Beginner

BEGINNER KITEBOARDING

Boardsports School enjoys exclusive teaching rights at 2 of the best beach locations in the Bay Area - Crown Beach Alameda and Coyote Point Park in San Mateo. We have side on shore winds, long sandy beaches, and shallow warm water. Learn at these two ideal beginner and intermediate locations where you will come back to practice on your own. We also offer a full retail shop and can outfit you with all of the gear including kite, bar & lines, board, helmet, harness, impact vest, board leash, knife, and wetsuit.

We have many instructors working with us and are always hiring new ones! Our instructors are certified by the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) and the Professional Air Sports Association (PASA).

STEP 1: GETTING STARTED - MASTERING A TRAINER KITE

Kiteboarding is 80% kite control. The first step in learning basic kite control is flying a land based Ram Air Foil "trainer kite". Starting with a trainer kite will accelerate your learning curve and shorten the time it takes you to get on the board.

Mastering a Trainer Kite Overview

This Intro to Kiteboarding clinic is designed to provide you with the most comprehensive foundation available. At our clinic you will:

• Learn where to fly the kite in the kiteboarding "wind window"

• Learn how to rig, launch, fly, steer and land a ram air foil trainer kite

• Maximize your kite flying time and receive error correction

• Learn 8 different exercises to master kite control before moving to a big kite in our land lesson

Take our trainer clinic and/or buy a trainer from us and practice on your own. If you buy a trainer kite & practice on your own, use the tips in our FAQ section. Trainer kites cost $149+tax.

INTRO TO KITEBOARDING CLINIC OPTIONS:

INTRO TO KITEBOARDING	LOCATION / TIME	PRICE
Every Saturday - April-August	Alameda 4pm-5:30pm	$50
Every Sunday - April-August	San Mateo 4pm-5:30pm	$50
SPRING 2012 (MAY-JULY)	San Francisco 6pm-7:30pm	$50

ALAMEDA AND SAN MATEO LOCATIONS:

Reservations & advance payment required for lessons. No cancellations or refunds. All lessons include all equipment. All beginner students receive $200 off a complete kiteboard package. See our Gear page for new & closeout gear, descriptions, and prices.

Call to RESERVE or pay online above: 415-385-1224
info@boardsportsschool.com

WHAT TO BRING

Sun block, bottled water, and wear warm clothes and sneakers (no flip flops, sneakers better support for flying trainer kite)

DIRECTIONS

Visit our Contact Us Page for Directions to our facilities at Crown Beach in Alameda or Coyote Point Park in San Mateo. For our SF location we will email you directions with your confirmation as our lesson site varies based on wind conditions.

STEP 2: BEGINNER LAND & WATER LESSON

After you have mastered the trainer kite (see above), you are ready to learn on a Leading Edge Inflatable (LEI) full sized kite. First you take our land lesson where you learn to rig, execute safety systems, launch, land, and fly a full sized inflatable kite. Second you enter the water and learn to body drag, upwind body drag, water re-launch, self rescue, and waterstart onto the board (the more kite skills you have, the greater the chance you will be up on the board riding in your first water lesson). We offer our lessons at both of our facilities in Alameda and San Mateo. Here is an overview of their differences:

CROWN BEACH PARK, ALAMEDA:

Our beginner land & water lesson can be done as a semi-private or private lesson. We have exclusive teaching rights at the best beginner learning location in the SF Bay Area, Crown Beach Alameda. Alameda features a 2 mile long sandy beach with shallow warm water, little to no obstacles, and lighter beginner friendly winds (typically 10-15mph). All of our gear is right on the beach and this teaching location is one of the easiest places to learn on planet earth due to the long beach and ability to stand up in the shallow warm water (often 15 degrees warmer than Crissy Field in SF). At our facility in Alameda ("the Shack") we have an outdoor shower, changing room, and retail shop carrying a full line of kite gear and accessories. Our instructors are certified by PASA and/or IKO.

COYOTE POINT PARK, SAN MATEO:

In San Mateo, lessons are offered on a private basis only and the water lesson is offered off of our Sea Doo Personal Water Craft (PWC). San Mateo has stronger winds (averages 20mph every day during our wind season March-September). Our land lesson is taught on a nice open grass field adjacent to our retail shop. Due to near shore obstacles, our water lessons are private only and offered off our Personal Water Craft / PWC so you are away from shore. With higher winds, chop, and swell, kite water lessons at this location are best for students that are comfortable in deep water conditions. At our "Chalet" in San Mateo, we have full facilities including hot showers, a snack bar, and full retail shop. Our instructors are certified by PASA and/or IKO.

Land Lesson Overview

Prerequisite: Trainer kite clinic or 10 hours minimum practice on trainer kite

Using a full-sized kite, you will learn to:
• Properly rig a leading edge inflatable kite

• Deploy the safety systems

• Launch & land a kite for someone else

• Confidently launch, steer & land the kite

• Learn power strokes and sheeting in and out with the 4 line controlled bar

• Kiting safety and beach etiquette

All taught at Crown Beach Alameda or Coyote Point in San Mateo. Crown Beach is where you will come back to practice on your own (Boardsports School & Shop is the only school permitted to teach on Alameda Beach, the best beginner location in the Bay Area).

Water Lesson Overview

Prerequisite: Trainer kite skills & Land Lesson

Using a full-sized kite, you will learn to:
• Refresh your kite launch skills

• Fly the kite in the water (body drag) and body drag upwind (use later to retrieve you board if and when you fall off :))

• Re-launch the kite when it falls

• Learn how to do a self rescue

• Learn to waterstart onto the board

• Right of way rules

All taught at Crown Beach Alameda or Coyote Point in San Mateo. Crown Beach is where you will come back to practice on your own (Boardsports School is the only school permitted to teach on Alameda Beach - the best beginner location in the Bay Area).

Jetski / PWC Option

Have us follow you with a jetski while you master your kite riding skills. Private lessons only at our San Mateo location.

LAND & WATER LESSON OPTIONS:

*Trainer Kite Experience is REQUIRED for all Land and Water Lessons listed below***Full Sized Kite Land Lesson is REQUIRED for all Water Lessons listed below**

KITEBOARDING LESSON	LOCATION / TIME	PRICE
5 Hour Semi-Private Land & Water Lesson	Alameda, 12pm-5pm (weekends), alternate times available weekdays	$350
3 1/2 Hour Private Land & Water Lesson	Alameda, weekdays anytime starting after 1pm	$385
3 Hour Semi-Private Land OR Water Lesson ONLY, see pre-requisites above	Alameda, 12pm-3pm LAND ONLY (weekends), alternate times available weekdays; Alameda, 3pm-6pm WATER ONLY (weekends), alternate times available weekdays	$175
4 Hour Private Land & Water Lesson w/ PWC / Jetski Support	San Mateo, 12pm-4pm, 7 days a week	$440
2 1/2 Hour Private Water Lesson w/ PWC / Jetski Support	San Mateo, 2pm-4:30pm, 7 days a week, alternate times available	$275
2 Hour Private Land or Water Lesson Only / Refresh	Alameda, weekdays by appointment; Please visit our Intermediate Lesson Page for kiteboarding refresher lesson options	$220

The wind season in the SF Bay Area is March-September so it's best to wait until March 2012 when we commence our lessons at the beginning of the season (consistent local wind season is March-September).

Call to RESERVE: 415-385-1224
info@boardsportsschool.com

Reservations & advance payment required for lessons. No cancellations or refunds.