KITESURFING LESSON: WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR FIRST SESSION

Booking your first kitesurfing lesson often comes with the same questions. Will I go straight into the water? Is it dangerous? How long will it take before I can stand up on the board?

To give you a clear idea of what to expect, here is exactly how a first session works at our ION CLUB centres, from the initial briefing to your first experience with the kite, and what comes next.

WHAT DOES A FIRST KITESURFING LESSON LOOK LIKE?

Your first kitesurfing lesson takes place entirely on the beach and focuses on understanding the kite and the wind. You do not need any previous experience to get started, and there is no need to worry: no one sends you straight into the water from the very first minute.

The session has two main goals. First, you learn the essential safety basics that everything else depends on. Then, you learn how to control the kite. By the end of your first lesson, you will understand how the kite generates power and how to keep it under control.

HOW DO YOU LEARN TO CONTROL THE KITE?

You start with a kite on short lines, which is easier to handle and produces less power. The aim is to build confidence gradually through a few simple but essential exercises:

• Feeling the pull and understanding how the kite’s position in the wind window affects its power.
• Flying the kite in figure eights to increase or reduce the power.
• Controlling the kite in different positions: sitting down, standing up, using one hand, and then walking along the beach.

These exercises help you develop the key reflexes you will need later on. Until your kite control feels smooth and natural on land, it is too early to move into the water. Taking the time to get this right from the start makes everything easier later. 

WILL YOU GET INTO THE WATER DURING YOUR FIRST SESSION?

Usually, no. The first session takes place on the beach so you can build solid kite control and learn the essential safety basics. This is a deliberate teaching choice: getting into the water too soon, before you can control the kite properly, increases the risks and can slow down your progress.

Most students are surprised by how precise kite control needs to be, and by how enjoyable it is to feel the wind respond to their movements. By the end of the first session, you can usually position the kite, control its power, and keep it stable. You will also understand the main safety principles, which gives you much more confidence for the next stage.

WHEN DO YOU START USING THE BOARD?

You will usually get into the water during your second or third session, starting with body dragging. This means letting the kite pull you through the water without a board.

The water start, where you get up with the board on your feet, comes next once you have mastered these basics. This step-by-step approach is not a waste of time. It helps you avoid bad habits and gives you a solid foundation for everything that follows, from your first runs to your first transitions.

After learning the water start, the next step is riding upwind so you can return to the same starting point. This stage can take a little longer. Once you are comfortable riding upwind, you can start working on transitions.

IS KITESURFING DANGEROUS FOR BEGINNERS?

With a certified instructor, the right equipment, and a proper safety release system, the risks of kitesurfing are well controlled. Safety is covered from the very first minutes, and teaching you how to manage it is one of the main roles of a kitesurfing school.

Most accidents happen when beginners try to learn on their own, use a kite that is too powerful, or choose an unsuitable spot. During a lesson, your instructor selects the right kite size, location, and conditions. They also teach you essential safety skills, including how to activate the quick release and perform a self-rescue. Learning with an instructor is the safest way to get into the sport.

HOW MANY LESSONS DOES IT TAKE TO KITESURF INDEPENDENTLY?

Progress is better measured in hours on the water than in the number of lessons. With private or semi-private courses, a motivated beginner can often start riding independently after around twelve hours of practice. This can vary depending on the wind, and how regularly you practise, but it gives you a realistic idea of what to expect after your first lesson.

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