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Telluride Snowkite

Hood River Kiteboard Lessons

Gorge Kiteboarding School

The 2012 Kiteboard Season, April 15th - November 1st


At Gorge Kiteboard School I tailor each kiteboard lesson to you, focusing on the skills and techniques you need. I am a certified kiteboard instructor with 12 years of experience safely teaching kiteboarding in Hood River. I will carefully develop a program for you to utilize the skills and experience you bring to the sport. As you progress we will refine your lesson program to match your needs and accomplish your goals. I will give you the skills to kiteboard with confidence.

Your safety is my number one priority both during your instruction and after you are on your own. I will give you a strong foundation in kite flying skills which will allow you to generate more power in light wind and maintain control in sudden gusts. To keep you out of danger you will learn safe rigging, launching and riding practices as well as how to rescue yourself if the wind stops.
The Shack at The Spit spring 2002
Every student is different and your lesson program will be customized to meet your goals. I work with kiteboarders of all levels from first time flyers, to those learning to make advanced transitions and big jumps. Every week I help students who have transferred from other schools and I often work with students who have kiteboarded in light wind locations but want to learn to deal with the stronger winds of The Gorge.

Kiteboarding lesson at Hood River Sandbar
The Beginner Kiteboard Series is designed to give you a basic skill level with solid control of the kite, so that you will be able to go kiteboarding on your own safely. You should expect to need three to five lessons. Having experience in other sports that involve sailing or flying is an advantage. Experience in wakeboarding, waterskiing, surfing and other water sports can help accelerate your learning. Experienced athletes tend to get to a basic level in three lessons or a more proficient level (riding upwind) in 5 lessons. Some people have flown 2-line kites for hundreds of hours and can translate this experience directly into kite control. They can reach a basic level in two lessons and move upwind in three lessons.

If you are almost up and going, but cannot stay on the board, you might want two lessons. The first lesson will focus on improving your kite control skills so that you can generate a strong smooth pull from the kite, and the second will put you on the board to stay. We will start with a full description of how waterstarting should work, followed by a demonstration, and then a series of exercises that lead you toward waterstarting and moving across the water under control. Click here for a more detailed Beginner Series description.

The Intermediate Series covers stance, turns, going upwind, and Introduction to Kiteboarding The Gorge. You can cover that one trouble spot in a single lesson or work through the whole series each morning during a week. Two lessons can be just the right amount of time to learn about kiteboarding the Columbia River and the special skills that can make it more fun. If you were feeling confident kiteboarding in gentle ocean winds on your last vacation, but don’t have the experience to tackle the strong winds of The Gorge, the Introduction to Kiteboarding The Gorge lesson will make your stay in the Gorge more fun and make you a stronger and more capable rider. Click here for a more detailed Intermediate Series description.

The Advanced Series is for more advanced riders, I offer a combination of subjects including Controlled air, Generating more power, Kiteboarding in radical winds, Working with big swells, and Downwinders. These lessons will help the experienced kiteboarder have more fun and become confident in a wider range of conditions. Click here for a more detailed Advanced Series description.