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Summer Session We're excited about the 2012 Summer Session. The interest has been strong and we're stoked to get all of you out having fun in this great sport. Land lessons started already in early May and we had a really fun and busy 2011. We have a three to five class program, as well as 1:1 instruction. The five classes build from one to another and develop the fundamental awareness of Kite Control, Inflatable Kites, Board Skills, and putting it all together. All have a focus on riding safely and confidently. We provide all the gear for all classes. See some video of rider progression on: YouTube. The first class is optional - What is Kiting. This is an hour of information presented with details in a Q&A format. This is where you can begin to understand what the sport is. For example: it's not para sailing or wind surfing, lol! The second class, Ground School (required) teaches you everything you need to know about flying a kite. Not just steering it around the sky, that part is easy. We focus on helping you develop the skills needed to generate a solid consistent pull from the kite, and how to turn up and down the power as the wind fluctuates, as well as the often overlooked skill of slowing down and stopping! You will learn through excercies how to use the power, depower, launch and land, how to fly the kite while in motion, all while enjoying safe entry into the sport. The next course Kiteboarding 101 introduces you to all the water gear. There's a lot here: sizing, rigging, boards, bars, lines, harnesses, etc. And that's all before we hit the water, at which time we teach you all the safe techniques for handling these big and powerful kites: safe launching, landing, relaunching off the water. We conclude this course with you applying the flying skills you learned in the Intro Class and using the big kite to pull you smoothly through the water in a body surf. After completing those classes, a student then makes an appointment for Kitesurfing 202. This is a 1:1 hourly class, and progresses at your speed. Here we combine both the skill sets of the first two courses and put on the board. This is when you become a kiteboarder. Nothing like that first ride across the water pulled by that magical silent wonder up in the sky. The fifth class is optional, Board Skillz Clinic. This is very helpful for those without board experience or those who can't or don't ride well on their weak side. Not uncommon for students to underestimate the value of this class. I can best assess your board skills on the water but you will enjoy a conversation about why people don't succeed on wakeboards or why you need to ride switch. Choose your next class below and come fly us. What is Kiting This course covers what the sport is about, gear involved, cost, where to kite, how to learn the sport, who is kiting, seasons of kiting in MN, trips, retail options, events and basically the Q&A we all have when looking into something new. This is a 1hr classroom setting informative speech on kitboarding/kitesurfing/snowkiting.
Intro to Kiting
(Controlling the Kite) aka Ground School
If you don't feel like you have the flying skills down after one class, you can come back out any night we're out and join us again for FREE. Kiteboarding 101 (Inflatable Kites) This course is your introduction to the big kites you'll use on the water. We spend a lot of time going through all the gear (kites, harnesses, boards, leashes, helmets), gear setup, preflight checks, and we practice all the skills you'll need when you hit the water (launching, landing, self launching, water relaunching, self rescue, safety systems, etc). We conclude this class with a body surf.
Board Skills Clinic You're dialing your kite skills, now how about your board skills? If you haven't ever "boarded" (snowboarded, wakeboarded, skateboarded), it can be a lot to take at the same time you are refining your kite skills. We highly recommend those of you without boardskills, get out behind the boat or jet ski with us and focus on just riding. Think of the kite as the power source and your board as the steering. Traditional snowboarders for example prefer riding goofy or fakey, kiting requires the ability to do both. Great lightwind training. Great for learning wakeboarding too.
Bring your towel, swim suit and other thermal suits accordingly (if needed), a snack and cooler if you like. We have all the rest though you may bring your board if you like. Kitesurfing 202 Here's where you put it all together. You work One-on-One with an instructor, focusing on water starting, board control, edging, deep water relaunches, and staying upwind. This class focuses on riding and assumes your kite skills are dialed. We most likely will have you do at least one body drag. This class progresses at your speed. Some students may only need an hour, others may want assistence for the first 3-4 hours. We will supply the gear for these classes, though you may want to purchase your gear prior to this class so that you can get familiar with it, with our assistence. When on the water, we're with you the whole way. We follow you on jet ski the whole way, coaching you through your radio equipped helmet. No other program offers this much on-the-water assistance. Why pay for instruction when you can't hear the instructor? We're with you, all the way out and back. We'll take you from tense, and uncertain, to comfortable, controlled and confident.
Rider
Certification Advanced Riding
Instruction Scheduling If the forecast for a scheduled clinic looks too grim for wind, we'll move it. * Our 2011 Open Water Program will be taught primarily on the new Bow or Flat kites and Hybrid Delta. Specifically, the Rally. These kites have the durability to survive your learning curve, are easy and fun to fly, and have great safety systems. If you have other equipment that you would like to learn on, just let us know. We're familiar with most brands and types of kites out there. Looking forward to meeting you. Instructors | FAQs | Gallery | LAKAWA Home
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