Get More out of Your Kiteboarding Lesson with a Jet Ski Assist
A major part of becoming an independent kiteboarder is learning upwind form. There are many aspects of kiting that beginners need to learn and focus on first, like learning to stay on the board and how to maneuver the kite.
Jet ski-assisted lessons allow students to streamline their time on the water, often making gigantic leaps toward becoming an independent rider as they learn to ride upwind.
Drifting Downwind is Inevitable
First-timers often get caught in the wind and end up far away from their launch point. Especially in La Ventana, where the wind consistently comes from the north, you can spend a lot of time walking back upwind with all your gear in tow.
Avoid what the kiting community jokingly refers to as the “walk of shame” with a quick jet ski ride upwind. And hey, if you ever need to walk upwind as an independent rider, there is no shame in that. We prefer to call it the “walk of fame!”
Get Away from the Crowd
Traffic can form quickly on nice, windy days in popular kite spots. If you aren't confident in controlling your kite yet, it is intimidating (and dangerous) to ride close to other people. With a jet ski-assisted lesson, you can easily start in a spot with plenty of space for you to safely learn.
Spend Less Time Body Dragging
When your board escapes you, it can be a timely challenge to rendezvous. Let your instructor quickly retrieve your board with the jet ski so you can get back to your lesson.
What is upwind body dragging?
Upwind body dragging is essentially kiting without the board. You typically learn how to body drag in your first lesson. Kiters also do this when our board runs away from us after a fall. The kite is still in the air, and we continue to control it, moving without a board and dragging our body until we reunite with the board. In a jet ski-assisted lesson, we will still teach you how to do this, but you’ll want to skip it sometimes to maximize riding time.
What is a jet ski-assisted lesson like?
Before the lesson begins, the jet ski will be anchored in the water. The instructor will oversee your full setup before you enter the water and body drag away from the shore. You’ll be in contact with the instructor through our two-way talking headsets.
We like to start our lessons north of our school and drift south just below the school for the duration of the lesson before we make our way back on the jet ski. This way, you will never have to get out of the water.