How to Start Shredding on Your Kiteboard

Let's start off with the bad news: kiteboarding isn't something you can go out to the beach to pick up in a day. Learning this new sport requires a pretty serious time commitment. Of course, there's a flip side: if you put in the time and effort, you can definitely pick up the sport and be ripping it up on the water in no time at all.  Your best bet is a balanced approach. You'll want to get out there and gain some practical experience with a board under your feet and a sail above your head. But before you head to your first lesson, do yourself a favor and read up a bit on technique and lingo. That way, you'll have a solid background to get started, before you even get on the water.

After reading over the basics, it's time to find someone who can show you the moves in real life. Some people make the mistake of heading straight for the beach, thinking they can pick up kiteboarding on their own with a bit of help from the text. That's not just wrong; it's dangerous. Remember that mother nature is a pretty powerful force. When the wind slams you into the sand (or worse, a building), there's a good chance you won't get up and walk away.
So what's the alternative? When you sign up with a skilled, qualified kiteboarding instructor, you'll save the time (and pain) of rookie mistakes. 

Of course, you don't want to pick any old guy off the street. In fact, you may even want to avoid that friend who's been trying to get you into kiteboarding for years. Would you learn to skydive from a buddy? Exactly. The one thing that your buddy forgets to teach you could mean the difference between landing that trick and breaking a bone. Spending a few hundred dollars on a great instructor is one of the best investments you can make with your money. 

But how do you go about finding the right guru? There are plenty of people out there who say they're experts, and you may even spot a few off the coast shredding it up. Unfortunately, there's a difference between personal skill and the ability to teach. Often, the best kiteboarders operate off of instinct more than anything else; that means they could forget to fill you in on some of the important things beginners need to know. 

What's more, finding the right instructor is actually pretty easy. There are plenty of accredited instructors waiting for your business. This allow you to pick and choose. Another huge benefit of going with a school rather than on your own? You won't have to invest a ton of cash into equipment. That's important, because you'll likely want to experiment with different sizes and styles before finally making an expensive purchase. 

Now that you're committed to spending the money, you're probably wondering how many lessons you'll need to pay for. The short answer? There is now answer. Everybody's different, and you'll have to keep at it until you feel comfortable by yourself. Don't forget that you're investing in yourself: the way things have looked lately, you can expect a way higher return than if you put that cash in the stock market!

Finally, take some time out of your schedule to start training. You'll likely be surprised by how much swimming is involved, and the better you prepare, the less sore your muscles will be the day after!