Jacob Møhl Prick, passionate kitesurfer and kite instructor in WestWind is in this short article to answer relevant questions, which can be very helpful if you are curious about the sport.
1) What is the best way to get started with kitesurfing? Course? Friend services?
Although there is a lot of good information and good videos on YouTube, it is far from sufficient to learn the sport in a safe way. Therefore, I would definitely recommend taking a course at a certified school. It is a good investment, as you learn it in a safe way, and you also get a lot of good advice in relation to buying equipment afterwards. I would recommend taking a three-day course. There are many schools that offer one-day courses with the expectation that it can be learned in five to six hours. But it is not the best solution, since after one day you are far from being an independent kitesurfer.
It's actually surprising how many of the students I've had on the course have been out with their friends before they decided to take a course. Fortunately, in most cases there were no accidents, but I have also heard many stories about how things have gone wrong. The bad episodes unfortunately scare potential kitesurfers far away from the sport. Therefore, I would not recommend going out and trying it with acquaintances. Accidents can also happen on a course, but the risk is much less, as safety is the focus throughout the course.
If you are really motivated and want to learn as quickly as possible while meeting other kite surfers, I would definitely recommend a kite camp of five to seven days. Here you have a chance to be an independent kitesurfer when the camp is over.
2) Which places in Denmark are best suited? And with whom do I secure the funnest experiences and best communities?
The great thing about kitesurfing is that it can be practiced all year round and throughout Denmark. As a beginner, however, you are somewhat limited in terms of which places work. As a beginner, it should preferably be shallow a few 100 meters away from the coast and preferably in a bay or a fjord, where large waves or currents cannot form in the water. Fortunately, it can be found in almost all of Denmark. But Ringkøbing Fjord is clearly in the lead as one of the best places to learn the sport, as the water is shallow in most of the fjord.
Of course, the sport also requires a lot of wind. It's one of the reasons why I've moved all the way to the west coast, as it's generally windier and there are bigger waves out here. You get more days on the water, the further west you live. There is also a large surfing environment, so it is easier to find other surfers to go out with. If you have difficulty finding someone in your area, hop on Facebook and search for various surf and kite groups. It is often written here when you go on the water, and you have the opportunity to meet a lot of cool people.
3) Which equipment is best suited when I am a beginner or lightly trained? How much should I expect to pay for it? Can the girlfriend and I share equipment? What about our children - can they join?
The majority of kites produced today can be used by beginners. As a beginner, you just have to stay away from C-kites, as they are not particularly beginner-friendly. Feel free to go for an all-round kite and a bigger board to start with. A new complete package with everything that needs to be used can be obtained from around DKK 10,000 and up to around DKK 20,000. Of course, you can also buy fine used equipment on Facebook. But stick to equipment that is no older than three to four years. If you want something used in reasonably good condition, you can typically get away with DKK 5,000–6,000 for a used complete package.
When you are learning the sport, you can start by sharing equipment with, for example, your girlfriend. But it depends on your weight. There must not be too much of a difference, as there will either be too much pull for one or too little for the other. As you become independent and can start sailing, it's time to buy another kite and board so you can get on the water together.
4) What do I do when I have learned the basics of the sport? How do I become more skilled?
Once you've learned how to sail back and forth, it's time for the first jump, and that's when it gets really fun. Here again, it is most effective to have an instructor who pushes you while you are on the water. Another way to progress is by sailing with others who are close to your own level. You will thereby automatically push each other to improve.
And then it's about getting out on the water as much as possible. Although it may not be quite windy enough, or if there is a bit too much wind; Go out and try it, you will always learn something from getting on the water. Especially when the conditions are not the best.
5) Tips and tricks?
Something you might as well get used to right away is that the weather forecast says one thing, but the weather is another. It can create a lot of frustration on the water when the wind changes, or maybe isn't there at all, but this is just part of the sport. In relation to transporting the equipment, it is clearly easiest with a car. And the cool thing is that it can be transported in any car, as it is so small. I myself have cycled around with the equipment for a period, and you can easily do that too, but a car is preferable. If you feel that you are not progressing or have stalled with the sport, I would definitely recommend finding other beginners and being proactive in terms of expanding your network within the surfing world, so that you can get out with other beginners and be motivated .
I hope this gives you a little insight into the world of kitesurfing and makes you want to give it a try.
