Skip to content

FAQs

Do I need to be strong to kiteboard?

No definitely not. This is a myth. Kite control is all in the fingertips, the power of the kite goes through your harness which is very comfortable. We have taught students from 6 to 87 years young.

Is Kiteboarding safe?

Yes! Kiteboarding is now regarded as a safe sport due huge advances in equipment performance and safety systems and practices. It is NOT an extreme sport anymore. It is now classified as an adventure sport which is in the same class as sailing. Yes, there are some risks but your lessons will help you to understand how to avoid them and what to do in every eventuality. TCI is unique has a vast amount of space with almost no dangers so you can enjoy learning to kiteboarding in safe, stress free and fun environment.

Could the wind blow me or my kids away?!

No. The people you see jumping off the water are advanced. You will not get pulled into the air on your lesson. There are so many safety systems in place that it is extremely unlikely you will get pulled anywhere let alone into the sky. First off, if you let go of the bar, the kite falls out of the sky and any power stops instantly. Secondly, if there was any emergency then the kite can be cut away in seconds but most importantly, as a beginner you will never be put in danger such as strong or even offshore winds. You will start by flying a very small kite with very little power so you can relax and enjoy the learning experience in complete safety.

How fit do I have to be to learn kiteboarding?

Almost anyone with good mobility can Kiteboard. You do not need a high level of fitness and it is not regarded as a high impact sport. Learning to fly the kite is much more about patience and practice than it is about fitness. Once you have learnt the basics and are able to get up on the board, you can find yourself cruising along using almost zero effort. Like sitting back in a comfy seat as you are not “hanging” on to anything. You will always have time to rest during your lessons. If you want to perform complex tricks, then yes that is more physical but for the average kiteboarder if you can ride a bike then you can fly a kite.

Do I need to have surfed / wakeboarded or anything similar before?

No. It is called kiteboarding because it is all about kite flying. The board is important but much less board skills are required compared to surfing or snowboarding. While having some board skills helps you progress a little faster if you have never ridden on any type of board, then it really doesn’t matter. You can still get up and ride a short distance at the end of your first lesson.

I did some lessons some time ago what course should I book?

Private lessons. Other than your first lesson it is hands down better for you to progress with private classes (one on one) as you will get the most amount of practice possible and work on whatever it is that you need to work on to progress. On a private lesson no time is wasted as your lesson is tailored completely to you. It doesn’t matter what your level is or how long ago you had lessons when you book a private session.

I’ve booked kiteboarding lessons; how can I prepare?

Firstly, prepare to get addicted!!! If you really want an edge then get your hands on a small ‘trainer kite’ and fly it in your local park or on the beach prior to your lesson, this can really help give you kite control and understand the wind window which will definitely give you an advantage. Check out some ‘Kiteboarding how to’ videos on YouTube to give you an idea of what to expect and start visualising. Our Head Instructor Tom Fuller has written a fantastic book called ‘Learn Kitesurfing Faster’ which has some brilliant tips for beginners and intermediates.

Will I fly the kite and get to try the board in my first lesson?

For sure! Turks and Caicos is truly blessed with the perfect learning conditions given the weather conditions and wide expanse of waist-deep water so we are able to keep all your lessons practical and in the water so you have maximum time flying the kite. We also like to give everyone the chance to get up on the board during the very first lesson, if you feel comfortable. The most important goal of the first lesson is for you to feel confident with the kite. Once you have the kite control then getting on the board is just a matter of time and most of our students are able to ride a short distance on the first lesson, some people even further but more important than how far you ride its all about learning how to come to a controlled stop.

Is kiteboarding easy to learn?

It's relative to the individual. Some people take several lessons to get comfortable riding and others can progress more quickly. On average, many people find that they are comfortable after around 5 or 6 lessons to go out on their own with their own gear.

Can I rent equipment?

Yes, you can. However, all rentals are subject to availability. You can only rent if you are an experienced rider and are at a relatively high level (IKO level 3). For example, you must be able to stay upwind and are experienced in self landing / self-rescue techniques as well as being able to avoid collisions with other riders and avoid other dangers such as swimmers and other beach users. It’s a great idea to bring your kites as they are easy to carry through the airport and then rent a board from us. All our gear is the from the Naish 2022/23 line up.

Can I learn to kiteboard without lessons?

No. Think of it like sky diving, it is that kind of sport where you need lessons, if you do not know what you are doing you can hurt yourself as well as others. The good news is that learning is fun, and it doesn’t take long in comparison to other sports. Roughly 10-20 hours of lessons is enough to get you to a level where you can be independent and really enjoying your riding.

What does independent mean?

To be able to practice safely without an instructor. You need to be able to control the kite in a way that does not cause harm to you, others, or your surroundings. You need to learn how to set up, how all the safety systems work, launching, water relaunching, one handed flying, body surfing, board recovery in deep water, putting safety systems back together in the water, landing, self-landing, self-rescue, full pack down and that’s just the basics. Luckily here in TCI we get to focus so much more on the fun parts but to be able to deal with any situation, use your own gear and go kiteboarding anywhere you need to be fully independent.

I can already kiteboard a little bit, but I can’t do X, Y or Z. What’s next?

Book a private lesson and we will teach you almost anything you want plus things that you never thought you could do. We regularly teach advanced lessons, most of our students not only learn what they want during the lesson but also so much more from jumping higher, rotations, kite loops, foiling and almost anything you can think of.

Do I get a discount for using my own gear for my lessons?

You can use your own gear for your lessons if you want or you can use ours, the price is the same. We have a lot more kite and board sizes so we can make sure you have the best possible gear for your lesson and the wind conditions so if you haven’t got the right gear for the day then use ours.

I have my own gear - what should I bring?

We get a full range of wind so don’t look at the forecast and only bring small or big kites. Its best to bring all your kites as you never know for sure. The forecast is just a forecast. The most used kite size here is 12m or 13m but you sometimes might need even larger sizes such as 15/17m and smaller sizes like 9m/8m. The best strategy is to bring all your kites.

What’s the difference between kiteboarding and kitesurfing?

It’s the same awesome sport, we use the terms interchangeably :) Although we can use different boards when kiting, so some people like to use the term ‘kiteboarding’ when referring to using a ‘twin tip’ (wakeboard style) board, and ‘kitesurfing’ when using a surfboard style board.

When is the best time of year to learn kiteboarding in Turks and Caicos?

November right through to August is the windy season. While wind is never guaranteed some weeks will inevitably be better than others but as a general guide unless you are very unlucky (we have all been there!) you can expect 4-5 good wind days out of 7. Even when the winds are lighter there is usually still enough for foiling. Winter times get strong storm fronts and from around March time through to August there are several months that we get perfect wind every single day. On those rare occasions where the wind isn’t good enough to ride or get any value from your lesson we simply do not charge. It is good to know that the Big Blue Collective isn’t just famous for kiteboarding. We have a fleet of boats to take you on the most amazing adventures. We offer snorkel, kayak or paddleboard trips and much more in some of the most beautiful spots on the planet. If you are here from February to March, then there are some opportunities to swim with Humpback Whales.