Kiteboarding and Kitesurfing - Lessons and Equipment

Kiteboarding Instruction

Air Padre Kiteboarding offers kiteboarding lessons, kitesurfing lessons (wave riding), kite repairs, and equipment sales on South Padre Island along the Texas Gulf Coast.  Kiteboarding lessons are lead by certified instrucotrs who strive to help create independant and safe riders. An experienced instructor will have the knowledge, patience, and ability to communicate.  Each of these are essential to a safe learning environment. When you're ready to learn how to kiteboard choose the pors here at Air Padre Kiteboarding.

Kiteboarding lessons are expensive and we have put together this site to help future kiteboarders get into the sport effiecently and safely. In addition we offer kiteboarding camps which are a great way to get hours and hours of instruction and practise at less than have the cost of normal lessons.

The huge kites used in kiteboarding can be very dangerous in the hands of a  person lacking instruction.  Remember these things are used to get huge air, we are talking about the ability to generate major power.  So do yourself a favor and take your kiteboarding lessons in the shallow waters of the Laguna Madre with Air Padre Kiteboarding.

Kiteboarding: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

South Padre Island ( SPI ) boasts warm, flat and shallow water coupled with consistent winds and tropical temperatures, all perfect for kite surfing. Additionally, SPI offers a variety of riding conditions at surf, bay and mainland locations. Add all these factors together and you get the best place to take a kiteboarding lesson, period.

Being able to stand up after a gulp of sea water or a head first plunge into the bay is not only convenient but comforting. Having the boat right there where you need it saves time, as the beginner will end the kite surfing lesson far down wind from where he or she started. If you go with a lower cost school that does not offer boat support, be prepared to spend some of the lesson time walking back upwind.

Waroo

State of the Art Kiteboarding Equipment

At Air Padre we pride ourselves in our state of the art equipment.  We use 2007-08 hybrid/bow/SLE kites like the Liquid Session, Havoc, and the Best Waroo, which feature the latest safety systems, depowerability and relaunch capabilities. As well as easy relaunch and lower bar pressure.

The new bow kites hit the market recently and offer never before seen depowerabilty. This means that by letting go of the bar the rider can avoid being thrown, around by the kite when it generates too much power. Never before has the exciting sport of kiteboarding been so accessible and safe.

Kiteboarding: the Fastest Growing Sport

Kiteboarding: the Fastest Growing Sport

Kiteboarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world, and for good reasons. The freedom of jumping 10, 20, 30ft off the water, without the necessity of a wave for a ramp, means that people can go home to a lake and still fly through the air.

  • Snowboarders love it as a summer alternative to riding on snow, not to mention there's no lift ticket to buy.
  • Windsurfers love it because you can kiteboard in less wind, and the gear fits in a economy car, instead of the van, truck, or trailer.
  • Surfers can get out on the water when the surf is too low or blow out.
  • Wakeboarders can save all the gas money they were putting into their boats every weekend.
  • People who have never tried a board sport at all are getting into kiteboarding.
Flexifoil Ion

How To Get Started Kiteboarding

Taking lessons with a qualified instructor is a must.

STEP 1: Homework:

The best thing to do first is to buy or rent a trainer kite, and the instructional video to get the basics down ( if you don't want to wait don't worry, we have taught many people to kiteboard who had never flown a multi-line kite before). The video is especially valuable because it will introduce you to concepts and terminology involved in kiteboarding allowing you to move through the lessons efficiently while retaining more valuable information. The trainer kite will teach you the controls, a basic understanding of the wind window, and how to generate power.

If you haven't wakeboarded before see if you can arrange for an afternoon or two of working on your board skills. Try getting up and riding with both right and left feet forward as you need to be able to ride either way to kiteboard.

If you can't get your homework done before you come down you will most likely learn slower. Those who take these first steps to prepare before they get hear consistantly get up and ride sooner than those who don't.

STEP 2: First Lesson:

Next, is the first three hour kiteboarding lesson, in which you will learn the safety issues and systems, setup of the kite, launching and landing, the wind window and power stokes, water relaunching, self rescue and body dragging. At this point if you like to learn on your own, and don't mind the "walk of shame" back upwind, then you have the foundation skills to build on. Many decide that the convenience of boat support and the presence of an instructor are far too valuable to pass up. Often times those who have experience flying the trainer kite get their first chance to get up on the board because of the timesaved by advancing through the lesson rapidly.

STEP 3: Second Lesson:

After the first three hour kiteboarding lesson you will have a basic understanding of how to setup, launch and fly a kite, now we'll take those skills into the water and work on body surfing, advanced kite control and water-starts. Once riding, and later staying upwind, the learning curve accelerates VERY quickly. Many of students who do 4 or more days finish with their first jumps,riding toeside, and turning.

What is Kiteboarding?

What is Kiteboarding?

Kiteboarding or kitesurfing, if you don't already know, is like snowboarding on water. Which, behind a boat, is called wakeboarding. OK, now forget the boat and add a giant kite for the power source.

The kite is controlled or steered using a control bar in the hands of the rider. The kite can be flown is specific patterns to generate greater power, or can be used to jump or fly through the air. We are not talking about little hops either, you can really get up and float for some serious air time.

The power is directed to a harness by "hooking in", this takes the load off the arms which helps reduce fatigue. The bar also offers a safety release which can be used to kill power in case of emergency.

Flexifoil Ion

About the kiteBoards

For instructional purposes we use Spleene Boards like the one pictured here. The school has a range of sizes depending on the riders weight, abilties as well as the wind speed. Remember equipment is included in the lessons. We have found that these boards are the easiest to learn on and to get upwind on.

Some boards are similar to wake boards with the fins moved out to the rails for improved tracking while riding on the edge. This type of board is referred to as a twin tip or bi-directional board, as either end of the board can be the front, depending on the direction of travel.

Some boards appear to be more like a surf board with foot straps. Directional boards, as they are called, are generally easier to ride than twin tips (esp. in light to mod. wind) because the fins are deeper and also the volume of the board requires less power to support the riders weight.

For this reason we have both types of boards for use during kiteboarding instruction.

THE kiteboarding WATERSTART

THE kiteboarding WATERSTART

To begin kiteboarding the rider dives the kite to generate the power and get up on a plane, this is called the waterstart. Riding or skimming on the water is referred to as planning.

After waterstarting heading , one carves back upwind slightly to avoid depowering the kite by moving downwind to quickly. The rider is constantly working to channel the pull of the wind at an angle such that he or she is moving in a direction perpendicular to the the direction the wind is blowing. If done successfully this is called staying upwind. This is one of the first skills a new rider most learn.

Later, by putting kite and board skills together, one can actually work upwind. From there the host of turns (called transitions), moves and tricks seem to be endless with pros and amateurs constantly pushing the envelope.

Flexifoil Ion

Kiteboarding: Student Testimonials

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Mark Pilgrim

"I just recently left SPI after spending four days there to improve my kiteboarding skills. Believe me that when you fly 1,500 miles by yourself to do this, pay for airfare (not to mention the $80 each way for your DaKine Board Coffin), rental car and lodging, knowing that you only have four days in SPI, you are grateful that Jeff has spent the extra money to make sure that he can provide as big a "window of opportunity" as possible to allow you to get out on the water and improve your board skills."

Bill

"Just got back from Kiteboarding Lessons in South Padre. Would recommend AirpadreKiteboarding to anyone starting off or expanding there skills! 2nd set of lessons, (1st were at Hood river in Portland)Jeff is very patient but pushes you to step it up and get out there and do it! Thanks Jeff!"

Amanda

"I had a great time in SPI. I took four or five lessons with Jeff and his lessons encompassed not only learning how to kite, but the safety aspects as well as technique. SPI is a great place to learn and Jeff is a first-rate instructor. Can't wait to start kiting on the ice and lake when it thaws here in NH."

Jeff M

"..just have to thank Jeff for his hospitality and great deal on the hammersurf board. Even when I wanted to exchange the board I originally tried, it was no problem. Thanks"

Mandy

"I just finished a week in SPI and had a great time working with Jeff and his staff. What a great place to learn this sport."

CC

"I had a couple of GREAT lessons with Jeff Hoxtell of Air Padre Kiteboarding. Jeff is an absolutely first-rate instructor at undoubtedly one of the best places to learn kiteboarding in the country (the expanse of the Laguna Madre at SPI is awesome!). Jeff reinforced what I needed to do to get up and ride, and with some practice back home, it finally clicked! Walking upwind at a certain point doesn't seem to accomplish much, and when you're struggling with water starts or starting to ride, Jeff's waverunner support is exactly what you need. Jeff also teaches an excellent self-rescue technique (a must to know), and gives great tips on managing your own equipment (whatever brand it may be). I highly recommend lessons with Jeff at Air Padre - you owe it to yourself."

Scott Kite Surfing