Classes Description
Day 0: Give it a try!
- Use the trainer kite for $10USD for 15 minutes or more
- If you signed up for a kiteboarding package with us, this is included in the price
Day 1: Become a “Kite Pilot”
This important 1st step is the fastest and safest way to develop solid kite skills while learning about the wind, power zones, safety, and kiteboarding equipment. This lesson is conducted on the beach and mostly hands-on. Once you’ve established your understanding of the wind and solid kite control, you are ready for the water.
- Intro to gear, equipment and beach safety
- Intro to wind window
- Kite control with two hands and one hand
- Keeping the kite at 12 (neutral)
- Fly the kite across the wind window
- Walking while keeping the kite at sides
- Moving from side to side (12 to 1 & 11 to 12)
- Kite launching and landing
- Feedback by instructor
Day 2: Body Dragging
Time to get wet! From the safety of the water, you will learn powered body drags, how to re-launch your kite, and self-rescue techniques. Your goal is safe confident control in the water. We’ll start you behind your instructor so you learn what to do, then with their supervision from behind you, and finally you will do solo runs downwind across the bay, safely supervised, of course.
- Review of day 1 (beach policies, spacing between kiters, line lengths)
- Re-launch the kite on the beach
- Single-handed body dragging without the board
- Getting in and out of the water
- Rapid kite flying across the wind window in the water
- Feedback by instructor
Day 3: Become a Board Rider!
This is what you’ve been waiting for — getting on the board! This lesson is designed to take all the skills you have previously acquired and — by adding board skills — have you kiteboarding safely and successfully on your own. Your instructor will assess out your boarding skills, and explain how to get a feel for riding on the edge of the board and gaining proper tension in your lines. There is nothing quite like the feeling of your first ride, when it all comes together!
- Review of day 2
- Single-handed body dragging with board (if necessary) 3 hours of instruction
- Standing up in the water: regular or “goofy” foot and leg positions, powering the kite, how to “edge,” body position
- Practice!
- Feedback by instructor
Day 4: Instructor-Supervised Practice
This is where you get to practice your mad new skills! Go solo — from kite and gear set-up to standing up on the board — all under the watchful eye of your attentive instructor. Receive feedback during and after the class, and improve your kiteboarding faster.
- Total 7 hours of instruction and 3 or more hours of supervision
- Supervision includes one assistance and full kiteboarding gear
- The assistance will ensure your safety, help you launch, land and transfer kite.
- Extra hours of instruction may be necessary depending on the purchased package.
Ready to learn kiteboarding?
If you have any questions, concerns, or special requests, don’t forget to mention them in the booking form.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What's the difference between private and semi-private class?
How is the weather in Cabarete during the year?
Click the image for current stats or check our Weather section for more info on current weather conditions.
Can i check it out first?
Is there an age-limit to learning kiteboarding?
What are the payment options?
How long will it take to learn?
But as a rough guide, the longer kiteboarding courses are the best place to start. They range from few days to a coupole weeks.
After the lesson phase, you’d start the self-training phase, where you’d practice what you had learned, get some water time — this is also when you learn to kite both down- and up-wind. This process often takes a month or 10-20 sessions.
Don’t be too fixated or worried about how long it takes, because you do not want to rush the learning phase; plus, you’ll be having fun anyway, so just make sure you give yourself as much time and patience as you need.
Why would I rent a Radio-Helmet?
I have windsurfed for years; will that make me a better kitesurfer?
The instructors will take into consideration the previous experiences of the student and focus on the things they don’t know (“the differences.”) If the student has an open mind they will learn very quickly. If they are resistant to new ideas or wont let go of their ego, they will be in for a rude awakening, or at best a very frustrating experience.
When should I take lessons?
If you like the sport you should sign up for a complete course usually up to 3 to 5 more days, which would get you ready to purchase you own gear. Always ask your instructor what gear they recommend.
After purchasing your equipment take it back to your instructor and do another lesson on your own gear. New gear needs setting up and adjusting. You instructor will also make sure that you know how to use your new gear correctly.
Take as many lessons as you need to feel confident and have all the skills to be independent. Then after you have mastered riding in your local area, you should take a lesson whenever riding a new location for the first time (and make sure to hook up with an instructor who is local to the area, who knows the local conditions, hazards, customs, etc.)
Once you turn Pro, don’t forget your instructors, and send your friends to them as a way of saying “thank you” for getting you into this great sport.
Can I learn kiteboarding by watching videos?
There have been instructional videos available for as long as there have been kiteboards. And like the equipment the videos too get dated, old and superseded. Watching a few videos before your first lesson will help you to visualize the overall process. Only very few videos or DVD’s will have up to date techniques that will stand up to the latest equipment. That is why a lesson with a live instructor is so important.
Is kitesurfing safe?
In addition, the newest kites that have become available in the last few years have the ability to de-power 100% at any time. This has made the sport much safer than at any other time in its history.
As a rule of thumb, keep two things in mind, always use the latest gear that is in good condition, and make sure you get professional instruction, that includes the proper use of the safety systems.
How much does the gear cost?
Kites complete with the bar and lines cost about 950 to $1600 each, depending on their size.
Boards cost from $600 to 900, but you’ll need a harness and jacket for another $150.
Total is around $2,000 – $3,000.00 for a new equipment.
However, now there are many great deals on previous year’s new equipment; or, packages that come complete for under $1500.00. And of course, there is also lots of used gear available, of all conditions an ages. For example, current year’s used kite may be 30-40% less than a new one. And a complete used setup, a year-or-two old, may be as low as $600 – $1000.
Beware when buying gear more than 3 years old. Never buy kites from before 2009.
Where can I do it?
Cabarete is a small, laid-back Caribbean beach village located only 20 minutes away from the Puerto Plata International Airport on the northern shore of the Dominican Republic, and is a perfect tropical vacation spot. With its charming, hip ambience and a combination of relaxed and adventurous lifestyles, most visitors can barely resist the spontaneous temptation of extending their stay and just hang around the place for another while.
The village of Cabarete is spread out across the center of a gorgeous, semi-circular beach of golden, sun-soaked, sand. Just behind, limiting its size, lies a tranquil lagoon, backed up by richly verdant hills overflowing with luxurious tropical vegetation.
The perfect blend of the surrounding physical elements of nature such as the location of the offshore reef at the entrance of the bay, the direction from which the trade winds usually blow, and the low-lying hills behind the village, which cause a unique thermal effect, form a beautiful layout. They create an unusual synthesis of outstanding wind and wave conditions. These make Cabarete an exceptional location not only for water-sports such as kiteboarding and windsurfing but for regular surfing at El Encuentro beach as well.
Cabarete is also the perfect place to just lay back to work on that perfect tan. It’s the best thing to do when you’re not out gliding over warm Caribbean waters, or participating in some other fun adventure sports such as mountain biking, scuba diving, horseback riding or canoeing.
The beachfront also hosts several restaurants, which serve diverse menus. Tasty dishes of both local and international cuisine are available at very reasonable prices. Diners can choose from a wide selection of dishes, including fresh, delicious seafood such as dorado, lobster or shrimp, or – for a change of pace – the Dominican specialty of Creole chicken with rice and beans.
Many young-at-heart vacationers play hard at night in Cabarete, partying late until the wee hours of morning. Most beach bars are really cool places to just hang around and put down a few Cuba Libres before hitting the sack, since the locally brewed rums are quite high quality.
Those with lots of energy who want to swing the night away to the dynamic sounds of Latino-flavored and local music should never forget that this is the land of Merengue.
The dance floor is always jam-packed, especially just after midnight, with both locals and visitors showing off their stuff or just learning how to master the steps of both Merengue and the occasional Bachata or Salsa.
Is learning kiteboarding easier than windsurfing?
In windsurfing there are several stages of learning, the longboard stage, then the shortboard stage, that requires a waterstart lesson and advanced sail skills. You will begin to learn the harness and footstraps after about one or two months or so.
In kiteboarding you will learn the kite flying, harness and footstraps and waterstart in the first few days. There is only one stage, and the basic skills to master. The basic kiteboarding skills can be learned in a week or two and most people will be upwind riding in 6 to 8 weeks.
How many days should I plan on staying there to have a good experience and take it on by myself?
All our packages are very efficient to learn how to kite board, but with Intensive and VIP packages once you are done with your 7 or 10 hours of lessons, you will be able to go and practice as much as you want using all our kiteboarding material and one assistant. After a week you will go back home being a kiteboarder.