The
fasted growing sport in the whole world at the moment is kite
surfing. A fusion of three different sport has created this
new adventure sport that has taken the world by storm. This
wild new water sport has been fashioned from kite flying,
surfing and wakeboarding. It was in 1999 when the kite surfing
scene really kicked off, promoted by French and Hawaiian stars.
In the beginning of 1999 there were just 12 UK kite surfers.
That number has exploded dramatically to the 7,000 kite surfers
that now live in the UK. Also in 1999, in anticipation of
the popularity of the sport, the British Kite Surfing Association
was founded to convey information to current and prospective
kite surfers.
Do
you want to learn to kite surf? You can gain a recognised
level of ability by learning at a BKSA registered training
centre, with qualified instructors. Because of the rapid expansion
of this sport, good kite surfing locations are always being
discovered and so it is always best to speak with local kitesurfers
about the best sites in a certain location. It is recommended
by the BKSA that you have a minimum competence with certain
skills before trying kite surfing, for example by being competent
at kite flying whilst on land, before trying it in the water.
Learning
to kitesurf
As
with any sport, it is important that you receive professional
advice from qualified instructors before attempting it. If
you are unsure about what you are doing, then kitesurfing
can be a dangerous sport. It’s not worth the risk of
injuring yourself, so invest in a kitesurfing lesson that
will teach you the basics before you go out on your own. This
way you will learn the best and safest techniques without
the danger or frustrations of trying to learn on your own
If
you want to learn to kitesurf, make sure you learn from a
BKSA and IKO qualified Instructors at a BKSA or IKO approved
training centre. The majority of people will be able to kite
surf to a basic level after a 3 day course.
As with all types of learning, if you have a private lesson
you will learn more quickly due to the one on one tuition.
Here
is a guide if you were to buy all of the equipment necessary
for kitesurfing. Second hand equipment is easy to find, and
it may be that you purchase some components new, and some
used.
Package
for beginners consisting of board and 12 metre kite = 850
GBP
Wetsuit = 120 GBP
Third party insurance with BKSA membership = 30 GBP
Impact Vest = 80 GBP
Helmet = 40 GBP
Harness = 60 GBP
TOTAL = 1180 GBP
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