I got my HQ Rush 300 over the summer and have been flying it since summer. I want to learn how to kite board and think lessons would be the best next step. So my question is how much should I expect to pay? Also any suggestions on where to take lessons near NJ? http://greenhatkiteboarding.com/store/index.php?main_page=in... This is where I bought my trainer but the lesson prices seem a little high.

WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION- errr SPORT! :D


In my experience you'll pay around $100 per hour for lessons (I've seen anywhere from $75 - $120).

You can get deals by purchasing larger blocks of time like a 5 hour clinic...

Also- A few of the local kite shops by me did Groupons last year... as we get closer to the season you may find a good deal there

However you end up going lessons are definitely the way to go before strapping into a big kite- whatever it costs it will be some of the best money you could spend :bigok:

Yeah. I found that each session would run about $300. Once you get over the first few you can opt for private specific lessons which drop you to anywhere form $50-75 an hour. The only advice I'd give you is to see if you can get into an IKO or PASA shop so that your lesson progress is documented and you don't have to start right at the beginning proving each little thing to get to the progression point of each subsequent lesson. I'm forever having to "show" my competencies with instructors just so they know I have the skills I say I have. I don't blame them at all but an IKO card might fast track that.

Tips I have from taking a few lessons.

Jet ski assist is by far the best way to learn.
Be sure and get an IKO or PASA card to track progress.
Standard lesson set is 3 steps and about $300 a day. $100 each hour.

Often an opportunity on discounted gear is involved.

Lessons push your learning curve much, much faster than going it alone. You get taught self rescue and other important things to save your life out on the water.

Just so you can compare prices ... here in the Houston area, the lesson is in 3 different sessions, one per day. Each session is 3 hours and priced about $250 - $300. You can usually skip the first session ( how to fly and body drag) and go the intermediate (water start) if you can show them that you've been flying powerkite and can show go control. They will let you start on the water with the larger kite and start body dragging and hopefully get you on the board by the end of the lesson. The third lesson will get you going upwind and other more advance moves. Who you get as an instructor is very critical. My lesson that I took didnt' help me any because I had a bad instructor. He was very hands off. Basically, I paid a guy to stand 20 feet from me and watch me fail. Instruction is very important so you don't hurt yourself. To make your $300 / lesson worth it, make sure your instructor is certified and knows what he is doing. If you can't afford it, find a fellow kitesurfer that is willing to help you out and give you atleast basic guidelines and safety pointers. I do that all the time when I see someone that looks like a newbie on the beach. I am not an instructor but helping a newbie is better than letting them get hurt.

Depending on where you are in Jersey, I'd say come down to the Wildwood Buggy Bash in April and get some time under some more kites. You might even find someone willing to give you some points on flying depower kites (a bit different from your current trainer). Then when you DO go for a lesson, you will have a lot more experience with depower kites under your belt.

If you are really lucky, you might even find someone doing a lesson on kitesurfing while you are down there (happened one year). Waters are a bit cold in April though, so make sure you have appropriate gear.

All that said, the prices quoted above sound about right. Learning to Kitesurf is NOT cheap, but generally, worth spending the money on.

couple of points here to maximize the lesson thing.

-for every hour you pay for there should be about 10hours of application and mastery and confidence. they'll show you how to do it safely in about an hour. THEN AFTER that, PRACTICE< PRACTICE<PRACTICE.

DO NOT PAY FOR SOMEONE TO WATCH YOU PRACTICE!

for the " teaching time" the junk should be rigged and ready to go BEFORE LESSON TIME BEGINS ITS THEIR JOB. ( u can practice proper rigging ON YOUR TIME and checked for accuracy at least once) U have to make an effort to study the gear for your own life's sake! good knowledge base BEFORE you go makes effective, FASTER learning DURING the lesson.

package deals are better! $$$$

- self launch and land , truly the holy grail of practice access! if this is not learned you will burden at least on person with a very time consuming practice of YOUR fun. demand it in the first lesson. first dry lesson should have a ton of launches and control and landings... as many as possible , they do one then you the rest like 50.

unfortunately a few things kink it .. like being harnessed and too freaked out to do anything. and fatigue.

and if choice is available... a month or 2 in the DR and you come back tan, at least confident to go on your own.
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And make SURE you learn and master two things no matter how useless you think they may be:

1 - Upwind body dragging (so you can get your board back as you're learning - DON'T use a kite leash or GoJoe)

2 - Self rescue including an actual release to safety / pack up and rescue (my last instructor in the Keys said she ends EVERY lesson with a release to safety and in-water pack up....even though we were in thigh deep water). That very lesson saved my bacon on my own this past summer when I pulled the release accidentally thinking I was pulling on the trim ball.

Lessons IMO are worth their weight in gold....even though they can be expensive cumulatively.

Phree makes a good point.

Time on your own between lessons using your own gear is good if you can do it.

Thanks for the help I'm going to find lessons and might try to make it to the buggy bash. If anyone has taken lessons in the NJ area fell free to share the experience. Thanks again

Vadim from Green Hat is you best option .....
Other will be
Christo from Kite Club NY .... He is probably gone to his Outer Bank location
Sergio from Cumbocu Kite Club ,,,,, he is teaching only in warm months , other time he is in Brazil
Windbone is another company offering lessons in NJ