If you are thinking of learning to kitesurf but you are too afraid, or you think you are not cut out for it, rest assured that you are not the only one who feels that way. Many people feel the same way and many give up before even contacting a professional instructor. In our quest to make people feel comfortable and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about learning to kitesurf, we have partnered with our friend and experienced kitesurfing instructor, Mahmoud Elneny, who teaches in Egypt, Red Sea Area.
Is kitesurfing easy to learn?
Kitesurfing is like any other sport, some people are more talented, others less. How quickly you can learn to kitesurf depends on a few factors: for example, where you are learning to kitesurf. If you are taking classes in a place that has shallow water, good wind conditions, and not too many people, then you have a better chance of learning faster. However, if you choose a place with waves, gusty wind, or very crowded, it may take longer as you will spend more time walking the kite rather than trying to get on the board.
Can girls learn to kitesurf?
Yes, many girls are already kitesurfing and the sport is becoming more and more popular with girls. They learn very quickly and seem to have a lot of fun when they are riding.
Do I need to be a good swimmer before learning to kitesurf?
When you kitesurf, you are above the water. But, yeah, you need to be at least comfortable in the water and be able to swim a bit. Of course, it is advisable to use a flotation device when going into deep water.
Do I need strong arms and legs? What muscles are the most requested in kitesurfing?
When you kitesurf, the kite pulls you into the water, which is connected to you through the harness. But you will use your legs to maintain your position and your arms to steer the kite. The most requested muscles are normally the thighs and the central muscles. Paradoxically, the more you kitesurf, the stronger you are, but you don’t need to use your muscles as much because your technique improves. Therefore, the better you are technically, the less physical effort will be required.
How old do you have to be to learn kitesurfing?
For insurance purposes, the school can only teach students over the age of 15. But, in private, we can also teach the younger ones. The youngest student I have had here, privately, was an 8-year-old boy from Germany. Both parents are kitesurfers and were very interested in their children learning as soon as possible.
The oldest student we had was a 70-year-old man from Italy. He is still full of life and wants to enjoy it to the fullest.
What is the most difficult thing when learning to kitesurf?
Kitesurfing, for beginners, can seem a bit counterintuitive. If you ride a bike, for example, you go faster if you pedal with more energy. In kitesurfing, you get energy from the wind pulling the kite, so you don’t need to use force to go faster. You need to take advantage of the wind piloting the kite. So our first approach is to teach the student how to fly the kite effectively and harness the power of the wind. After that, it’s balance and board work.