Kitesurfing Blog: December 2009

For kiteboarders who have already been surfing for years before they picked up a kite, the progression into the surf is a natural and relatively easy one. However, not every new kiteboarder is an experienced waterman. For some riders, kiteboarding is their first ocean sport. The surf can be an intimidating place for those who do not have any experience there, but the fun that can be had is well worth the effort. We pulled together the top 10 questions asked by kiters who do not have any ocean experience. If you are thinking about heading to the surf for your first time, remember to start small and work your way up from there.

1. When am I ready for the surf?
In general, if you cannot handle yourself in flat water, things are not going to go any better for you in the waves. You should be able to ride comfortably in both directions and be able to quickly change directions before you tackle the surf. Pick a day with small waves for your first session in the surf and take baby steps from there.

2. What can I do to get more experience in the surf?
If you are new to being in the ocean, kiteboarding in the surf can be very intimidating. If you have never been in the waves before, give paddle surfing or even just swimming in the surf a try. The only way to get experience in the surf is to spend time in the water, and being comfortable in the waves is very important if you want to kite there.

3. Do I have to ride a directional in the surf?
Despite the fact that almost everyone shows up at the beach with directional boards, you can still ride a twin tip in the surf. If fact, if you are beginning, sticking with your twin tip removes the factor of having to learn how to jibe while getting used to kiting in the waves. With a directional, you can ride a smaller kite and really get into the pocket and ride the wave, but twin tips can still be a blast in the waves.

4. What size board should I ride?
This depends a lot on how you ride. For your first sessions in the surf, you should just ride the same twin tip that you ride in flat water. If you want to ride a surfboard, the general consensus is that you should ride a board that is similar in size to a board you would paddle surf on if you want to really surf the wave. For the average size rider with little or no surf experience, a board in the 6’ range is a good starting point.

5. Should I wear a leash?
No, you should not wear a leash in the surf as they can be very dangerous. Many people have been seriously injured when their board leash caused the board to slingshot back at them. If you cannot manage without a board leash, your skills are not yet ready for the surf. That being said, some riders do wear leashes under certain special circumstances, such as when the shore is rocky, which would cause a lost board to quickly become a broken board. If you ever use a board leash, then you absolutely need to wear a helmet, but we strongly recommend that riders do not use board leashes. Read The Exception: Kitesurfing with a Leash for reasons to wear a leash in the surf.

6. Should I ride with or without straps?
Most riders usually ride with straps, but it’s best to stay flexible and change it up based on the conditions. Kitsurfing strapless can be a lot of fun, or it can be incredibly frustrating. When the surf is relatively clean and smaller than chest high, go ahead and take the straps off. When the surf is choppy, you’ll usually have more fun with straps.

7. How do you get out when riding strapless?
The first trick to getting out past the surf without straps is to pay close attention to the waves as you are setting up. At most locations, you will be able to see channels between the waves where the waves break less often and much smaller. Kite out through these channels and you can quickly find yourself on the outside without much effort. If you do need to go over a wave, slow down and keep your kite high. As you hit the whitewater, suck your knees up and try to be light on your feet. Keep more pressure on your back foot and guide your board up and over the whitewater while most of your weight is supported by your kite.

8. What do you do if the kite crashes in the surf?
If your kite goes down in the surf, get it back up as quickly as possible. A kite that gets sucked into a wave has a good chance of coming out broken. If you cannot get your kite up before the next wave hits it, swim towards the kite as it is hit to take the pressure off the kite.

9. What conditions are good for learning to ride waves?
When you are just starting out kiting in the waves, you want small waves to learn on. Knee-high waves with 15 knots of side to side-on wind make just about ideal conditions for getting down the basics in the surf.

10. What do I need to know about surf etiquette?
In the surf, you have to give considerations to surf etiquette, which basically means that you should not get in the way of anyone who is surfing, whether that person is a kitesurfer, windsurfer, or regular paddle surfer. Always yield to the rider on the wave regardless of who is on port or starboard. Avoid riding near surfers and never spray them. Stay outside of the surf until you are ready to ride a wave. Don’t try to catch every wave out there. The ocean is not going to run out anytime soon.

Originally Published in the April 2009 Issue of The Kiteboarder Magazine