KITE TRIP BOOKED. WHAT NEXT?
Are you standing in front of a life-changing decision
to learn kiteboarding? Have your friends ever told you that this sport may change
your life? Well, they can’t be more right 😊
Once you harness the power of the kite, you will start feeling the energy of the two elements, water and wind.
The amount of freedom will avalanche you with joy and pure stoke.
As you read the blog, you may have already booked your kite lesson, and you wonder – What should I bring with me?
Do I need something, or does the kite school provide me with all I need?
The school always provides you with all the necessary kite equipment -
kite, harness, kite with bar, and kite board.
But we recommend preparing a few more items to make your lesson more comfortable and safer.
On top, you will feel more confident before and during your kite lesson.
Here is a summary of things we recommend bringing with you in your first kite lesson:
1st day of your kite lesson will be about the theory, safety, and kite flying at the beach or shallow water. What you need to bring will depend on the spot you are learning and the prevailing temperatures.
Will you be learning in April at Lake Garda or in Diani Beach in Kenya, like on the picture beneath, it will change the needed equipment.
1. To learn kitesurfing at warm kite spots
Sunblock
You will be learning kiting at a beach and preferably the sun will be shining bright.
Take extra care of your skin and eyes!
Before heading to your kite lesson, wear sunscreen on your body and sunblock on your cheeks, nose, and lips.
We recommend using products that don’t harm the ocean environment.
🐬
Sunglasses
In the very first days, you will look up to the kite a lot. That also means to look straight up into the sun. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. On the first day, the type of your googles doesn’t matter really.
On the other days, you will appreciate sports goggles made for water sports. These will stay on thanks to the strings and will float on the water if you drop the.
We offer a selection of fitting sports sunglasses in our online store.
Find sunglasses for kiting in the BIG BLUE online store.
Lycra
Ladies! Kiting in your bikinis is possible.
Just not on your first lesson!
We all have seen those cool Instagram pictures of kitegirls in tiny bikinis shredding.
BUT not during your lessons. You will need water wear which stays on as you learn to harness the kite or body drag in the water.
We have seen so many of these moments when students lose their bikinis, board shorts or tops. Unfortunately, it’s not so fun for them.
Plus, there is no way that you will be able to focus on your lesson and progress
if you are trying to fix and find your bikini top and bottom.
You can use Long sleeve Lycra with UV protection and board shorts over your sport bikini on the first day.
But my tip is the One-piece lycra over your bikini. This game-changing swimwear will protect your arms against the sun and
prevent you from rashes from the kite harness as it will not move up as sometimes the lycra shirts do.
And ...
... it saves you from unwanted moments of losing your bikini parts. It will stay on and support you in your progress.
And they really do look remarkable.
You want to be prepared for your kite lesson in warm spots?
We put together all absolutely necessary items for an undisturbed first kite experience in a warm climate.
Checklist:
☝️ Sunglasses with band/floater
☝️ Sun block and sunscreen (reef friendly)
☝️ Lycra, long sleeve
2. Kiteboarding on a colder spot
Wetsuit required
As you learn kiteboarding on colder kite spots, you will need to warm yourself up a bit more.
The windy days on colder kite spots will demand a hoodie or kite jacket before and after the lesson. The wind can change how
you feel the actual temperature.
A windbreaker can help you to stay warm, also in the water by the way.
In the water, you will appreciate a wetsuit that really keeps you warm.
The kite schools usually provide you with wetsuits if you don’t have your own.
BUT you may want to consider many students before you. The wetsuits will not probably be in the perfect stage. The size will be a compromise, and I don’t talk about the color and the fact that people are ….ok, I will say it… People are peeing into the wetsuit J!!!!
So, if you have a chance to have your wetsuit from day one, do it. It gives you more confidence to rock n’ roll.
On colder kite spots, you won’t need sunscreen. But don’t forget to spread a sunblock on your cheeks, nose, and lips before each lesson, and wear sun glasses to protect your eyes. The sun may not shine bright on you but don't underestimate the reflection of the sun from the water.
And finally. The secret weapon of all cold water sirens.
The poncho
This simple piece of fabric will not only keep you warm after kiting but also shields you while getting changed from the wetsuit to your clothes.
Checklist:
☝️ Sunglasses with band/floater
☝️ Sun block (reef friendly)
☝️ Wetsuit
☝️ Poncho
☝️ Windbreaker
☝️ Jacket/hoody
Wherever you will go to learn kiteboarding,
enjoy your experience in the water and wind. You will never forget it.
And remember, it might change your life. ;-)
Windy vibes and see you on the water!