Learn how to Kitesurf with @travelmarcus Part #1

Dear Steemer. Let's face it - time is limited, so what would you rather do 1) watch some random show on Netflix, or 2) Learn how to kitesurf? Presto, my point exactly!

Some of you may still not be convinced this is worth the time and effort - well, it just so happens I covered this is my last post https://steemit.com/blog/@travelmarcus/why-kitesurfing-became-my-1-obsession. You're now fully out of excuses, you're welcome:

My friend Oskar cruising for a photoshoot - shoutout to Bergans for supplying us with gear for three years. We love you!

Beginner course
No. This is not one of those things you can watch on Youtube and DIY. Although Kitsurfing is way safter than it was 10 years ago, you risk seriously injuring yourself or someone else without taking a proper kitecourse.

In Norway, it is possible to take either a water or a snow kite course. Learning on snow is relatively easy compared to learning on water. In the rest of the world (not-half-frozen-with-snow-6-months-a-year) you will find kite schools wherever there are wind and beaches. Having good ski or snowboard skills will help you to progress quickly on snow. Having wakeboarding or surfing experience will help you to progress on water.
The quality and duration of a kite course can vary. It may be tempting to go for a course that promotes quick progression, however, the most important things to learn on a course are about safety:

• How to safely set up and use the gear.
• How to fly the kite safely.
• How to kite safely amongst other kiters.
• How to kite safely at various spots in various weather conditions.
• How to safely launch and land.
• How to use the various safety release systems.
• On the water, how to body drag up wind so that you can retrieve your board.
• On the water, how to self-rescue. (Some courses skip this, but you should insist to have a demonstration)

If you are in Norway, you can check out www.kitesurfing.no for beginner courses on snow and water.

Kitecourse on Haukeliseter. Where they shot Star Wars. You know, Planet Hoth. Now there's a bunch of kites there (spoiler)

Ski / snowboard

You can pretty much kite on anywhing (skis, snowboard, Telemark etc). It is even possible (but not recommended) to kite on cross country skis. As a general rule it is easiest to learn on the equipment that you are most used to. If you are equally good on skis and snowboard, then you will find it easier to learn to kite on skis as they are more stable.

Once at an intermediate level, skiers will kite faster and further than snowboarders. But snowboarders will get more of a surf feeling in the deep snow.

Progression kite course

Once you have completed a beginner course, it may be beneficial to attend a progression or private lesson to gain confidence before you start kiting on your own.If you learnt on the snow, some schools offer a conversion course from snow to water.

My first ever "railey" in beautiful DR <3

Start kiting

Once you have completed a course it is important to kite again as soon as possible, whilst the lessons from your training are still fresh.Some of the schools will rent gear to students that recently completed a course. This is a nice way to progress a little more before you commit to buying kites. However, you should try to get your own gear as soon as possible, and this will be the topic of my next post :)

Until then Steemers, May the Wind be with you.