My Kitesurfing Journey: From Spectator to Rider

Hey there! I’m Andrzej, usually found amidst lines of code, but today I’m here to share a different story — my journey into the world of kitesurfing.

A Dance with the Waves

I’ve never been much of a sports enthusiast, especially when it comes to water sports. My teen years were filled with ballroom dancing, a rhythm I lost over 30 years ago. But a few years back, I found myself dancing again, swaying to Jive and dabbling briefly in Argentine Tango.

So, what spurred my dive into kitesurfing? It all started in 2022 when my wife, mum, and I ventured to Fuerteventura for the first time, staying near the stunning Sotavento Beach. The beach, known for its sprawling sands at low tide and a natural lagoon at high tide, presented the perfect setting for long walks and… my first glimpse of kitesurfing. Watching riders glide over water, tethered to their kites, I was hooked. It was a sport that seemed to free the mind — just you, the kite, and the vast sea.

Taking the Plunge

Fast forward six months, and I found myself at Camber Sands, ready to take my first kitesurfing lessons with The Kitesurf Centre. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but within 15 minutes, I was signed up for three lessons.

The initial lessons were about mastering the basics — understanding SHOE (Surface, Hazards, Other People, Environment), controlling a trainer kite, and learning body dragging, an essential skill for every kitesurfer. It’s the art of maneuvering in the water, crucial for board recovery and emergencies. We even practiced self-rescue and pack-down techniques.

Kitesurfing is deeply reliant on the weather, and unfortunately, low wind led to the cancellation of my third group lesson. That’s when I decided to switch to 1-2-1 lessons. The transition was eye-opening; I was astounded by how quickly those sessions exhausted me. It was a clear sign — I needed to build up my strength, so I started regular swimming and exercise routines.

Progressing in Choppy Waters

The focus of my private lessons shifted to water starts, a challenging aspect, especially in the choppy waters of Camber Sands. I managed short rides occasionally but soon realized that Camber Sands, while not the most beginner-friendly spot, added an extra layer of challenge due to its waves.

During one particularly low-wind lesson, we switched to a landboard paired with a Flysurfer Peak5 kite. This experience was so enlightening that I decided to get a landboard and a Peak5 6-meter kite for myself, perfect for honing my kite control skills.

As the season at Camber Sands drew to a close, my resolve to continue kitesurfing into the winter only grew stronger. With a winter wetsuit for protection, I was ready to brave the cold.

A Shift in Scenery

I moved my lessons to a more beginner-friendly spot — Poseidon Watersports school in Poole Harbour (Poseidon Watersports). The contrast was stark; shallow waters for meters on end and no choppy waves. However, I credit Camber Sands for preparing me well — its challenging conditions were an excellent primer for smoother spots like Poole.

My journey at Poole has just begun, with lessons already teaching me more about wind control and kite handling. As for 2024, my plan is to continue at Poole until I’m confident in riding and mastering upwind maneuvers. I still have a lesson pending at Camber Sands, reserved for when I’m ready to tackle waves again.

In the meantime, I’ll be perfecting my kite control, especially with landboarding at Camber Sands. And there’s a trip to Fuerteventura on the horizon in May 2024 — who knows, maybe I’ll be skilled enough by then to ride the waves there!

Cheers, Andrzej