Last Friday I took my first kitesurfing lesson at Key Biscayne with my friend Derrick. When we arrived it was sunny, 85 degrees, and windy, we couldn’t have asked for a better day. When we found our instructor he already had the kite flying in the air and asked us to walk 50 yards into the water. As we walked out we got a firsthand glimpse of a few experienced kite surfers getting airs and riding. The instructor first explained to use the dangers of the kite surfing and how powerful the kite can be. He told us that if the kite is directly above you head (at 12:00) you will only generating a little lift and this will be your safe zone. He then explained how we need to handle the kite lightly and push on the bar instead of pulling. So after Derrick tried it was my turn, I was hooked into this huge kite and practiced slowly bringing it down to each side. After I was confident with the kite I got on my knees and practiced dipping the kite from 12(directly above you) to 1 (slightly to the right). When I did this I could instantly feel the power of the kite which pulled me easily up to my feet. Water dragging was the next exercise we practiced; while on our knees we would quickly dip the kit to 3 then bring it back up to 12. When I dove the kite it dragged me 30 feet in the water until I brought it back up to twelve. After only an hour and a half of lessons the instructor though we were ready to try and get up on the board. This consisted of the same motion of diving the kite and bringing it back up to 12, but now you had to get up on the board at the same time. I would be able to stand up for a second or two, but I would lose power quickly and fall back down. One of the times I accidentally dived the kite when I was falling and was immediately pulled 3 feet into the air for a few seconds. After two hours we called it day and packed up I had plenty of scrapes and bruises, but I’m looking forward to my next kitesurfing lesson.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Last Friday I took my first kitesurfing lesson at Key Biscayne with my friend Derrick. When we arrived it was sunny, 85 degrees, and windy, we couldn’t have asked for a better day. When we found our instructor he already had the kite flying in the air and asked us to walk 50 yards into the water. As we walked out we got a firsthand glimpse of a few experienced kite surfers getting airs and riding. The instructor first explained to use the dangers of the kite surfing and how powerful the kite can be. He told us that if the kite is directly above you head (at 12:00) you will only generating a little lift and this will be your safe zone. He then explained how we need to handle the kite lightly and push on the bar instead of pulling. So after Derrick tried it was my turn, I was hooked into this huge kite and practiced slowly bringing it down to each side. After I was confident with the kite I got on my knees and practiced dipping the kite from 12(directly above you) to 1 (slightly to the right). When I did this I could instantly feel the power of the kite which pulled me easily up to my feet. Water dragging was the next exercise we practiced; while on our knees we would quickly dip the kit to 3 then bring it back up to 12. When I dove the kite it dragged me 30 feet in the water until I brought it back up to twelve. After only an hour and a half of lessons the instructor though we were ready to try and get up on the board. This consisted of the same motion of diving the kite and bringing it back up to 12, but now you had to get up on the board at the same time. I would be able to stand up for a second or two, but I would lose power quickly and fall back down. One of the times I accidentally dived the kite when I was falling and was immediately pulled 3 feet into the air for a few seconds. After two hours we called it day and packed up I had plenty of scrapes and bruises, but I’m looking forward to my next kitesurfing lesson.
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Sounds like a blast! I especially liked the part where you said you got in the air for a few seconds. That must have been a rush. I would like you to write more about how you felt while you were there. How cold was the water? Were you scared? etc!! Just a few more details would make it even better!
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