Source(google.com.pk)
Cost Of Kite Surfing Biography
Cost to start kite surfing
On the occasions I made it to a UK spot for a session when the wind and tides were right, I would spend the two hours or so refreshing what I knew rather than progressing onto new things - quite frustrating...very frustrating in fact, so much so that the enthusiasm and motivation to continue kitesurfing begins to wane, especially as with each session I take a good step forward, but by the next I'm back where I started.
I know I'm not the only one that suffers from, or has suffered from the above.
So this year, enough is enough, I decided to do something about it...Most of you may expect all the BKSA executive to be very capable kitesurfers. Well most of us are, though myself, at best, is a half descent beginner still, through lack of water time. I reckon I represent a proportion of the BKSA membership past or present.
So I decided to try out a kitesurfing improver course with a BKSA recognised school outside the UK, in the Canaries in fact. Here, it is possible for me to put in what mounts to 2 years worth of UK kitesurfing trips within a week. But most importantly, to do this within an intensive week, with similar ability riders under the constant guidance of quality instructors who provide the motivation, encouragement and push needed to break through the beginner/intermediate barrier.
Being lazy and not wanting to research which BKSA school to go with, I decided to go on an Easyriders Kiteboarding trip to Lanzarote, and placed myself in the care of Mr Andy Gratwick for the week - well I thought I'd do a spot of quality control on the BKSA Head of Training, call it a peer review, secret customer, whatever you like :-)
I thought I'd log and share the ups and downs of the week as they occurred, just so others can see what is possible should you find the need to take your kitesurfing improvement firmly into your own hands.
SUNDAY
An early start from Birmingham International station; well I did say I was land-locked. Luckily I opted to meet up with my kit for the week at the airport, rather than lug my own, by now retro kit, down to London then across the tube system. Good move as it turned out, I still havn't a clue how I'd have got a kite kit bag through the Underground system. A near impossibility on reflection, a taxi would have been called for. We met up at Gratwick Airport (no I spelt it right!). 12.30pm for the 15.00 flight to Lanzarote. These days Andy G knows the airport like the back of his hand, and more importantly how to ensure we all get our luggage and kiting kit through the baggage check in without getting hit with excess baggage charges, common and expensive with charter flight operators. Weighing our baggage and bags when we all met up allowed us to spread the kit, and in one case, to wear a helmet through check-in, security and onto the plane. A good start to the week so far, a group of 5, all of a similar standard...up and riding, not quite mastering our transitions fully with various personal goals and expectations for the week; weather forecasting epic wind all week and with a full set of 2012 North kites and boards of all sizes. Bring it on...
MONDAY
A day of consistently over 25 knots, we headed to Famara beach where we were planning to spend most of our time during the week. Tides were favourable, low tide mid day combined with neap tides meant we were good for over 6 hours of action. The North Easterlies blowing in from across the top corner of Africa meant that we had 100 metres or so of challenging shore breaks to contend with before we could get to the relatively quieter parts of the bay out back.
I hadn't kited for over 18 months so having set up a 9m North Neo I firstly familiarised myself with how the kite handles during launch and in the air. Monday would become a day of drills and familiarisation. I was starting from a good 2 steps back from where I was 18 months earlier, but hey I'd go with it. Mr G knows best.
From ankle depth in the surf I'd first have to slowly control the kite to both the LHS and RHS of the wind window, resting the kite tip each time on the top of the water. Familiarisation of the kite and conditions...DONE!
Wading a bit further out into the surf to around chest depth, park the kite relatively low at the edge of the wind window and body drag out to sea through the white water in a slow and controlled way, getting used moving through white water or over waves just breaking. Having cleared the breakers, turning round and in the same way body drag back into shore. Why do this drill? It would become inevitable that I will get separated from my board, so ability and confidence in manoeuvring through the surf is essential in order to get reacquainted with my board. Controlled body drag...DONE!
The next drill was to get used to powering the kite in the conditions and keeping it powered through its turns, but again in a controlled manner. So more body dragging, though this time flying the kite in the up and down sine manner whilst maintaining a reasonably healthy and constant speed through the water. Having spotted the downwind boundary of our beach area, to body drag into the beach, walk back up the beach and do it all again until Mr G was satisfied.
Nearly ready to put a board back on again...not quite though. By now I could feel the waist harness bar on my abs and my legs were tired from carting around the elephant legs of my wetsuit (off to find some Velcro ankle straps Tuesday morning). The next drill I had never done before, but ended up being vital to getting up and riding again whilst minimising the frustration levels that would come...I was introduced to the equivalent of the "get down and give me 50" of kitesurfing...laying on my back at the edge of the water with the kite at the zenith, dip it slightly, leaning and rolling forward to stand up in a single controlled motion, rather than yanked to my feet by the kite. 10 times each side of the zenith simulating the initial stage of a water start in either direction.
Now that I was totally wrecked, time to get the board wade out to about thigh depth, wait for a suitable break between the sets of breaking waves and get the board on. Mistake no.1 - using the handle in the middle of the board to try and manoeuvre the board to my feet. Use the foot strap! Much easier and less frustrating. With feet wedged into the foot straps, get composed, let the waves break over me then dip the kite whilst carrying out the rolling-and-then-leaning-forward drill practiced earlier...out and riding first time, not over powered - well for 30 metres anyway until the next breaking wave takes my board back towards the beach whilst I keep going forward attached to my kite.
Recover board, get composed and start again...Ahh that's why the body dragging drill was important.
DAY 1 complete, I'd gotten back to the point I usually get to every occasional session I'd had back in the UK over the past 3 years. The difference this time? I'd be back the next day to move it all on PROGRESSION IN ACTION.
Biggest learning point of the day? Sergeant Major Gratwick's drill on the beach: controlled standing up using the kite, before trying to do it in the water with the board back on. Without it, I expect I'd be over powering the kite so that it would yank me out of the water onto my board for a second, before dragging me over the toe edge and back into the water, beginning that downward spiral of frustration we've all experienced.
TUESDAY
Back at Famara beach it was all going off again, a bit windier than Monday saw me starting on a 7m for the first time in my life. The breakers were still as big, though we headed for an area of the beach where a natural lagoon exists, by lagoon in this instance I mean an area of water where there were bigger gaps between the breaking waves and the ferocity of the white water was less. Everything is relevant at Famara. This was a good spot to focus on getting up and riding with plenty of downwind space, but with the hazard of the breaking waves to contend with.
So the form for the start of the day was to practice putting the board on and then rolling out of the water on the downward stroke, get up on the board keep the kite moving and get composed, then get mashed by the breaking waves... part with board, regain composure and drag into shore if I was at our downwind marker on the beach (our parked cars in this instance). Then walk back to the start point, start again whilst taking on board the advice from AG.
Improvements came with every run, longer runs, steady and controlled kite power, and even traversing the breaking waves successfully.
Learning point for me was not to tense up whilst taking on a wave, waves always win. Instead, keep knees bent and use them both as shock absorbers whilst moving over it. Secondly, speeding up to cross the wave only makes everything faster, wastes energy, and generally parts you from your board as your feet pop out of the straps. I found, for the first time, that as long as I was powered enough to keep the board planing, I could go through the waves at as slow speed, popping over them in a composed and controlled way. Again everything is relative.
As the session went on, I was completing longer and longer runs, as well as getting through more sets of breaking waves getting closer to the bigger ones at the back which were guarding the entrance to the calmer seas beyond.
During this time I was inherently boarding more and more cross wind, so I was putting increased space between myself and the beach. This meant I could now start to work on putting in runs in the opposite direction, with the wave breaking behind me. Getting up on the board and running took a couple of tries, having got tuned to riding in one direction, however it soon came when you go back to basics, and set a smaller goal.
That was it; by the end of an epic day on a 7m (some were even on 5's) I had achieved consistent runs, through more and more of the breaking waves and surf, and was able to get back up and riding in the opposite direction.
We had had two days in excess of 6 hours by this point, so the body was feeling a bit spent. However it was worth putting in one last run just to prove to myself that my technique had improved big time because I was able to do that last run whilst physically wasted.
Cost Of Kite Surfing Biography
Cost to start kite surfing
On the occasions I made it to a UK spot for a session when the wind and tides were right, I would spend the two hours or so refreshing what I knew rather than progressing onto new things - quite frustrating...very frustrating in fact, so much so that the enthusiasm and motivation to continue kitesurfing begins to wane, especially as with each session I take a good step forward, but by the next I'm back where I started.
I know I'm not the only one that suffers from, or has suffered from the above.
So this year, enough is enough, I decided to do something about it...Most of you may expect all the BKSA executive to be very capable kitesurfers. Well most of us are, though myself, at best, is a half descent beginner still, through lack of water time. I reckon I represent a proportion of the BKSA membership past or present.
So I decided to try out a kitesurfing improver course with a BKSA recognised school outside the UK, in the Canaries in fact. Here, it is possible for me to put in what mounts to 2 years worth of UK kitesurfing trips within a week. But most importantly, to do this within an intensive week, with similar ability riders under the constant guidance of quality instructors who provide the motivation, encouragement and push needed to break through the beginner/intermediate barrier.
Being lazy and not wanting to research which BKSA school to go with, I decided to go on an Easyriders Kiteboarding trip to Lanzarote, and placed myself in the care of Mr Andy Gratwick for the week - well I thought I'd do a spot of quality control on the BKSA Head of Training, call it a peer review, secret customer, whatever you like :-)
I thought I'd log and share the ups and downs of the week as they occurred, just so others can see what is possible should you find the need to take your kitesurfing improvement firmly into your own hands.
SUNDAY
An early start from Birmingham International station; well I did say I was land-locked. Luckily I opted to meet up with my kit for the week at the airport, rather than lug my own, by now retro kit, down to London then across the tube system. Good move as it turned out, I still havn't a clue how I'd have got a kite kit bag through the Underground system. A near impossibility on reflection, a taxi would have been called for. We met up at Gratwick Airport (no I spelt it right!). 12.30pm for the 15.00 flight to Lanzarote. These days Andy G knows the airport like the back of his hand, and more importantly how to ensure we all get our luggage and kiting kit through the baggage check in without getting hit with excess baggage charges, common and expensive with charter flight operators. Weighing our baggage and bags when we all met up allowed us to spread the kit, and in one case, to wear a helmet through check-in, security and onto the plane. A good start to the week so far, a group of 5, all of a similar standard...up and riding, not quite mastering our transitions fully with various personal goals and expectations for the week; weather forecasting epic wind all week and with a full set of 2012 North kites and boards of all sizes. Bring it on...
MONDAY
A day of consistently over 25 knots, we headed to Famara beach where we were planning to spend most of our time during the week. Tides were favourable, low tide mid day combined with neap tides meant we were good for over 6 hours of action. The North Easterlies blowing in from across the top corner of Africa meant that we had 100 metres or so of challenging shore breaks to contend with before we could get to the relatively quieter parts of the bay out back.
I hadn't kited for over 18 months so having set up a 9m North Neo I firstly familiarised myself with how the kite handles during launch and in the air. Monday would become a day of drills and familiarisation. I was starting from a good 2 steps back from where I was 18 months earlier, but hey I'd go with it. Mr G knows best.
From ankle depth in the surf I'd first have to slowly control the kite to both the LHS and RHS of the wind window, resting the kite tip each time on the top of the water. Familiarisation of the kite and conditions...DONE!
Wading a bit further out into the surf to around chest depth, park the kite relatively low at the edge of the wind window and body drag out to sea through the white water in a slow and controlled way, getting used moving through white water or over waves just breaking. Having cleared the breakers, turning round and in the same way body drag back into shore. Why do this drill? It would become inevitable that I will get separated from my board, so ability and confidence in manoeuvring through the surf is essential in order to get reacquainted with my board. Controlled body drag...DONE!
The next drill was to get used to powering the kite in the conditions and keeping it powered through its turns, but again in a controlled manner. So more body dragging, though this time flying the kite in the up and down sine manner whilst maintaining a reasonably healthy and constant speed through the water. Having spotted the downwind boundary of our beach area, to body drag into the beach, walk back up the beach and do it all again until Mr G was satisfied.
Nearly ready to put a board back on again...not quite though. By now I could feel the waist harness bar on my abs and my legs were tired from carting around the elephant legs of my wetsuit (off to find some Velcro ankle straps Tuesday morning). The next drill I had never done before, but ended up being vital to getting up and riding again whilst minimising the frustration levels that would come...I was introduced to the equivalent of the "get down and give me 50" of kitesurfing...laying on my back at the edge of the water with the kite at the zenith, dip it slightly, leaning and rolling forward to stand up in a single controlled motion, rather than yanked to my feet by the kite. 10 times each side of the zenith simulating the initial stage of a water start in either direction.
Now that I was totally wrecked, time to get the board wade out to about thigh depth, wait for a suitable break between the sets of breaking waves and get the board on. Mistake no.1 - using the handle in the middle of the board to try and manoeuvre the board to my feet. Use the foot strap! Much easier and less frustrating. With feet wedged into the foot straps, get composed, let the waves break over me then dip the kite whilst carrying out the rolling-and-then-leaning-forward drill practiced earlier...out and riding first time, not over powered - well for 30 metres anyway until the next breaking wave takes my board back towards the beach whilst I keep going forward attached to my kite.
Recover board, get composed and start again...Ahh that's why the body dragging drill was important.
DAY 1 complete, I'd gotten back to the point I usually get to every occasional session I'd had back in the UK over the past 3 years. The difference this time? I'd be back the next day to move it all on PROGRESSION IN ACTION.
Biggest learning point of the day? Sergeant Major Gratwick's drill on the beach: controlled standing up using the kite, before trying to do it in the water with the board back on. Without it, I expect I'd be over powering the kite so that it would yank me out of the water onto my board for a second, before dragging me over the toe edge and back into the water, beginning that downward spiral of frustration we've all experienced.
TUESDAY
Back at Famara beach it was all going off again, a bit windier than Monday saw me starting on a 7m for the first time in my life. The breakers were still as big, though we headed for an area of the beach where a natural lagoon exists, by lagoon in this instance I mean an area of water where there were bigger gaps between the breaking waves and the ferocity of the white water was less. Everything is relevant at Famara. This was a good spot to focus on getting up and riding with plenty of downwind space, but with the hazard of the breaking waves to contend with.
So the form for the start of the day was to practice putting the board on and then rolling out of the water on the downward stroke, get up on the board keep the kite moving and get composed, then get mashed by the breaking waves... part with board, regain composure and drag into shore if I was at our downwind marker on the beach (our parked cars in this instance). Then walk back to the start point, start again whilst taking on board the advice from AG.
Improvements came with every run, longer runs, steady and controlled kite power, and even traversing the breaking waves successfully.
Learning point for me was not to tense up whilst taking on a wave, waves always win. Instead, keep knees bent and use them both as shock absorbers whilst moving over it. Secondly, speeding up to cross the wave only makes everything faster, wastes energy, and generally parts you from your board as your feet pop out of the straps. I found, for the first time, that as long as I was powered enough to keep the board planing, I could go through the waves at as slow speed, popping over them in a composed and controlled way. Again everything is relative.
As the session went on, I was completing longer and longer runs, as well as getting through more sets of breaking waves getting closer to the bigger ones at the back which were guarding the entrance to the calmer seas beyond.
During this time I was inherently boarding more and more cross wind, so I was putting increased space between myself and the beach. This meant I could now start to work on putting in runs in the opposite direction, with the wave breaking behind me. Getting up on the board and running took a couple of tries, having got tuned to riding in one direction, however it soon came when you go back to basics, and set a smaller goal.
That was it; by the end of an epic day on a 7m (some were even on 5's) I had achieved consistent runs, through more and more of the breaking waves and surf, and was able to get back up and riding in the opposite direction.
We had had two days in excess of 6 hours by this point, so the body was feeling a bit spent. However it was worth putting in one last run just to prove to myself that my technique had improved big time because I was able to do that last run whilst physically wasted.
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
Cost Of Kite Surfing
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