New to Kiteboarding, where to learn?

[FLandOBX]

Hi there, just did my instructor course in march and I am getting experience teaching at Long Bay beach at Turks & Caicos.

I have been to many place to kite, including OBX, and I will say that I never seen a better place to learn then here. Huge shallow water and warm, jetski to help, etc. If you don’t mind travelling, that’s the place.

Long Bay is great, but not responsive to the OP's question. I've worked as an instructor at both OBX and Providenciales (Long Bay), and I can't disagree about Long Bay's appeal. However, winds are generally onshore at Long Bay, so jet ski support there usually amounts to simply running the student back offshore once he/she gets too close to land. Jet ski support at the OBX is more akin to a supported downwinder, where the student and instructor can go for miles downwind along the shoreline. Both are great spots.

[RaviTheJedi]

Thank you everyone for the input and great advice. I will look up Ty. Kitty Hawk Kites (KHK) sounds like a better deal.

Do instructors at KHK use jetskis to teach as well?

I can totally see the benefits of having jet ski support. Never really thought about it until now. I might have to buy a jet ski if I really get into kiteboarding. My brother and I are learning at the same time. So one person on a jetski and one kiteboarding sound like a great option.

[Steve271]

+1 to everything above.
I did zero to hero at Real. Was riding upwind on day 2 and (accidental) baby jumps day 3. Jetski, great instructor and quality gear plus reliable riding conditions made all the difference after struggling to do that at home in variable conditions in Wisconsin.
I feel that South Padre is even better for improving due to the consistent conditions of steady warm wind & water from same direction, with shallow water for as far as you can ride.

[RickI]

Do a long weekend(s) or whatever you can manage with a good outfit in OBX to get the basics down. Talk to East of Maui about coaching after that point and closer to home to fine tune your technique.

[Hugh2]

Ricki has the best plan for you. Do lessons with your brother. My friends and I all learned at OBX because it is just too hard to learn in our local midwestern lakes. About 20 people over the past 15 years. A few took lessons, but mostly we taught each other and watched videos, etc. We rent several houses for a week each spring and fall from Hatteras Realty at Island Creek on the North edge of Avon (Ty launches his boat there), and did downwinders from there to "second turnout" or milemarker 52? on SW winds, and one of the crew or a non-kiter would pick us up, repeat and rinse till we could stay upwind. On North winds someone drops everyone off at the turnout and they kite back to the houses, very simple. Only wind direction that does not work there is anything east, in which case we go down to Sandy Bay, aka Izabel's, but downwinders are hard to organize there unless you are willing to go a long way. Another possibility if you want to go it alone is to stay at Frisco Woods campground, in which case you have good access for SW and north winds, but have to walk back from downwinders unless you are willing to go a long way northeast to Kite Point, or southwest to Sandy Bay. Go for a week, rent SUPs or surfboards for non-windy days, or go fishing.

[RaviTheJedi]

+1 to everything above.
I did zero to hero at Real. Was riding upwind on day 2 and (accidental) baby jumps day 3. Jetski, great instructor and quality gear plus reliable riding conditions made all the difference after struggling to do that at home in variable conditions in Wisconsin.
I feel that South Padre is even better for improving due to the consistent conditions of steady warm wind & water from same direction, with shallow water for as far as you can ride.

I didn't realize TX has any kiteboarding places. Will keep in mind South Padre next time I am in TX.

[RaviTheJedi]

You can't beat OBX for learning...good wind and endless waist-deep water. Real has a great setup and lots of options to get you to where the wind is. I would also highly recommend Ty Luckett at Kitehatteras.com, he had my friend up and riding after a few lessons...

Funny, just realized Kitehatteras.com was purchased by Real and redirects you to Realwatersports. Correct website is kitehatteras.net.

[Toby]

+1 to everything above.
I did zero to hero at Real. Was riding upwind on day 2 and (accidental) baby jumps day 3. Jetski, great instructor and quality gear plus reliable riding conditions made all the difference after struggling to do that at home in variable conditions in Wisconsin.
I feel that South Padre is even better for improving due to the consistent conditions of steady warm wind & water from same direction, with shallow water for as far as you can ride.

I didn't realize TX has any kiteboarding places. Will keep in mind South Padre next time I am in TX.

Highly recommended!
Warm water and air, flat, wind. Never went to SPI myself (only Corpus Cristi), but saw lots of videos and pictures...you will have a blast!

[Steve271]

Great summary here:

[RaviTheJedi]

+1 to everything above.
I did zero to hero at Real. Was riding upwind on day 2 and (accidental) baby jumps day 3. Jetski, great instructor and quality gear plus reliable riding conditions made all the difference after struggling to do that at home in variable conditions in Wisconsin.
I feel that South Padre is even better for improving due to the consistent conditions of steady warm wind & water from same direction, with shallow water for as far as you can ride.

I didn't realize TX has any kiteboarding places. Will keep in mind South Padre next time I am in TX.

Highly recommended!
Warm water and air, flat, wind. Never went to SPI myself (only Corpus Cristi), but saw lots of videos and pictures...you will have a blast!

I'm gonna have to find some work in TX now just so I can visit South Padre?

How are the conditions during September in South Padre?