What really happens in kite lessons
You booked kitesurfing lessons and suddenly your brain is already picturing sunset rides, clean turns, and casual beach walks with a board under your arm. That’s optimistic. Also relatable.
The truth is that kitesurfing lessons are structured chaos. Controlled, intentional chaos, but chaos nonetheless. If you know what normally happens on each lesson day, you progress faster, stress less, and avoid the classic mistake of thinking you are ready for everything way too soon. But also, you cannot really predict how you will do.
Day zero stuff you should know
Before day one even starts, there are a few realities that shape your entire learning curve. These matter more than hype, talent, or how many surf videos you watched last night.
Your learning speed depends heavily on:
Wind consistency and direction
Flat water versus waves
Your physical condition and coordination
How often lessons are spaced
The school setup and instructor structure
If your lessons happen in steady side shore wind, shallow water, and plenty of space, things usually click faster. Gusty, low wind or wave-heavy spots add difficulty. That does not mean bad teaching, it means harder conditions.
Also expect that booked lesson time does not equal pure riding time. You will spend time on briefing, setup, walking back up the beach, resetting after crashes, and sometimes just waiting for the wind to behave. This is normal and built into safe teaching.
Mentally, the biggest adjustment is accepting that progress is not linear. One step forward often comes with two confusing crashes.
What usually happens on day one
Day one is about safety, control, and awareness. It is not about riding. If you ride on day one, great. If not, that is still a successful day.
The main goal of day one is to make you comfortable controlling the kite without panicking.
You will focus on kite control
Flying the kite through the wind window, understanding where power lives, and learning how small bar movements change everything. Beginners tend to oversteer, which leads to sudden pulls and loss of balance. Day one is about calming that down. Maybe even walking with the kite. Imagine, 2 things at once, and yes it can be difficult.
You will practice safety systems
This includes your quick release, leash setup, and full depower. You will likely practice this multiple times because these actions need to become automatic. In real situations, there is no time to think.
Body dragging comes next
Body dragging teaches you how to move through the water using the kite instead of swimming. You will start downwind, then progress to controlled upwind body drags. This skill becomes essential the first time you lose your board.
Common mistakes on day one:
Oversteering the kite
Pulling the bar like your life depends on it
Looking only at the kite and forgetting body position
Letting go of the bar randomly
Rushing setup checks
And having no clue what your instructor is talking about because information overload
One small coach tip that saves hours
When instructors say “small movements”, they really mean it. Smooth kite control is the foundation of everything that comes next.
Day two is where it clicks
Day two is usually when students start feeling like they are actually kitesurfing. It is also when frustration peaks, because you are doing more things at once.
The focus shifts from isolated skills to combinations. You get a hang of the kite, the bar and even your own body.
Board recovery becomes important
You will body drag upwind to retrieve your board and position yourself correctly for a waterstart. This connects kite control with spatial awareness and timing. To be fair, it is a lot all at once, but keep practising.
Waterstart mechanics take center stage
You learn the sequence clearly: board on, knees bent, kite positioned, controlled power stroke, stand up, then edge. Doing these steps out of order usually ends in sinking or crashing. And if this is not happening on day 2, no worries. Every person progresses differently. A day more with kite control is also important.
Technical explanation that matters
The kite generates power through movement, not by pulling the bar all the way in. Many beginners overpower themselves and lose balance. Controlled power combined with board angle is what keeps you riding. But he, that is me saying this after many years of practise.
Common day two mistakes:
Standing up before building speed
Pulling the bar fully in
Holding on to the bar
Looking down at your feet
Holding breath and tiring quickly
Flying over the board because
This is also where many people realize kitesurfing is harder than expected. That moment is normal and explained well in Is kitesurfing hard, yes and no.
Day three builds independence
Day three is often the turning point between “I did it once” and “I can repeat this”. You are not an expert yet, but you are becoming functional. Your kitecontrol is getting better. You know how to pump up the kite and launch and land. The basics are almost peanuts for you. It helps if the days are back to back. If there is a bit more time between them don’t rush yourself.
First real rides happen here
Expect short rides. Five seconds is normal. Ten seconds feels amazing. Riding downwind is part of the process before you gain directional control. Maybe you even got to ride without all the panic.
Riding both directions becomes a priority
You ride one side, but he, you need to come back as well. This is the moment where you learn to ride both sides and to figure out that you will have a shitty side.
Stopping and awareness improve
You practice slowing down, stopping safely, and being aware of others on the water.
Common day three mistakes:
Trying to go upwind too aggressively
Overpowering the kite
Ignoring right of way
Becoming careless with launching and landing
Get to confident
Confidence rises quickly on day three. Respect that confidence, but do not let it outrun your skills. Also the answer to the question can i jump now is still a no.
How long does it really take
This is the question everyone asks, and the answer depends on consistency more than talent.
A realistic progression for most people:
6 to 12 hours of water time to ride short distances
10 to 20 hours to ride both directions and start staying upwind
Progress slows down when lessons are spaced too far apart, conditions are inconsistent, or fear blocks commitment during waterstarts.
But if you keep showing up, keep trying, you’ll get there. It took me almost a year to ride upwind consistently while others got that skill in their third lesson.
Independent does not mean ready for everything. You are independent in conditions similar to your lessons. Offshore wind, strong currents, waves, and crowded spots require more experience.
If you want a structured reference for levels and skills, the IKO pathway gives a good overview.
Gear tips that help beginners
You do not need to buy everything immediately. Many people rush into gear purchases and end up with equipment that makes learning harder.
Helpful beginner gear choices:
Helmet for confidence and head protection
Impact vest for flotation and fewer bruises
Properly fitting wetsuit
Harness that stays in place
Stable freeride kites are usually easier to learn on than aggressive performance kites. Board size and shape matter more than brand.
If you want a practical overview of what you actually need, this checklist saves time and money.
What to do after lessons end
This phase determines whether you progress smoothly or restart later from scratch.
Your first solo sessions should feel boring, chaos and exhausting. Choose similar conditions to your lessons. Focus on repetition, not tricks.
A smart post lesson plan:
Kite with experienced riders nearby
Pick side shore wind and plenty of space
Focus sessions on clean waterstarts and control
Stop when you’re getting tired
Be prepared to walk a lot
Common post lesson mistakes:
Kiting in stronger wind than trained
Switching to unfamiliar gear immediately
Going alone too soon
Ignoring currents and tides
Trying to jump before riding upwind
Building consistency here is more important than doing anything impressive.
Before you rig up alone
If lessons felt slow, that means they were thorough. If they felt fast, be honest about what you can repeat without help.
Your goal after lessons is not to look good. It is to ride safely, understand conditions, and build confidence session by session. Style comes later, usually right after you stop trying to force it.
Kitesurfing lessons are basically paying someone to supervise your mistakes until they become skills.
xox Berito