Ok, you are new to Kiteboarding, and you have tons of questions to ask, well we've put together a list of some commonly asked questions. If you have any specific questions about the lessons we offer, please email us.
When do you teach your classes?
Well, we base our lesson schedule around the wind and weather. Kiteboarding requires about 10-12mph of wind to fly the kites, so that is the bare minimum that we teach in.
Where do you teach your lessons?
We teach our lessons on the wide sandy beaches here in Panama City Beach, FL. Our water lessons are taught in the flat shallow waters of the St. Andrews Bay. The exact spot that we teach at is a shallow sandy lagoon which provides one of the safest environments to learn kiteboarding anywhere in the country.
I can wakeboard, surf, skate, snowboard, paddleboard & mountain climb, do I really need to take Kiteboarding lessons?
Kiteboarding is unlike any other sport out there. All other board sports will help out tremendously when getting up on the board during your lesson, but the best practice you can do is kite flying, Trainer Kites, Stunt Kite, Deltas, anything like that will help you more than anything else.
How much is all the gear once I take lessons?
Kiteboarding has become a lot more affordable from when the sport first started, costing about half of what it used to. You can typically get a brand new kite setup (kite, board, bar & lines, harness) for around $1500 - $2000, and a used setup for about $1000 - $1500. The good thing is, once you have all the gear, there is no other costs involved, you just need wind to have fun!
What do I need to bring to my lesson?
Come prepared for a day in the sun & surf. Sunscreen, beach hat, sunglasses, swimwear is definitely required. You'll also want to bring something to hydrate with like water or Gatorade. The bay bottom is mostly sand, but it's not a bad idea to have a pair of booties or water shoes to wear to protect your feet. If you forget something, we sell all of this equipment in the shop and can help you out.
I'm coming to Panama City Beach, FL in a couple months, will it be windy?
As you know, the wind and weather is unpredictable, but with modern forecasting we can get a pretty good idea of what kind of wind we will be dealing with about 5-7 days out, but remember that nothing is guaranteed. Mar-May is probably our best months of the year, while it pretty much blows 2-3 days a week year round here. Late June to Early Oct is our rain season, and it tends to be hot and humid, so not as much wind during those months.
Do you guys offer any group discounts on your kite lessons?
We currently do NOT offer any group discounts. When you take a lesson with us, we teach 2 people maximum per instructor to ensure that you receive all of the necessary information to successfully complete our class. We are not like a lot of other schools that will cram 4 - 6 people to an instructor, which ends up with you sitting around watching everyone else during your precious lesson time.
I've taken lessons somewhere else in the past, can I start off with your Level 2 Water class?
One of our instructors will assess your skill level before you sign up to help determine which lesson is right for you. We have experienced numerous times, where a student signs up for a Level 2 class, and still does not know how to properly fly, depower or land the kite, all key elements to know before getting into the water.
When do I pay for my lesson?
All Lessons require a $25 deposit upon signup, and the remaining balance is due on the day the lesson is being taught. We will typically have you meet at the kite shop, go over a few details before giving you instructions on where to go next.
What time of day are your lessons held?
Since the Combo class requires 6 full hours, we will typically start those lessons at 10-11am. If it is a 3 hour Level 1 or 2 class, those can start early around 11am, or at the latest 3pm.
I've bought some old gear on ebay, can we use it in the lesson?
We teach on the latest & best gear on the market to ensure that you get the most water time throughout your lesson. Also, room is limited on the boat, so it's best just to come with your required beach goods. We can always go over your equipment at the shop if you need any tips or tricks on rigging your own kite.
Do you guys rent any gear?
No we currently DO NOT rent out any kiteboarding gear or equipment. From time to time, we host kiteboarding demos in which you can try out the latest kites and boards from some of the leading top manufacturers. These demos are really for intermediate to advanced kiters, as most companies won't just hand out a huge kite to any bystander or beginner.
I've heard that kiteboarding is very dangerous, is that true?
Kiteboarding has come a very long way since it's birth back in 1999. The newer kites are much much safer than the ones that we had learned on. Instant depower, and fail proof safety systems have really allowed a larger amount of people to get out there and enjoy the sport. Kiteboarding is definitely an extreme sport, and has risks just like similar activities like surfing, paddleboarding, skateboarding and snowboarding.
If you have any other quesitons, feel free to give us a shout at 850-235-2444
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