Kitesurf equipment.
Recommendations for beginners on choosing equipment for kitesurfing from the trainer of the kite school Dominicaite.
Most people, after they had a couple of lessons or even before starting lessons, think about buying their own kitesurf equipment.
Does a beginner need to buy their own equipment? Where to begin? How to choose a kite, board and other equipment? What should a student's equipment be like? Below are some instructor’s tips.
Please note that the recommendations below are made with the conditions of Cabarete in mind. Also, keep in mind that the right choice for any kitesurf equipment is the one that makes you feel comfortable.
What do you need to start learning how to kite?
I’ll say right away that if you are going to take kite lessons, then you do not need to buy any kite equipment.
When taking kite lessons, all the necessary equipment is provided to the student by the school and is included in the cost of the course. Moreover, I
do not recommend buying any equipment until you are more confident in riding.
Buying before then is, In most cases, wasted money. I’ll tell you more about choosing kites and boards for those who already ride in another article.
Today we are talking about beginners. Below the list of the main equipment for kitesurfing beginners.
Equipment for a kite beginner
If you have seriously started kiting, then it is better to purchase your own personal items.
High-quality kite equipment means comfort, safety and freedom of movement, which means faster progress in kitesurfing.
Based on convenience and safety, you should make a choice when purchasing. Remember, your comfort during learning and riding means safety and the key to progress in kiting! So, first things first...
- There is only one requirement for clothing - not to hinder the kiter’s movements. Therefore, it is everyone's personal choice.
In most cases, these are loose shorts and tight, long-sleeve Lycra to protect your upperbody from the sun.
A wetsuit is not needed in Cabarete; the water temperature here averages 28 degrees Celsius all year round.
For those who are especially heat-loving, in winter you can use a short wetsuit with a thickness of no more than 2 mm. Reef slippers are also not needed, the beach and ocean bottom in Cabarete are sandy.
Such shoes may only be useful for traveling to other spots.
- serve as protection for our eyes from the sun and splashes of water.
The frame does not matter much; here, pay attention only to comfort.
Most students are more comfortable with frames that are loose on the skin and have holes to allow water to drain out of the glasses.
Of course, these should be special water sunglasses with fastenings on the back. Lenses are much more important.
Choose yellow or brown lenses, as the yellow filter helps the eyes distinguish shadows and we see the wave more clearly.
With such lenses it is comfortable to ride in both sunny and cloudy weather.
— necessary during kiting lessons for insurance in case of emergency, as well as for the peace of mind of the student.
Moreover, life jackets are also used by many experienced kiters riding on reefs in the ocean, so don’t rush to give them up, just choose a convenient and comfortable life jacket.
So that nothing distracts you from enjoying the ride, a life jacket must be specifically for kite surfing.
In such vests, the lower part is thin, without inserts, and fits comfortably under the trapeze.
Any vest restricts movement, so manufacturers strive to minimize this discomfort.
I recommend paying attention to impact vests: thin, anatomically tight-fitting vests that reduce impacts.
When trying these on, be sure to try on the vest along with your harness.
- a useful measure that ensures our safety, but is known to irritate people, as it tends to move and fall on the frame of their glasses.
To prevent this from happening, choose a helmet specifically for kiting or other water sports, select it individually for your head size, and when trying it on, try on the helmet together with your glasses.
— A kite harness is a belt with a hook to which the kite is attached; the harness reduces the load on the arms and transfers it to the body.
There are several types of kite harnesses: seated, waist and combined (hybrid), as well as female and male models.
I devoted a separate article to this topic (see how to choose a harness for a kite).