‘Thekitespot.com GUIDE TO KITEBOARDING: From Complete Beginner to Independent Rider’ is more than just a book- it is the ultimate resource for anyone eager to embark on an exhilarating journey into the world of kiteboarding.
Written by Samina Laurinaityte, a senior BKSA kiteboarding instructor and founder of thekitespot.com, this step-by-step guide takes you on a systematic progression from beginner to an independent rider.
No more confusion when it comes to selecting the right equipment. Say goodbye to feeling overwhelmed by wind forecasts and understanding the nuances of wind patterns. Bid farewell to the frustration of grappling with kite control and safety techniques. Samina understands the pain points and challenges beginner kiteboarders face and addresses these common hurdles head-on, providing clear explanations, practical tips, and troubleshooting advice to ensure a seamless learning experience.
With a focus on practicality and progression, this book is designed to follow the steps of your lessons and each chapter is carefully crafted to build upon the previous one, ensuring a solid foundation of knowledge and skills.
Book Overview:
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Kitesports
Discover what to expect from kiteboarding lessons and learn about the learning progression from a beginner to an intermediate rider. This chapter also addresses frequently asked questions that beginners often have before diving into the sport.
Chapter 2 – Equipment 101
Learn about different kite shapes, control bar terminology, twintip board features, harness types, wetsuits, and other essential accessories. This chapter provides you with the knowledge to understand the terminology and make informed gear choices.
Chapter 3 – Wind & Forecast
Develop the skills to read wind direction, identify wind features and local effects, determine wind strength, understand water movements and tides, and interpret wind forecasts. This chapter empowers you to make informed decisions based on wind conditions.
Chapter 4 – Kite Control & Safety
Dive into the aerodynamics of kites, explore the Wind Window, learn kite control terminology, discover the importance of the sweet spot, find safe kiteboarding locations, and understand essential safety procedures such as self-rescue and packdown.
Chapter 5 – Practice
Learn how to launch and land kites, perform body dragging exercises, execute board starts, improve upwind riding, and enhance overall control on and off the water. This chapter provides practical exercises and techniques to refine your skills.
Chapter 6 – Equipment 201
Discover what to consider when buying your first gear, explore suitable kites and boards for your progression, learn how to optimise kite performance, and gain insights into maintaining and caring for your equipment.
Chapter 7 – Independent Rider
Explore international hand signals, understand ‘right of way’ rules, practice kiteboarding etiquette, learn how to assist other riders, master self-launching and landing techniques, and gain confidence to ride independently. This chapter also includes a helpful checklist to assess your readiness for independent kiteboarding.
With ‘thekitespot.com GUIDE TO KITEBOARDING’ as your trusted companion, you’ll gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become an independent kiteboarder and embrace the joy that learning kiteboarding brings.
Table des matières
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO KITESPORTS
10History of kitesports
12Difference between kiteboarding and kitesurfing
14Kitesports disciplines and riding styles
18Kiteboarding lessons and what to expect
20Standard kiteboarding lesson syllabus
21Kiteboarder riding levels
22How to prepare for your lessons and progress faster
24FAQ’s about kiteboarding
CHAPTER 2 – EQUIPMENT 101
30Kite & Bar
32LEI kite structure
33Control bar & lines
34Twintip Boards
35Twintip board shaping features
36Styles of twintip boards
38Wetsuit & Accessories
39How to find a correct fit for your wetsuit
40Accessories
41Harness & Leash
CHAPTER 3 – WIND & FORECAST
46Wind direction
49Wind features
51Thermal wind effects
54Wind strength
55Wind conditions & equipment choices
57Water movement & Tides
59 How to read tides
60Weather Forecast
63How to read the weather forecast for kiteboarding
CHAPTER 4 – KITE CONTROL & SAFETY
68Aerodynamics of the Kite
70The Wind Window
71Kite control
72Kite steering
73Body position
74The ‘SWEET SPOT’
75Site assessment
78Kite set up & packing
81Laying out your lines
84Packing your kite after the session
86Pre-flight checks & 3-step Safety
89Self rescue & deep water packdown
94Sorting bar and lines after a self rescue
CHAPTER 5 – PRACTICE
98Kite Launching and Landing
99The role of the launch assistant
101Kite launch – for the rider
104Kite relaunch from the water
106Landing the kite
108Body Dragging
110Upwind body drag
114Board Start
116Kite steering – power stroke
118 Board start technique
121Longer Runs and Controlled turns
126Upwind Riding
CHAPTER 6 – Equipment 201
132Buying your First Kiteboarding gear
138Equipment Tuning
142Looking after Your Equipment
CHAPTER 7 – Independent Rider
148Kiteboarding Etiquette and rules of the road
148International signals
150Rules of the Road
153Kiteboarding etiquette
154How to help others
157Self Launching and Landing of the LEI Kite
162Becoming an Independent rider