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Discovery Kitesurf Program      (Beginner)

The best way to discover Kitesurfing ! By the end of this program

you will be introduced to body-dragging and be ready to learn the

pre-requirements for the water start. The first part of this program

will take you through the steps of flying a 2 or 4 line kite, and body

dragging in the water.

You will also learn about safety and how important it is to the sport. Furthermore, you will be taken through

the steps of equipment set up and launching and landing the kite.


Intermediate Kiteboarder Program        (Intermediate)

 

By the end of the intermediate program, you will get up on the board for your first ride. During the course you will improve your kite flying with power skills, one hand kite flying, body dragging unhooked and hooked into your harness. perfect for those who wish to practice a few times per year and rent equipment during holidays.


Independant Kiteboarder Program           (Expert)

 

You will be able to ride upwind and do your first jump! At the end of this program, you will be an independant kiteboarder. You will manage your practice area and you will be able to choose the right equipment. Your kite flying skills will be improved and you will learn how to control your direction and power, and come back to your starting point. You will be able to fly more powerful kites. You will be able to use a twin tip, mutant or smaller directional surf boards.



Lets now go through what you will learn during the lesson.

Novice Kiteboarder (Newbie)

This is where it all starts. In this class you will fly a 2 to 3.5 meter foil kite/traction kite. You will develop the flying techniques to later be able to handle the LEI (Leading Edge Inflatable) kites we use to kitesurf. The focus in this course is kite control on land. Just like riding a bike on the footpath before you hit the road to shred. The A.K.A. will take the hassle out of setting up the kite. We will do it all for you, but you will need to know if you get your own kite to try.

All you need is a hat and sunscreen and away we go.


 LESSON PLAN INCLUDES
  • Kite zone
  • Weather conditions
  • The kite and bar explained
  • The Wind Window
  • Flying demonstration by Instructor
  • Understanding and testing safety features 
  • Flying and controlling the kite
  • Launch and land the kite.

Beginner Kiteboarder course
You can a foil kite and want to fly a 7/9 meter  LEI kite (Leading Edge Inflatable).
In this class you will learn everything about kite set up from out of the bag. What to do when you buy your own kite.
This will include understanding and preparing all the equipment required to get your kite up in the air. (Kite, Pump, Control Bar & Lines, Harness & Safety equipment You will progress through the stages of launching, landing, flying the kite in the neutral zone and the edge of the power zone. These are areas of the wind window that you will learn in more detail.

LESSON PLAN :-

Kiteboarder Level 1 on land (2 - 6 hours):

The following IKO levels are set out in a specific order to enhance your learning curve.
Some students will take longer than others so there is now rush to learn to jump.
Flying the kite is everthing in our sport, the more hours you spend on the beach the better you will be

Level 1A 

  • Know safe wind directions and conditions for kiting
  • Know hazards on a spot 
  • Set up a trainer kite 
  • Know the use of safety systems
  • Timescale to complete 20 / 40 minutes

Level 1B


  • Have basic flying skills with trainer kite
  • Launch and land the trainer kite with an assistant.
  • Twist and untwist the lines while flying the kite.
  • Walk and change directions while flying the kite
  • Know the wind window
  • Timescale to complete 20 / 40 minutes

Level 1C -

  • Set-up a 4/5 line kite with a full de-power system
  • Pre- flight check equipment and settings
  • In flight check equipment and settings
  • Understand and use the international communication signals
  • Launch and land the kite to an assistant and as an assistant (4/5-line de-power kite)
  • Timescale to complete 30 / 60 minutes

Level 1D

  • Control the kite hooked into the harness
  • Understand the de-power system and can use the safety systems
  • Advanced flying skills with the de-power kite 
  • Show full control of de-power systems in flight
  • Timescale to complete 30 / 60 minutes

Level 1E

  • Pull quick release and activate leash
  • Recover the bar and kite
  • Self land. (bar pack-down and Self Rescue on land)
  • Timescale to complete 20 / 40 minutes

Intermediate Kiteboarder

Congratulations!!!! You have passed the biggest learning curve in kitesurfing. (Respecting the power and conquering the fear).


Now is the time to get wet! In this lesson you will fly a larger (up to 12 meters), more powerful LEI kite (as approprate to the wind strength). You will learn kite control and body dragging in the water. You will also learn water re-launch and self rescue in the water (undoubtedly the kite will be in the water more often than the sky on your first outing!)


You may or may not find yourself ready to stand up on the board at the end of your first intermediate lesson. When you are ready we will get you up on the board "tea bagging" all the way down the beach (up & and down) and doing your first turns.This is the greatest feeling, when you link the kite and the board together. You will be hooked for life!

Prerequisite for this course is demonstrating IKO level 1 standards / Beginner. IKO certification card will be issue to all who meet the level 2 IKO standards on completion

LESSON PLAN:- Kiteboarder Level 2 in the water (6 - 15 hours):
This is where the learning curve gets harder. To control the kite in the water then with a board.
Bigger kites are used in this session to get you up and going.
You will soon find out why to bodydrag is so important.
You will also find water relaunch of your kite a daunting task. Go back and try it on the land first.

Level 2F

  • Enter and exit the water independently and safely while controlling the kite.
  • Water re-launch the kite.
  • First body drag downwind.
  • Maintain correct kite position in the wind window.
  • Change direction to the left and right while body dragging.
  • Recover the kite and bar in the water.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes

Level 2G

  • Upwind body drag to recover board.
  • Upwind body drag holding the board with one hand.
  • Enter and exit at the same point while upwind body dragging.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes
 

Level 2H

  • Know the power stroke for a water start. 
  • Know the safety rules and theory for water start.
  • Can put the board on the feet and maintain the correct position for water start.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes

Level 2I

  • Water start in both directions and ride a short distance.
  • Come to a controlled stop.
  • Understand weather forecast, tidal- and wind effects.
  • Determine the wind strength, direction and quality.
  • Know the right of way rules.
  • Know equipment set up and choice according to the weather conditions.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minute

Expert Kiteboarder

By now you have purchased your own Kite and accessories. New or Old Kite, the A.K.A will tune and test your kite to make sure everything works to the A.K.A. safety standards.


Flying and controlling the kite while you are not connected to water is harder than it looks. The A.K.A. will guide step by step to allow you to safely reach for the skies.


We also offer HD DVD recordings (optional) to help with your self analysis and progress. The pros have been using this method for years.


LESSON PLAN

Kiteboarder Level 3:

This level is for the kiter who need to be IKO certified to ride at certain beaches or to rent gear.

IKO level 3N is required for certain locations throughout the world, eg:- Crampton Park, Florida, USA.


Level 3J

  • Control the riding speed by edging.
  • Consistent riding in both directions.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes

Level 3K

  • Consistent riding in all directions including upwind.
  • Ride amongst other riders and water users and respect right of way rules.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes
 

Level 3L

  • Change of direction without stopping.
  • Self- rescue and full pack-down in the water.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes

Level 3M

  • Risk assessment and awareness of the riding area.
  • Self launch.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes

Level 3N

  • Make a toe side turn.
  • Knows the theory and the safety rules for jumping.
  • Land a basic jump.
  • Timescale to complete 60 / 120 minutes

All the IKO steps have been designed to insure you will be a safe independant kitesurfer. Each step llinks into the next step. If you jump steps you will end up with bad habits and frustration. These IKO steps 1,2,3 could take up to 1 year of dedicated kiting to reach level 3N. This means you can do all the above steps and more. Some people will take 1 month to stand up on the kiteboard, other will spend a lifetime trying to stay up-wind and stand up. Slow and steady wins the kite race. How long will it take you???
Team A.K.A.