Any kite boarding school on hawaii's big island?

Question

Any kite boarding school on hawaii's big island?

Answer 1

Hi Bugz!

You are right at wanting to take lessons.

My point of view is that you should not just go to any kiteschool, but that you should find one that it CERTIFIED.

IKO certified Schools in Hawaii: http://www.ikointl.com/iko-centers-water...

I seem to remember that there was another certification agency specifically for the US but I just can't remember the link... sorry. IKO is the main certification agency for kiteshools worldwide.

Here is my advice: wherever you go, the two first days will be spent on the beach and bodydraging on the water. After that, if you can find a shool that teaches you with VHF radio and follows you with a jetski, you'll learn twice as fast as with the "traditional" method.

Here is what Kiteboardingmag has to say about taking lessons:

1 Demolish the Learning Curve. Sure you're a wakeboarder/surfer/

snowboarder/ballerina, but that doesn't mean you can fly a kite. A good instructor will help you use what you've learned from other sports, drastically reducing the learning curve.

2 Save Serious Coin. Lessons save time and money. Without the right-size kite, you will end up trashing your gear. Schools have many different sizes and styles of kites, so why not learn on and trash their gear instead?

3 Guidance. Instructors know about all the latest gear and will share tips that would have taken you months to discover. Plus, most have been on the scene since day one, so they can also introduce you to all the local kiters.

4 Protection. Not knowing what you're doing flying a kite can put others in harm's way and might even hurt you. Not to mention that injuring others is not a great way to impress the local kiters.

5 Stress-Free Shopping. A good instructor will know the perfect kite and board for your weight, size and style, saving you hours of frustration. And they might even be able to cut you a deal on your first purchase.

6. Plan for the Future. Once you complete a lesson and are up and riding, you'll get all the info about where to kite, when the wind blows, where the good spots are and where to launch from.

7. It's Fun. Lessons get you outside in the water for a great, active day without the worrying about not knowing what to do, plus you get to become part of a culture that's a lot of fun to be around.

I hope this helped. Check my profile and send me an email if you want more tips on kiteboarding.

Aloha!