Kitesurfing and Kiteboarding School

"IF PERFECT works for you. this is the place."

• South Padre is the Mecca of Kite Boarding
• Consistent winds
• Million+ acres of shallow bay water
• Waist to chest depth
• Calm surface
• Wide, sandy beaches
• Warm water
• Qualified Instruction

Air Padre Kiteboarding:

• Qualified (sport is still developing, thus standards are as well)
• Conscientious (Safety first and foremost - this can be a dangerous sport)
• Encouraging (past life tutoring profession certainly contributes)
• Genuinely enjoyable to be around (when one follows their bliss, it shows)

Prior experience:

• Trainer kite, 2-meter foil (served mainly to get me dreaming about lifting off)
• Trainer kite is a big advantage before spending time and money in the water. Order it. You'll also use it to convince your friends to join you next time.
• Encouraging (past life tutoring profession certainly contributes)
• Genuinely enjoyable to be around (when one follows their bliss, it shows)

Air Padre Experience:

Lesson 1

• Learned kite functionality, operation, and safety
• Body dragged (the power was awesome, it pulled me out of the water on many occasion)
• Relaunched the kite numerous times

Lesson 2

• Improved kite skills to control movements in the water
• Learned to fly blind while maneuvering the board on to my feet
• Worked the power zone to attempt water launch on board
• Practiced balance while water launching
• Kept water launching, but was unable to stay up and balanced, and would fall immediately (This can be a bit frustrating as there are many things to coordinate simultaneously, however, persist, it will come. As Jeff said "It ain't sledding!")

Lesson 3First Half

• Became more proficient with the kite and maneuvering the board onto my feet.
• Consistently found the power zone for water launch, but struggled with the balance of getting up and riding. Basically a continuation of the end of the last lesson.

But then

• Got up and Rode 50 meters!
• then 100 meters
• then a poor launch, and fall
• then a 200 meter run
• and another 200 meter run
• IT JUST CLICKED!

I've since come back for more, and have noticed significant improvement in terms of length of runs (one mile range) and maneuvering, although I still can't get up and go right! But with the benefit of a patient and super cool instructor there to guide and encourage, I'm sure I'll get it soon. This is the sport, the location, and the outfit for me. If you're reading this, you've come this far. Make a choice, make a commitment, and make your pilgrimage. It's absolutely thrilling!" - Paul M

Hi everyone, I just got back to San Antonio from South Padre Island. I've always been into acrobatic/stunt kiting as a hobby, thus why I decided to vacation in SPI. When I got down there I went looking for a bigger kite. I owned a 6 foot acrobatic/stunt two string kite and was interested in getting into a 8 to 12 foot foil kite. After talking to some locals I came across Jeff. He was recommended by B & S Kites (http://www.bskites.com/ which is the only place I've ever purchased kites from since I started kiting as a hobby. I wasn't necessarily looking for a kiteboarding lesson because my vacation was on an extremely tight budget. I wanted to just buy a large kite and go fly on the beach. After talking with Jeff, I decided on a lesson instead of buying a kite due to Jeff's concern for my safety. I was a little disappointed that I wasn't going to get a kite, but Jeff offered me a killer package deal that included an AWESOME used 2002 model kite and a lesson, I couldn't refuse. I was quite relieved because after talking to some of the locals in the shops, I was getting quickly discouraged. I started off the lesson with an slightly remedial introduction into kite anatomy. Jeff explained the wind window to me in great detail. The wind window was a completely new concept for me even though I was an experienced kite hobbyist. Next Jeff helped me launch a 6 foot foil trainer kite. The kite was extremely easy due to my past kiting experience. Little did I know that I was going to get too do some landboarding within the first 30 minutes of my lesson. In the first 30 minutes I was zigzagging across the sand flats where the lessons are given. This new found ability alone was worth the cost of the lesson and I was completely satisfied with the lesson, but it didn't stop there. The next step was to pull out the 22 foot wide inflatable kite. This part of the lesson was very safety intense which calmed my nerves a bit as this kite was extremely intimidating at first. Jeff was extremely patient with me, and had me practice carrying the kite in a safe position, setting the kite into both left and right launch positions, and perform quick tests to see if the kite was in the appropriate position for launch. The next step was to practice launching the kite and keep it in a 1/11 o'clock neutral positions using only my left or right hand. I found the kite to be extremely simple to control using the control bar. After this we did some one handed body dragging, and finally some two handed body dragging. During the body dragging Jeff communicated with me via a helmet radio. This was a great help especially when the kite came down in the water. I was able to relaunch the kite my first try. Unfortunately I wasn't the first person to get up on a board during my first lesson, due to time constraints. Prior, During, and after the training Jeff was awesome. I never once felt intimidated or slow. Jeff was extremely patient, enthusiastic about my success, and professional. Even after the training Jeff stuck around to discuss any and all questions I had, even after my time expired. During the lesson my fiance and her sister setup a canopy, some chairs, and sipped on some fine Mexican beer and cheered me on. I've been thinking about taking a kite boarding lesson for a long time, but I didn't come to SPI expecting to take one. This lesson made my entire vacation one of the most awesome experiences of my life. I want to personally thank Jeff and let everyone know that I tipped him on top of the fee for the lesson. Thank you Jeff for helping make me successful in something that I've wanted to try for so long." - Forrest, 2003

I would recommend Jeff to everybody out there, he had the patience to go at my speed and pushed safety in front of everything. He worked around my schedule and had me up the first day. I would highly recommend Jeff as your instructor, hands down." - Dave - St. Louis

"Just finished my 3rd lesson and wanted to let you know how much fun I had. Also wanted to let everyone out there know that Jeff is an awesome instructor and that he is extremely professional. I'm not sure what I should have expected, but I was pleasantly surprised. No offense Jeff, but I didn't expect to be able to discuss advanced chemistry with my instructor. Anyway, I had an absolute blast and just wanted to say thanks and encourage everyone out there to come get a lesson from Jeff. South Padre is an awesome place to learn and Air Padre Kiteboarding is the only way to do it. Take care Jeff, and you can already book me for another lesson in August." - Allen

"Excellent time! Jeff has gobs of knowledge, patience and all the equipment to ensure getting you up for some great runs! Only one on the island to use a water foil to assure playing in low wind conditions. We were out playing when no one else could. He took us to great places on his 4 person wave runner to find the best spots to ensure the best conditions (water and wind) and get away from all obstacles including other novice kiters. Thankfully he is also a great cameraman! We have wonderful videos and pictures thanks to his steady hand. Photos of our sessions to come later if we can figure out how to get them to you! Need accommodations? Jeff can help with getting you a great condo a block off the beach and 2 blocks from his shop. Our hat's off to you Jeff.... no we do not have cowboy hats in Minnesota. We are planning a second session in April after we have thawed out from kiting in the snow and ice!" - Terry and Mary

"...thought it about time we praised the young man who took our kiteboarding to the next level. Prior to our visit we had been used to 5mm wetsuits, and oft gusty winds on the lakes on the South Island of New Zealand. What a delight to finally get some constant wind plus constructive criticism and positive energy from a real professional kiteboard instructor, who I know stands above so many others in the area. The next steps for both of us were made so much simpler when given the right encouragement. Where Jeff stands apart from other instructors is his attention to detail and his willingness to simply help where he can, for example getting up really early one morning to help replace my leading edge bladder with an old one he happened to have in his garage, which miraculously fitted! We both take our hat off to Jeff, and have since progressed even further in Queensland, Australia, where I have progressed to riding toeside, and my wife isn't far behind me! Great days in Texas, looking forward to the next time we meet our Texan friend!" - Cheers Colin & Susan Basterfield

"I recently took 9 hours of instruction from Jeff at Air Padre Kiteboarding and wanted others to know of my experience. I came to South Padre from Phoenix specifically to learn the ropes of kiteboarding. I now know that I could not have picked a better place. The bay between the island and the Texas coastline is 100 miles long, and the narrowest point is two miles. The most incredible part about the bay is that is only waist to chest deep, with a sandy bottom. PERFECT FOR LEARNING!!! There was at least a 10 knot breeze every day I was there (late July/early August.) My instructor really made an effort to accommodate me and to get me up and going, and the equipment was excellent (Thank goodness for the waverunner! Absolutely essential.) I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AIR PADRE TO ANYONE WANTING TO TRY OUT THIS AWESOME SPORT." - Chris Moore Phoenix, AZ