The Brisbane Kitesurfing scene has never been so popular and with the fun-filled days that kitesurfing affords we are not surprised. Learn to kitesurf with Surf Connect for an unforgettable experience and to gain skills for life!
What is Kiteboarding?
Kiteboarding is a surface water sport combining aspects of wakeboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding and gymnastics all packed into one extreme and incredibly fun sport.
A kiteboarder harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable power kite to be propelled across the water on a kiteboard similar to a wakeboard or a small surfboard - with or without footstraps or bindings.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need much strength to kitesurf, as you are hooked into a harness at all times. Many young children kitesurf all the time with no problems whatsoever. Our youngest kitesurfing prodigy was merely 7 when he started!
Kitesurfing Lessons Brisbane
Just like paragliding or flying, the learning process is quite hands on but also theoretical. It normally takes around 6-8 hours of one-on-one tuition before you become competent enough to take your own kite out on the water to improve your skills independently.
Most people take two-hour lessons at a time. In the first two hours, you will be in the water flying a full-size kite. You will be introduced to all the basic skills - from safety, trainer kite, set up, onto flying the big kite, and doing downwind body dragging.
Once you are capable of body dragging downwind and upwind without crashing the kite, as well as learning relaunching and self-rescue, it’s time to get you on the board.
The initial two hours will cost $250, then you get 10% discount for every subsequent every two-hour lesson. Once you’ve been trained you will need some kitesurfing equipment. Luckily, we can help! At the end of your lessons, you can claim back the costs of your first 4 lessons as discount when purchasing our equipment sets from our kitesurfing shop.
Kiteboarding for Beginners
The following is our typical lesson format.
| KITESURF LESSON PLAN / EVALUATION / IKO CERTIFICATION | ||||||||||
| Lesson 1 - 2 hours | Lesson 2 - 2 hours | Lesson 3 - 2 hours | ||||||||
| Level 1A | Level 2F | Level 3J | ||||||||
| 1A | Location Assessment | 2F | Entry/Exit water w/Kite in Air | 3K | Controlled Stop | |||||
| 1A | Weather & Wind Direction | 2F | Water Relaunch | 3K | Riding & Edging | |||||
| 1A | Kite Setup, Securing & Handling | |||||||||
| Level 2G | Level 3K | |||||||||
| Level 1B | 2G | Side Body-drag with 2 hands | 3K | Riding Upwind | ||||||
| 1B | Safety & Depower Systems | 2G | Body-drag with Power Strokes | |||||||
| 1B | Pre-Flight Check | Level 3L | ||||||||
| 1B | Launching & Landing (As Assistant) | Level 2H | 3L | Sliding transitions | ||||||
| 2H | Body-drag Upwind | |||||||||
| Level 1C | 2H | Body-drag with the Board | Level 3M | |||||||
| 1C | First Piloting: Wind Window | 2H | Self Rescue & Pack Down | 3M | Toe-side Riding | |||||
| 1C | Let Go of the Bar | 3M | Jibing | |||||||
| 1C | Twist and Untwist | Level 2I | ||||||||
| 2I | Right of Way Rules | Level 3N | ||||||||
| Level 1D | 2I | Steady Pull | 3N | Self-Launching | ||||||
| 1D | Flying One-Handed | 2I | Water-Start & Controlled Stop | 3N | Self-Rescue in Deep Water | |||||
| 1D | Trim Adjustment | |||||||||
| 1D | Walking while Flying the Kite | |||||||||
| 1D | Launching & Landing ( As Pilot) | |||||||||
| 1D | Wind Window Theory | |||||||||
| Level 1E | ||||||||||
| 1E | In-flight Quick Release Activation | |||||||||
| 1E | Self-Landing | |||||||||
| 1E | Equipment Packdown | |||||||||
Similar to driving, some people pick it up fairly quick, some need a few more lessons to have good confidence and control. Based on your performance during these lessons, your instructor will advise you whether or not you are ready to purchase our own equipment and go on your own, or if you still need some further instruction.
Surf Connect is the only Accredited International Kiteboarding Organisation School in Brisbane. At the end of each and every lesson, students are given an evaluation/certification card to show what they have learnt in the lesson, and what still need to learn until they reach the stage they are ready to head out on their own. That way you can see your own progression, and that the school/instructor is following the safest and most structured program there is for kiteboarding in the world.
Why learn with Surf Connect?
We are the only accredited school in Brisbane affiliated to the Australian Wind & Kiteboarding Association (AWKA) and the International Kiteboarding Organisation (IKO). At the end of each and every lesson, your instructor will issue you with an evaluation/certification card of your learning. Learning from an Accredited School will ensure everything you need to learn has been competently achieved. Kiteboarding is an extreme sport with very high risk, so learning with us will ensure everything you need to learn for kitesurfing is of the highest standards.
All Surf Connect's instructors are fully qualified, first aiders, boat license as well as bluecards holders to work with children under 18. We also have a $20m Public Liability cover to cover you in case you get hurt or hurt someone else or damage other people’s property during the lessons.
Many shops/individuals teach without qualifications, insurance nor permits. To teach in Brisbane, we are required to have $20m Public Liability and Professional Indemnity cover, each instructor must be fully qualified, accreditation to governing bodies, and permits from local Councils, State Government, Marine Parks as well as Maritime Safety Authority. If you get injured during a lesson, you will not be covered, let alone you are learning in an unstructured or governed program. Is your life worth that risk just to save a few dollars? It is very simple to check, just ask the instructor to see his certificate of qualifications and insurance to teach before you book a lesson. You will find every instructor listed at www.ikointl.com.
Kiteboarding is an extreme and a very high risk sport. Many people has been seriously injured due to inexperience and negligence. Do not take your chances to learn from unaccredited schools or people who claim they can teach. Most shops are not accredited schools, and use unqualified staff so called instructors to teach. Ask to see their teaching qualifications and more importantly, their insurance cover, before you take lessons.
Feeling Propelled to Join the Brisbane Kitesurfing Scene?
If you’re interested in booking a kitesurfing lesson, give us a call on 07-3137 0500 with your details to hand or book a kitesurf lesson online with the button below.
