TUITION FAQs
How fit and how good a swimmer do I need to be?
We teach adults of all ages and various levels of fitness. You need to be able to swim 50 metres unaided and if you can do this you should be fit enough for a lesson. We provide a buoyancy aid for all on water teaching but you need a minimum swimming proficiency for safety.
Do you provide all the equipment I will need?
Yes, we provide the kitesurfing or winging equipment. We also provide a helmet, harness and buoyancy aid. We are happy to provide a wetsuit and booties which we have in most sizes or, of course, you can use your own wetsuit, helmet, harness, etc. provided they are suitable for the conditions. If you have your own equipment, we are happy for you to use this for more advanced lessons provided they are safe and suitable for the conditions.
What kite, wing and/or board will I be using?
We have the latest kites and boards from Airush and Harlem. We will choose the correct equipment to suit the conditions and your size and proficiency.
What will I need to bring with me?
Please bring warm clothing to change into after your lesson, flip flops or sandals for walking to the launch spot, swimwear (for under your wetsuit) a towel, sun screen, water and it is nice to have a snack of some kind. Please also bring some cash (and/or card) for parking and/or a coffee/snack if you fancy - most of our tuition sites have a coffee shop at the spot and some have changing/shower facilities.
What wind and weather do we need?
The key ingredient is wind. We need a minimum of 10 knots (12 mph) of wind to properly fly a kite but we can conduct wing SUP lessons in slightly less. We do not conduct lessons in over 25 knots (30 mph) mean windspeed as it would be unsafe. We teach on the water in wind directions from WNW to NE (we do not teach on the water in offshore winds). We can teach initial land based skills in any wind direction. We will teach in the sun or the rain but we cannot control the weather so if conditions do not look favourable for your lesson we may need to postpone it. We will always do our best to let you know by the evening before your lesson at the latest.
What qualifications do you have?
We are an IKO (International Kiteboarding Organisation) and IWO (International Wingfoil Organisation) affiliated school. Alex, our Head Instructor, is qualified with the IKO, the BKSA (British Kite Sports Association) the IWO and RYA (Royal Yachting Association). Our Wingfoil instructor, Ewan, is qualified with the IWO and RYA.
Are you insured?
We have public liability insurance of £5 million which is designed to cover liability to our students or other parties in the event of an accident caused by us.
Do I need insurance?
We recommend that all kitesurfers and wingers have at least third party liability insurance. This is included in the membership of the IKO/IWO and BKSA or RYA and/or can be purchased separately from specialist sports insurers.
I have a medical condition. Will I be able to have lessons?
If you have an underlying medical condition, you should talk to your doctor to find out whether kitesurfing or wing foiling is an appropriate activity for you. We would be unable give you a lesson if your condition could interfere with the safe practice of the sport.
Do you teach children?
We do not currently teach people under 15 years old. Children aged under 18 must be accompanied by their parent or guardian throughout the lesson.
What is your cancellation policy?
You may cancel your lesson up to 3 weeks before the lesson date. If you need to cancel or amend your lesson later than this, we will endeavour to find an alternative date to suit you. If that is not possible, you will need to pay for your lesson unless we are able to rebook your time slot to another person.
We may need to postpone your lesson due to weather conditions.. We will always endeavour to find another convenient time for you (and we are very flexible) but we do not offer refunds for weather related cancellations.