Greetings,

I have recently discovered the sport of kiteboarding, but do not know where to start. I am definitely intrigued and eager to get started with little cash down as possible. Can some one offer any suggestions for newbies.

Thanks

This is Eddie Toy, and I'm the local instructor here in St. Augustine. We highly recommend buying a trainer kite and practicing with it before taking a lesson. Once you have flown it successfully for a few days, email me at eddie@oceanextremesports.com and we'll figure out a day for a lesson. It will save you time and money repairing your own gear, and you will learn how to fly the kite the right way. Ask anyone in the sport and they will recommend that you take lessons before buying gear. If you get into a lesson with 1 or 2 other people, it's only $250 for the entire introductory lesson, which lasts 6-7 hours. It includes the land and water lesson detailed on our course syllabus. I've been teaching for 4 years here in the St. Augustine area, and with a little board skills, I can get you up on the board in your first lesson.

Email me if you have any additional questions.

Thanks,

Eddie

Think of this sport as skydiving in reverse. You would not consider jumping out of a plane without an instructor, right? This is a sport where it is ok to buy cheap beer, but not cheap equipment. And if you are going to get cheap equipment, be cheap on the board or the harness, but not the bar or kite. And don't even think of not getting at least one lesson.