I have been trying find out if anyone is teaching anything about Kite Skiing in / around the Lake Winnipesaukee area. Not sure if this is even an appropriate place to post this, but when getting started...you have to start somewhere. Thank you in advance for your consideration and my apologies if this is off base for this forum.

When I started I searched all over for lessons and, after finding someone offering them (3 hours from here) and after signing up I took up permanent residence on the couch reading through the ENTIRE PKF Forum. In the meantime I flew my kites more and more and when I finally got to my lessons only to discover they were being postponed (and I had to get back home) I decided to give it a go on my own.

And that's the way it's been since the start. You DEFINITELY want to think about lessons if you're heading for the water, but land kiting? As long as you're comfortable with whatever you strap to your feet, know your kite and it's safeties, you shouldn't be too afraid to give it a go.

My 2¢ - I think lessons are great for anything and everything but I didn't have the benefit here.

You are not too far from Zeb in North Conway
www.ime-usa.com/imcs/winter/snow_kite.html

or you can try some people from masskiting who might frequent your area - thinking about Lake Sunapee next weekend ....

www.masskiting.com

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Originally posted by bluefunelement You are not too far from Zeb in North Conway www.ime-usa.com/imcs/winter/snow_kite.html or you can try some people from masskiting who might frequent your area - thinking about Lake Sunapee next weekend .... www.masskiting.com

Yep, Zeb is right in your backyard. Stormboarding up in Burlington, VT also gives lessons and is another good option if you want to make a weekend trip out of it.

I'd say that lessons on snow are optional, but the nice thing is that if you don't have any kites yet you can go and try it out and learn more about kites and harnesses before you buy a bunch of gear.

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the nice thing is that if you don't have any kites yet you can go and try it out and learn more about kites and harnesses before you buy a bunch of gear.

Yes - that's a great point. For me it was an opportunity to see / fly Ozone kites (at the time I didn't have the Access)

You can learn a lot on your own but lessons will speed up the process considerably and with a greater margin of safety.

And you get to learn on someone elses equipment instead of destroying your own. In addition some outfits that do lessons also sell gear and give their students substantial discounts.

If you do take lessons do a thorough check of their credentials (ie certified to instruct kiting, insured to instruct kiting, student testimonials etc.) Just because someone is a talented kiter that doesn't automatically mean they're a talented instructor and if you're gonna pay $ you should get your money's worth.

If you live down in the Winne area you're not far from the interstate which makes for a easy trip to Burlington VT. where Stormboarding is located. They're certified and insured and have been around longer than anyone. They have a good teaching method and you'll get a lot out of a lesson in a short period of time. It's an hour further than North Conway but it a better bet wind wise.

The sooner you get skilled ay kiting the better because with Winne close by you have a ton of kickass riding to take advantage of!!!

That's my 2 cents.

Hi everyone....I am Zebulon Jakub...I am an Instructor for Snowkiting at International Mountain Climbing School where I run the snowkiting program. I am told that as Feyd has mentioned that I am a talented snowkiter as well as water and land kiter...however, I have a B>S in Adventure Recreation and have been teaching snowkiting for the last 6 years with Powerlinesports as well as Privately. Now I am the Snowkite Poragam Manager at IMCS in North Conway NH. Here we offer a very comprehensive snowkite program that covers everything from the total begginner to the super advanced looking to learn all the new tricks as well as true kitemountaineering.
The School is insured and certified through the IKO as well as AMGA (American Mountain Guide Association Level One Rock certified).

Please feel free to call and or email any questions to Zebulon at
603 356 7064
guides@ime-usa.com


Parting words:

Lessons in any Adventure sports like snowkiting (risk of injury or death are inherent) is very worth taking at least one or two lessons to avoid inevitable danger of becoming injured.

A great example is that you would not go paragliding or skydiving simply because you own gear that perhaphs you found on ebay....training is essential!

Standardized training is a great way to have the skills simplified and presented to you in a reasonable and logical manner.

good luck