Kitesurfing Myths Top 10 – Part 2

So here is the second half of the Top 10 Kitesurfing Myths

• Should I get a trainer kite?

• Is kitesurfing expensive?

• Can you only kitesurf on water?

• Can I use a wakeboard to kitesurf?

• Can I buy used gear off sites like E-bay?

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#6 Should I buy a trainer kite?

I would say that is a big yes. There is a weird conception about trainer kites. People think it’s uncool and don’t think it helps your kitesurfing skills. Which is totally untrue. The trainer kite is a small foil kite, usually 2,5m-3m. It is exactly the same concept as with a big kite. Just smaller, equaling less injuries. They do move a bit faster, but if you master this trainer kite, your kitesurfing skills will improve a lot. Another one of the Top10 Kitesurfing Myths busted.

I would recommend that you buy a trainer kite as the first thing, even before taking a lesson. They cost $70-$300, which some people might think is crazy, as it’s just for ‘’practice’’. You will get the money back, if not more when you start to take lessons. You will glide through all the basic kite flying skills, so you don’t have to use hours and money on it with a IKO instructor. Most reliable schools will start you out on a trainer kite either way.

This is also a great way to experiment with the kite. Get a feel of how it reacts, you can try doing small loops, flying with closed eyes, one-handed flying. Where all this things can be pretty dangerous doing with a big kite, if it’s your first time trying it.

Basically you can learn kiting in the easy way or the hard way. I choose the easy, get a trainer kite!

If you are interest in which brands their are within kitesurfing, make sure to look at our post, for a complete list of kitesurfing brands including bars and boards.  

#7 Is kitesurfing very expensive? (Kitesurfing Myths)

Compared to other modern day sports, it’s really not that expensive. Take tennis or golf for example. If you run out and buy the biggest and best brands, newest equipment with all the accessories, yes it does become expensive. But for a totally newbie I would recommend buying second hand equipment, or equipment new from a few years back.

Pro tip: If buy a used kite, make sure to pump it up and leave it pumped for a few minutes. It is easy to do a quick fix on the bladder. And as a beginner without too much knowledge, I wouldn’t begin messing around with fixing bladders and kites.

Comparing with other extreme sports, wakeboard you’ll need a boat and refilling it with fuel, pay for seasonal pass for cablepark, going skiing; you will need lift tickets ($45-$70) and owning your own skis, boots and all the clothes needed gets very expensive. Some of the myths are understandable.

And with a sport where you can practice it in water, on land and in the snow. It is a all year round sport, sounds like a good deal to me.

We have a complete list of all the kitesurfing brands there are on the market. Check it out here.

Myths, myths and more myths, we are nearly done with our Top 10 Kitesurf Myths!

#8 Can you only kitesurf on water?

Not true!

Kitesurfing has become a very popular sport in the snow and on land. You can basically kitesurf anywhere, where there is wind and a open space.

Many friends of mine spend the winters in the snow. Snowkiting has become very popular recent years. They are doing all the same tricks as on water. Racing on the snow has also become a big thing. Long distance racing, done with skis or a snowboard. The scenery is amazing. They also do it on frozen lakes!

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Land kiting is also done a lot. Using longboards from skateboarding with big rubber wheels. That can be ridden on sand, dirt, grass, stone, pretty much anything flat. Sandboarding with kites in the big dunes is also a sweet way to move about on the sand. A flatter area would be best, so you wind isn’t too turbulent.

#9 Can I kitesurf with a wakeboard?

Unfortunately that is not enough. Wakeboarding boards are different from kitesurfing boards. They have a different design. The kitesurfing boards are generally a lot lighter, making it easier to pick up big air.

Wakeboard boards also have bindings on the board. Which is possible to get for kitesurfing also, but the most used and beginner friendly is the easy-entering, sandal like binding of a kiteboard. That is a must for all beginner kitesurfers.

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Fins or no fins. Because wakeboarding includes kickers and sliders, you can’t have fins on your board, so their is deeper channels under your wakeboard. 90% of the time, you would be using fins on a kiteboard.

Main difference is that the kiteboard has less rocker, pretty much meaning it is flatter. This makes it better for riding on the rail, so edging the board in the water while riding. So a kitesurfing board cuts through small chop and waves and a wakeboard bounces off it.

In kitesurfing you can use your kite to do huge jumps, in wakeboard you need your board and edging to launch yourself into the air. Some of the myths are a bit weird.

#10 Can I buy used gear online?

Rule of thumb here, unless you are a experienced kitesurfer with a few years experience, I would say hands off on the used/second hand kites. Only a seasoned kitesurfer would be able to know what to look for. That being said, that refers to the actual kite. I do recommend buying second hand gear like harness, lines, bar, board etc (Lines can be stretched, not good). Very important about buying used kitesurfing equipment, is not to buy something too old.

Kitesurfing is a new sport and it is evolving every year. Another important reason is the safety systems. We feel that the newer the safety system is the better it performs. My best bid is to buy something through a kitesurfing store, they usually know what they are talking about and they might know people who want to sell. Riding on the right gear is very important and makes all the difference.

We are happy to have busted these kitesurfing myths.

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