Thrills abound with kiteboarding

July 22nd, 2008

Maybe you’ve seen kiteboarding (aka kitesurfing) on TV or if you live on a coast, in person and thought “I’m going to do that on my next vacation!” You certainly can schedule lessons on certain islands in Hawaii but it’s best not to have unrealistic expectations going in. You’re not going to be Robby Naish after one lesson and you may not even glide across the waves like the guy above during your lesson but it can still be a fun and memorable experience. Maui was the big hotspot for it but you can certainly find it on other islands. We took this picture at Ka’a Point in Kahului off Amala Rd where they were giving kiteboarding and windsurfing lessons. If you’ve got the itch to give it a try on your Hawaiian getaway, here are a few things you should know.

1) Prepare to spend at least 3 hours per lesson minimum. More in depth lessons run from 4+ hours to DAYS if you want to be up on a board and trying to catch some air like a local.

2) It ain’t cheap. Minimum price is around $200 for a 3 hour lesson and can go up to over $1000 for multi-day intensified lessons.

3) Verify what your lessons include. Does it include time in the water or basics on land? What, if anything, do you need to bring? Are your lessons private or with a group?

4) If you’re thinking of taking this up as a hobby, plan to spend a minimum of $2000-3000 for the equipment and accessories you’ll need. Buy reputable gear.

Here are a few links to local kiteboard lessons you can check out to get more information:

Kiteboarding School of Maui

Maui Kiteboarding Lessons by Aquasports

Aloha Surf and Kiteboarding School

Hawaiian Water Sports

Comments

2 Comments so far

MrBeachBum on July 22, 2008 9:09 am
I’ve heard that you need to be pretty good with a stunt kite before you try this. It helps anyway. I cannot fly a stunt kite so I guess I have some practicing to do (and more embarassing moments trying to fly a stunt kite).
Thrills abound with kiteboarding | surfgearcentral.com on July 22, 2008 4:06 pm
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