What should I bring to a lesson?
The only things you need to bring with you are tee shirt, sunscreen, water, inexpensive sunglasses
and the willingness to learn an exciting new sport.
How many lessons do I need?
The average person can get up and riding within 3 to 5 days, this generally translates into about 12 hours for lessons.
How old must I be in order to start kitesurfing lessons? What about minimum weight?
Kitesurfing is taught to children starting from the age of 12. Some begin even earlier with constant supervision.
Physical condition rather than weight is taken into consideration but a general rule is around 35kg minimum.
Are lessons necessary, after all, I surf, windsurf and wakeboard?
Lessons are essential to safely practise the sport, not only for yourself but also for the safety of the general public.
A kiter losing control of his kite can cause serious injuries and even death to himself and others.
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How much does the equipement cost?
A kiteboard normally costs between $500 to $700 and a kite normally costs between $800 to $1500 including lines and bar. A larger kite may cost more and smaller kite may cost less
What size kite should I buy?
Your first kite should be between 8 and 13 meters, depending upon your weight and the wind strength where you plan on kitesurfing.
For riders under 165 lbs (75 kilos), I recommend an 8 meter kite as a first kite. And for riders 175 lbs (80 kilos) and greater,
I recommend an 11 to 13 meter kite.
Should I look at new or second hand equipment first up?
The decision to buy new or second hand is determined by your budget. New gear comes with a warranty and you will always be safer than with older
pre-loved gear.
In addition new gear comes with the latest in safety technological developments and flying characteristics.
For the budget conscious, the 2nd hand market is alive and well but much of the kites are performance driven and less suitable for beginners.
What is a "Bow" kite and why is it different?
A "bow or Flat kite" is so called because of it's flater centre section which comes from having the Leading Edge supported by a bridle,
hence the name SLE or Supported Leading Edge.
This design is more efficient, allows amazing de-power range, and bring with it an element of increased safety.
Do I have to be in great shape to kitesurf?
No. Being in good shape will help but people of all shapes and sizes can enjoy the thrill of kitesurfing.
However being able to swim and being comfortable in the water is mandatory.
Do I need to be able to swim?
Yes – kitesurfing is a water sport and once you are up and riding, you may find yourself in the water, out of your depth. If you are not yet confident in the water, we suggest you start with just land-based kite flying until you are able to improve your water confidence.
Is kitesurfing difficult?
Kitesurfing is a very easy sport to learn and like any other extreme sports, it can be perillous.
If you try flying a power kite without prior understanding of the way they fly you will not handle the kite in the event of something going wrong.
A proper lesson with an IKO instructor is all it takes to get the basics and you can progress on your own once we get you started.
What sort of winds can you kitesurf in?
The winds most appropriate are definitely side shore or side onshore.
Offshore winds are just plain dangerous as they tend to be enormously gusty and will drag you away from land, onshore winds tend to also be dangerous as you are always blown towards terra firma (hard stuff). Anything with offshore in it is difficult so should be avoided unless it comes off smooth sandbar with no upwind obstructions to disturb the wind.
Wind strengths that can be ridden are as little as 8 knots (with the right gear) and as much as 40 knots+. For the average rider 15-25 knots makes up the greater portion of rideable fun winds. If you do not consider yourself advanced to expert, avoid winds above 25-30knots, at this wind strength accidents and injuries are major!
What are the options to flight to Dominican Republic - Cabarete?
You have three options to fly to DR - Cabarete with Santiago (STI), Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Puerto Plata (POP) airports.
We highly recommend POP which is the closest airport to cabarete with only a 20 minute drive. Other airports are Santo Domingo which is 4 hours away and Santiago 1.5 hours.
Airlines flying to Puerto Plata :
American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Jet Blue, British Airways, Corsair, jetairfly, LTU, Thomas Cook, Martinair, WestJet.
