I know it's maybe bit weard to hear I'm going to learn kiteboarding. On the other hand why?
I like to do sports. Its not only my hobby but even my job, I always into learn new things and kiteboarding was always on my list but somehow it never realy happend.
One day someone called me to borrow a boardbag from me. I was a bit suprised as it was not for a surfboard but for a kiteboard. Later on I understood why? It wasn't for a twintip, freestyle board but for a kite raceboard. They are almost the size of a surfboard.
Anyway that is how I got in contact with Lars, who own's the (new) kiteboard school in Bonaire and is realy into the kite racing.
So we started to talk and not much later I was at Lars his kiteschool, down the kite beach- Atlantis.
I didn't plan to come for a leson but Lars put a training kite in my hands and was already telling me how to stear the kite to 12 o' clock back to 11 0'clock, back again and to the otherside.
This wasn't difficuilt at all was pretty easy. I was playing for not more then 30 minutes and I got told to get ready for the water. I had nothing with me (bikini or dry clothes), but Lars asked me what I needed. I said nothing with a big smile :-P . I realy was going to have a try on the water too, GREAT!It was about 14-15 knots so I went on the water with a 12m2.
After a little body drag down wind we practise to both sides and later on also upwind.
Upwind was a little bit more difficuilt as you had to stear the kite with one hand, but I was able to do with out dropping the kite.
The other thing I learned was how to get the kite out of the water after it dropped.
Then the most exciting thing was with the board. I don't know how I did but straight away the first try I went on the board and kept on going. After 100 meters, I started to get more and more speed and snashed on the water face foward. I was so excited I was kiting already after 1 hour....
Then we tried more and more I still was able to go but not as long as the first try.
Many things are realy simmelair to windsurfing, the only problem I had was that I was pulling a bit to much my front hand so got a lot of speed and was out of controle.
After an hour we stopped. It was a great un expected day.
One week later: it wasn't looking promising outside but Lars called me that we where going to have my second leson today. The big dark rainclothes would soon go away and the thunder was already gone.
I drove a little bit nervous to the beach, as the last time I remeber I had some hard crashes on the water as I got so muchs speed each time I stand on the board.
It was more wind then the other time, I think about 19-20 knots so I had today also a smalles kite 10m2.
After a few little excersizes to see if I remember the things from last time. Yes I did.
I was realy suprised as I had the kite much more under controle and made some very nice runs to the right side and was also able to stand to the left side too and already started at the end to try to kite a bit upwind on the board...it feels so nice. After 1,5 hour I went back to the beach, with a very good feeling about my progression. It seems so muchs easier to learn then windsurfing.
My goal now is to learn as quick as possible to controle the kite with the board and to be able to go myself, so I can practise more and more...
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