A Beginner Guide to Kitesurfing Lessons UK Wide

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Kitesurfing is a sport that has become increasingly popular in the UK. Statista.com estimates that there are around 140,000 registered kitesurfers in Britain, and it’s not hard to see why.

Kiteboarding offers you an adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. And the UK offers reliable winds year-round and ample coastline to learn and hone your skills.

If you’re thinking about taking up this exhilarating activity but have not yet taken any lessons or had any practice sessions – then this article will be of great help to you!

Here we will show you where to find kitesurfing lessons UK wide, which kite schools are adequately accredited and how to choose a good instructor/kite school. So that you can learn more about what kiting involves before deciding on whether or not it’s for you.

Travelling to the other side of the world for kitesurfing lessons is not an option right now. Luckily there are some excellent kitesurfing schools in the UK where you can learn to kitesurf. Continue reading this article if you want to know more about beginner Kiteboarding lessons in the UK.

Where To Get Kitesurfing Lessons In The UK?

There are schools and training centres all over Great Britain. So if you are a beginner looking for somewhere to learn how to kitesurf, then you shouldn’t be too far away from one.

Follow the links below for the different regions and find the perfect school to begin your kitesurfing adventure in the UK.

Who Can Give You An Official Accreditation in The UK?

Before we dive into where to get beginner lessons from, let’s get an idea of how its governing bodies structure the sport.

There are several governing bodies of the international kiteboarding sport, and disputes happen as they try to establish which organisation has the right to promote competitions. The economic significance of these events makes it difficult for anyone group to secure exclusive control over the discipline.

There are two associations to consider for the UK when looking for lessons, the British Kitesports Association (BKSA) and The International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO).

The British Kitesports Association (BKSA)

  • Beginner Course Length: 9-12 Hours (average)

Based in the UK, the association is the governing body for kitesurfing in Britain, and it offers nationally (and internationally) recognised courses to learn how to kiteboard or kitesurf.

The BKSA beginner certification course for kitesurfing lasts around 9-12 hours on average, depending on how quickly the learner picks up the fundamentals – with this qualification, you will be able to take part in competitions and rent equipment from any club affiliated with the BKSA.

This beginners course is structured over 3-days and consists of 2 levels that cover kitesurfing safety, equipment and mechanics, and fundamental riding techniques.

In Level One, you will learn about kitesurfing equipment and safety measures. You’ll also get to experience what it’s like to set up your gear.

In Level Two, you will practise all the fundamental moves for beginners taught in Level One by getting your feet wet. To have you up and riding by the end of day three.

A membership with the BKSA (£42 per year) grants you a whole range of perks in addition to comprehensive insurance cover while kitesurfing.

The association also holds the annual British Kitesurfing Championships in September, a three-day event for both pro and amateur riders alike.

How You Can Join: To learn more about BKSA courses or sign up to become an affiliate club, you can visit their website at britishkitesports.org

The International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO)

  • Beginner Course Length: 6-12 Hours (average)

Established in 2001, the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) has grown from the vision for the safer development of the sport to the world’s largest organisation devoted to developing kiteboarding. 

The IKO is an active community of more than 600,000 kiters and 5,000 trained instructors in more than 60 countries.

The IKO offers beginner courses that teach you the sport of kitesurfing. The first course is in the classroom, where you’ll learn kite safety and how to fly and steer your kite. 

In the second section, you get out on the water to practice various skills needed for your overall experience with kiteboarding. And in the final third, you’ll become an independent kitesurfer and start to explore the sport with the supervision of an instructor.

As a beginner, you can also participate in the IKO’s Advanced Course Series, designed for intermediate-level kiters who want to learn more about advanced skills and techniques that are not part of the regular course series.

How Do You Choose An Instructor and Kiteschool?

A good instructor will provide beginners with plenty of assistance when they’re learning how to kitesurf.

A kitesurfing instructor should know how to stay calm and relaxed on the water. They need to keep their cool while also monitoring a student at all times.

An instructor of beginners lessons needs to have excellent teaching skills, but they need to make sure that students are comfortable in the water.

A good kite school should include all the equipment you will need in the course as part of the price. However, many kite schools cannot guarantee wetsuits due to sizing issues, so it is a good idea to bring your own.

The right kite school will have a friendly and professional staff who want you to succeed and be up and riding.

How much do kitesurfing lessons cost in the UK?

It is no secret that kitesurfing is an expensive sport to start. So if you are thinking to self teach and save money, our advice is don’t.

In the long run, taking lessons will cut your learning time down considerably and learning the correct safety from a certified instructor keeps not only you safe but your fellow kiters too!

Costs vary greatly depending on where you live and the kite school. For example, a beginners course at an established school in Cornwall will set you back £320, but if you are closer to London, it can be as low as £140 for two days of tuition with equipment hire included. All prices include VAT which changes from time to time.

It is worth shopping around for prices when looking to take lessons. Some kite schools offer discounts for booking a block of lessons. For example, in Cornwall, you could save up to £240 by paying upfront and taking five classes at once instead of the usual one or two per week.

What is your budget? How much time do you have available for training? Do you want to buy equipment after learning? These are all questions that you will need to ask yourself before committing yourself to kitesurfing lessons.

Once you are ready to decide, get in touch with a kite school in the region you wish to learn (links to the schools by region are at the beginning of this article) and schedule yourself in. And most important of all is to remember to have fun and enjoy yourself.

Final Thoughts

If you want to get into kitesurfing, now is the time. The sport has been growing in popularity. With it comes new opportunities for people interested in taking a lesson or learning more about doing this exciting watersport.

There’s never been a better time than right now to learn how! If you’re not sure what steps you should take next, check out our blog posts on where to find suitable lessons near your home region that will help make getting started easier.

We’ve provided some tips on selecting an instructor and school to ensure that you’ll be ready to hit the water without any worries!

Mathew

Mathew's deep expertise in meteorology and the worlds oceans have not only made him an avid sailor but also allowed him to become well-travelled. He loves surfing when he can find waves to his liking - usually on remote beaches where there aren't many people around. But if you ask Mathew what he enjoys most, it will always be kiteboarding!

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