The Gear to get you Going

TRAINER KITE

Trainer kites are generally between 2 and 3 square meters and come with a two-line bar and lines. The trainer kite could very well be the best training tool you have since it will teach the basics of steering left and right, flying figure-eight patterns and launching and landing before moving to the much larger kites used to pull you across the water.

KITE

As a kiteboarder’s source of power, the kite plays a central role. With an air-filled frame, inflatable kites hold their shape and float on the water, making them easy to relaunch. Kite types include: bows/ SLEs, hybrids, C-kites and depowering C-kites. Foil kites are mostly used for snowkiting and kite skating.

BOARD

Board types include: twin-tip, wake-style, surfstyle and light-wind twin-tips. Generally, the twintip is the most common board to learn on and is used during most beginner lessons.

FOOT STRAPS/PADS OR BOOTS

Securing the rider’s feet onto the board, foot straps or foot pads are one option, while boots (wakeboard bindings) is another.

HARNESS

Connecting the rider’s body to the kite, the harness allows the rider to hold the power of the kite and leverage his or her weight against it. Types include: waist harness, seat harness, impact-style and harness shorts.

BAR/LINES

Used to steer the kite, the control bar hooks into the harness and varies from 18 to 30 inches in length, depending on kite size. Incredibly strong, line lengths vary from 10 to 30 meters. Bar and line setups come in four-line and five-line configurations and all feature multiple safety systems.

SAFETY LEASH

Spanning from the harness to the control bar, the safety leash enables you to kill all of the power in the kite when you let go of the bar. It also keeps the kite from getting away so you can relaunch when ready.

HELMET

You’ll be glad you wore a helmet if you ever need it. If using a leash system on a board, a helmet is essential.

LIFE JACKET

The buoyancy and protection of a life jacket adds security so a kiteboarder can stay focused on riding. Some harnesses offer an integrated harness-flotation-impact solution.

WETSUIT/RASH GUARD

Temperature and personal preference dictate a rider’s attire. Sometimes shorts or a swimsuit are enough. Rash guards offer lightweight protection from the sun, while the spectrum of wetsuit styles and thicknesses can add other degrees of comfort.