how to kitesurf: Introduction

Kitesurfing is a sport which can be learned relatively easy by every active and willing person. In general, no one is too young or old for this sport. The kites have become much more safer in the last few years. Kitesurfing has changed from an extreme sport to a sport for the masses. However, for your first experience, you should visit a reputable and licensed kitesurfing school. Want to know where to go and learn? Have a look at our numerous destinations where we offer beginner packages to get you up and riding in a safe and fun way.

To learn the basics of kitesurfing you need, on average, three to five days and then a few more days to strengthen and practice what you have learned, that will have you flying across the water on your board.

But finally after seven days of hard work, practice and good conditions, you’ll ride over the water!

Kitesurf online video tutorial for beginners

Join Anne and Tabea from the KiteWorldWide office in Hamburg for a complete kitesurf beginners guide.

This kitesurf online tutorial should serve as a preparation for a kitesurf course or as a refresher.

ATTENTION: This course is not intended to replace a course provided by professional kitesurf schools. Without professional instructions, kitesurfing is a dangerous sport. To learn kitesurfing in a safe environment, you should attend a course provided by a certified kite school.

Want to know where to go and learn? Have a look at our hand picked destinations for beginners, where we offer the perfect packages to suit you. High wind likelihood combined with nice weather and good learning spots. Though kitesurfing is easy to learn, one needs a minimum of 3-4 days to complete a course and some more days to strengthen and practice what you have learned.

The complete online tutorial includes 15 short videos. Here are the first 12 episodes. Make sure to check out our homepage or sign in for the mailing list, to not miss a new episode.

A special thanks to our media partner Gleiten.TV for the production of this tutorial.

learn how to kite surf, part 1: The kiteboard

Terminology of kitesurfing

After a short theoretical introduction, it’s time to get to know the equipment. The most frequent terms concerning the kite and the board, you’ll learn along the way. Like this you already have a basis which you can apply in practice.

Learn how to kitesurf, part 2: Kite Details

Kitesurf Destinations for Beginners

The following destinations are suitable for beginners:

Sri Lanka: Dreamspot Eco Kite Lodge

June 6, 2017

Our new "Dreamspot" opens up flat and wave - spots and a fantastic lodge in the middle of pure wilderness, right on the beach! The Eco Kite Lodge offers newly designed Beach Rooms with a sea view and a cozy restaurant area and a pool with a great sundowner view.

Spain: Tarifa

December 16, 2016

Tarifa, for many it is the capital of wind, ocean, beach and the spanish surf- and kitesurf lifestyle. Aside of kitesurfing at the 14km long sandy beach Los Lances, the old town is packed with cosy little cafes and surf shops at daytime and a pumping at night with its bars and clubs!

Montenegro: Ulcinj

July 12, 2016

The new kite hot spot in Europe! 14 km long sandy beach, super reliable side-onshore thermal and all of that not even two hours away. Additionally you find friendly locals, mediterranean cuisine (cheap!) and the ideal surrounding for families.

Brazil: Tatajuba

February 16, 2016

Empty spots, wind and kiting, kiting, kiting! The little paradise, called Tatajuba, pleases everyone with one of the best shallow water spots and the most reliable and strongest wind of Brazil!

Sri Lanka: Kalpitiya

July 21, 2015

KiteWorldWide Lagoon Lodge Sri Lanka / Kalpitiya. Comfortable lodge located right at the huge flat water lagoon with extreme high wind guarantee and two seasons: from May until October and from December until March.

Zanzibar: Jambiani / Paje

June 15, 2014

Discover this awesome kite-island with KiteWorldWide! Crystal clear turquoise water, steady winds and huge flatwater areas await you from december to march and july to october.

Kenya: Kite Lodge

June 14, 2014

Amazing lodge directly at the kite spot with huge flatwater lagoon, typical African accommodation and a certified kite center with the latest kite gear, SUP's and much more! Combine kiting with breathtaking Safaris or diving.

Egypt: Seahorse Bay

October 30, 2013

Our Kitesurf Spot in Egypt - between Hurghada and El Gouna, Hotels directly at the Spot, brandnew Kite Center with F-One gear, Flatwater lagoon with shallow water - limited spaces for more space on the water! Great kitesurfing conditions in March, April, June, July, September, October and November!

Egypt: All you can learn

October 30, 2013

No matter if you are a total beginner or advanced with your own gear or rental. During the kite learn events our experienced and fully licensed Kite instructors will help you with everything that you want to learn. Schedules for spring, summer, autumn and winter you will find on our website!

Greece: Kos

October 30, 2013

Mastichari on Kos is the new spot for everybody that wants to get into the world of kitesurfing or to improve his or her skills. Nice kiteschool, beautiful accommodation and ideal also for families. Season is from April to October.

Morocco: Dakhla

October 11, 2013

Dakhla in Morocco, Probably one of the world’s best kitesurfing spots, huge lagoon with endless flat water, waves on the ocean side and wind for over 300 days a year! Kiteworldwide opened its brand new luxury villa camp in 2014. Save your kite holiday to Dakhla now!

Italy: Sicily

January 17, 2011

A huge lagoon with throughout flat and shallow water throughout. The short distance to the African continent is responsible for the warm and pleasant temperatures from March until November. On top of that two different wind systems, which create constant wind.

The perfect spot to learn kitesurfing

Regarding the perfect spot for kitesurf of course, there are various statements and myths.

On the quest for a suitable spot to learn kitesurfing, you’ll constantly hear numerous people saying that this particular spot, is the perfect spot. Even though, all spots are usually quite different. Due to the fact, that we are offering a large number of different destinations and also running six kite schools, we have gained a lot of experience, which we would like to share with you. Here are some basics to keep in mind, when looking for the perfect spot.

Light wind vs. strong wind

Always important is a high wind likelihood. It doesn’t matter where you are, if you don’t have wind, you won’t be able to complete a course. We learned, that the power of wind is rather unimportant. Everything in a range from 12 till 40 knots works, since nowadays small as well as big kites work very well and offer the needed control, safety and relaunch capabilities. Many say, that strong winds would always bring some problems. We disagree, what usually causes trouble are the gusty winds. In Tatajuba (Brazil), one of our learning destinations, we made rather positive experiences with strong winds. Due to an almost 100% chance of strong winds, we mostly practice on 3-7m kites and see constantly good learning success by our students.

Shallow water vs. Deep water

A lot of people say, that you need shallow water to learn kitesurfing. The truth is, that it gives beginners a certain secureness and that it does support progress during the first hours. However, to avoid injuries, you should watch out not to land – out of reflex – with your feet first. It is very important to practise in deep water, too. So that later the transfer is not to difficult. You can find flatwater spots, to learn kitesurfing, in Egypt, Dakhla, Morroco, Kenya and Zanzibar. But deep water is not a barrier for a professional kite schools. In Tarifa or Kos (Greece), you’ll also find many schools, which teach in a professional manner in deep water. As a perfect compromise, we know some areas where the wind blows side-onshore and the water only becomes deep slowly. On this way, you can stand the first 50-100m but at the same time you get a good feeling for deep water (e.g. body dragging). Such areas are for example Ulcinj in Montenegro, Essaouria or the lagoon Langebaan near Cape Town.

Learn how to kitesurf, part 3: Setting up the kite

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Learn how to kitesurf, part 4: The Kite Bar and the Lines

Learn how to kitesurf, part 5:

The Trainer Kite

Learn how to kitesurf, part 6: The Safety

The way rules

The right of way rules are a crucial part of learning how to kitesurf. If you learn kitesurfing, becoming familiar with the right of way rules should be one of the first points on the list. Don’t be afraid of the theoretical part of kitesurfing, it’s easier than it might look at the beginning!

Passing upwind

When passing upwind, you need to focus on the position of your Kite. The rider passing upwind has to pilot his kite overhead. Consequently, the rider passing downwind has to pilot his kite as low as possible.

Right hand on the bar has way

The rider with the right hand forwards on the bar has priority over the oncoming rider (left hand forwards) and should keep the course. The rider with the left hand and shoulder forwards on the bar has to give way and adjust the course downwind.

Windward gives way to leeward

The windward (the direction upwind from the point of reference) kitesurfer always gives way to the leeward (the direction downwind from the point of reference) kitesurfer.

Learn how to kitesurf: An online beginners tutorial

Learn how to kitesurf: Introduction

Kitesurf online video tutorial for beginners

learn how to kite surf, part 1: The kiteboard

Terminology of kitesurfing

Learn how to kitesurf, part 2: Kite Details

Kitesurf Destinations for Beginners

Learn how to kitesurf, part 3: Setting up the kite

GET A QUOTATION

Learn how to kitesurf, part 4: The Kite Bar and the Lines

Learn how to kitesurf, part 5:

The Trainer Kite

Learn how to kitesurf, part 6: The Safety

Learn how to kitesurf, part 7: Launching and Landing

Learn how to kitesurf, part 8: Kite piloting exercises

Learn how to kitesurf, part 9: The body drag

learn how to kitesurf, part 10:

The re-launch

Learn how to kitesurf, part 11: Waterstart preliminary practice

Learn how to kitesurf, part 12:

The water start

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Learn how to kitesurf, part 8:
Kite piloting exercises

Learn how to kitesurf, part 9:
The body drag