Kids + kitesurfing: all you need to know

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Kids + kitesurfing: all you need to know

Whether it’s you wanting to share your passion for kitesurfing with your kids, or the little ones desperate to be like their parents and get out on a board, there are a few key questions you need answered before the time comes for the kids to learn to kitesurf.

Kitesurfing is an incredible amount of fun but it’s not without its risks. And, as a parent, your first responsibility is to make sure that everyone is safe. So, before you make any big decisions or promise anything you shouldn’t, it’s worth considering the following.

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When can I start to think about getting my kids a kitesurf lesson?

Firstly, if the desire to learn is coming from your kids, and they’re spending time watching kiting videos or badgering you to let them learn, then the time might be right. If they don’t seem to be that interested, maybe it is best to wait a little. No matter how much you love it, they might not share your passion just yet (which we know can be frustrating!). Give them space and time to come round to the idea on their own.

Unlike with some sports, for example, scuba diving, there is no rule as to what age a child can learn to kitesurf. It is really more about the child having the desire to learn, having confidence in water (must be an independent swimmer), as well as having a minimum physical weight and strength. As a guideline, some kitesurfing schools will accept children as young as 8 years old, with a minimum weight of 35kg, but many schools will only take kids from 11 years old.

What are the risks of teaching your kids to kitesurf?

Kitesurfing equipment has improved hugely in recent years, making the sport much safer, and more accessible to a wider range of ages and abilities than ever before. However, the kites will only work correctly with a minimum amount of weight from the user, so if a child is too light the kite will simply not fly correctly, and the safety system may not operate safely.

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It is a huge responsibility to teach a child to kitesurf, so it is important to have private lessons, in a safe area, in light wind conditions, with a highly experienced instructor. Each kitesurfing instructor will make a judgment locally as to whether the conditions on the day are safe to teach, and if they feel the child is ready. If at any point the instructor is in any doubt about any aspect of the safety, he/she will discontinue the lesson. It is therefore possible to book your child for a kite lesson as part of a kitesurfing holiday, but there are no guarantees that the lesson will take place, or be completed. 

Where are the best locations on the Planet for kids to learn kitesurfing?

There are a few places on the Planet that are perfect for teaching kids, due to the expert instruction, superior equipment used, and huge flat water lagoon areas with no potentially dangerous obstacles around. AThe best places for kites to learn to kitesurf are:

Dakhla Lagoon in Morocco

Bel Ombre Lagoon in Mauritius

Langebaan Lagoon in South Africa

Soma Bay Lagoon in Egypt

The Maldives