Thursday, May 7, 2020
Kitesurfing mainly attracts fans of water sports and extreme sports. However, outside of these circles, many people still know little about this sport.
Today, I'm joined by Damien, who recently took a kitesurfing course. He’s here to share his experience on the blog!
Hello Damien, can you tell us more about kitesurfing? What exactly is kitesurfing?
Damien: Hi, I’m just a beginner, so I’m not a pro or an expert. But I think my experience could be useful for those who want to learn more about kitesurfing, like how long it takes to get the hang of it (without crashing into a building).
Kitesurfing is basically a "kite" (cerf-volant in French) and a surfboard. The goal is to ride the waves while using the kite’s power for propulsion. Sounds simple enough, right?
How does a kitesurfing session go?
I had never tried kitesurfing before. In the winter, I ski, but I don’t snowboard.
Since kitesurfing equipment is quite expensive (around €1,800 for a full new setup, including safety gear and a wetsuit), I decided to take lessons before investing in my own gear. Plus, I wanted to learn the right way.
I took three 4-hour kitesurfing lessons at a school in Normandy.
First session – Mastering the kite on the beach
The first lesson is all about learning to control the kite on land. At first, you don’t realize how important this step is. Four hours of flying a big kite on the beach might sound boring, but it’s essential.
The kite’s power can be intimidating at first—you can easily get pulled away! But once you understand how it works, you start gaining confidence. You learn when and how the kite generates power.
Wind direction is crucial, so we learned about different wind types:
Onshore: Wind blowing from the sea at a 90° angle to the beach.
Offshore: Wind coming from the beach, pushing out to sea.
Side: Wind parallel to the shore.
Side-onshore: Wind coming diagonally from the sea to the shore (the best wind for beginners).
Side-offshore: Wind blowing diagonally from the beach out to sea.
We also covered safety techniques. Kites are designed with quick-release systems, so if you ever feel unsafe, you can let go of the bar—this reduces the kite’s power and brings it down gradually.
If that’s not enough, there are two emergency release systems:
The first detaches part of the kite, releasing tension.
The second completely detaches the kite from the harness—though this means you’ll probably lose your €1,200 kite. But this extreme case is very rare.
Second session – Controlling the kite in the water
This lesson focused on:
Relaunching the kite after it falls into the water.
Body dragging (being pulled through the water without the board).
Kites are designed with inflatable bladders on the leading edge, so they float. Even if the kite crashes upside down, waves will naturally flip it back into position—making it surprisingly easy to relaunch.
Third session – The basics of riding
The final lesson covered:
How to position yourself in the harness while riding.
How to place the board correctly on the water.
The water start—getting up on the board and riding.
At first, handling the kite, board, and body position all at once is tricky. But with practice, it becomes second nature.
What was your level after three 4-hour lessons?
I was at the water start stage. I could get out of the water sometimes, but most of the time, I would fall back in. Still, I felt the first gliding sensations, and I can’t wait to go back!
With three 4-hour lessons, I learned the basics. Now, I just need practice. Progress is fast, so next time, I’m sure I’ll be riding longer distances.
Do you practice kitesurfing regularly or occasionally?
For now, just occasionally—but maybe one day, I’ll do it more often.
I’m not a sporty person and never have been. But over the past year, I’ve taken up fun sports to stay active and clear my mind. Right now, I play tennis and kitesurfing (because I’m definitely not stopping here!).
How many sessions are needed to feel comfortable and independent in kitesurfing?
As I said earlier, three 4-hour lessons in a good school are enough to learn the basics. Then, you need to practice to reinforce what you’ve learned.
I had an amazing experience at my kitesurfing school. The instructors were:
Patient
Passionate
Friendly
They made me feel like one of the crew—by my second lesson, they were already calling me "Dam"! It didn’t feel commercial at all.
The school is close to Paris, located at Merville-Franceville Plage in Calvados. It’s called Kite R Evolution (kite-r.com), and I highly recommend it.
Who would you recommend kitesurfing to?
At first, I thought kitesurfing was an extreme sport. But actually, you can enjoy it without pushing the extreme side.
Surprisingly, I’ve seen all kinds of people do it:
40% women
40% older riders (ages 45-60)
People from all backgrounds—I even took a lesson with a notary in a helmet, harness, and life vest!
Social barriers disappear in kitesurfing. Everyone is just there to have fun and enjoy the moment. It’s also common for windsurfers to switch over to kiting.
What are the biggest pros of this sport?
The biggest one? It’s FUN.
That pretty much sums up all the positives. But if I had to list more:
Easy to transport – Any car can fit a kitebag and board.
Great community – Kitesurfers are super friendly.
Being in the water and at the beach – What’s not to love?
Good physical exercise – Keeps you fit without being exhausting.
And the biggest downside?
The wind.
In kitesurfing, you don’t decide when to ride—the wind does.
For example: "Tomorrow, the wind will be perfect between 8:30 AM and noon. Sleep? That’s for retirement!"
Article by: Le Guide Sport – July 29, 2015