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About
Mission Statement:
KiteTheBay is a company that provides kitesurfing instruction and kitesurfing tours around the San Francisco Bay. Its mission is to offer the most exciting and scenic, yet effective and efficient program to those wishing to experience the sport. KiteTheBay is located on Treasure Island, in San Francisco, California and has been teaching lessons since 2009.About Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing/Kiteboarding is a relatively new sport. The concept of kitesurfing was conceived in the mid 80's by two Frenchmen, Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux. Their efforts to produce a water re-launchable kite are appreciated by all kitesurfers and kitesurf manufacturers around the world today. We owe them some gratitude! It took some time for the sport to gain acceptance and popularity but, today, the "kitesurfing kraze" is taking over!
On beaches everywhere, when the wind picks up, the kiters are sure to emerge and loft their kites into the air and head out on the water! It truly an amazing sport that fuses together the energy of wind and water. So much freedom exists in the way the sport can be experienced and the various riding styles that are developing.
For example, kitesurfing allows you to: jump extremely high, ride at record setting speeds, take to the open ocean and ride swells (even hollow ones), ride the wind up snow covered mountains on skis or board, and even cruise around on a land-skateboard. There are so many possibilities!
How to Kitesurf
Learning how to kiteboard requires kite-flying skills and board skills. You must be able to do both at the same time. Therefore, it is advantageous to learn each skill independently at first. KiteTheBay has developed an exclusive teaching technique that builds skills and confidence in a timely manner.Kite Flying
To many onlookers, the sport looks easy. Good kite flying skills are based on being able to read the kite's movement and knowing how to control it. When you watch a good kitesurfer riding in a straight line on the water, the kite pretty much stays in a steady position. However, the rider is performing very small maneuvers that keep the kite perfectly positioned.Good kite flying skills are based on being able to read the kite's movement and knowing how to control it. To control a kite, you pull on the control bar, causing the kite to change its angle in the wind and its positioning in the air. Being able to keep a kite stationary in the air is a key skill but you must also know how to steer the kite up and down for various reasons. Flying a kite is not physically demanding, rather it's more about being able to anticipate the kite's reaction to wind changes and make the steering adjustment in a timely fashion.
Kite-flying takes time and understanding to master. Luckily, the San Francisco Bay is blessed with great wind. KiteTheBay uses only full sized, 4-line kites to teach people, including beginners. You learn how to fly the kite from a customized support boat in open water with strong, steady winds. Having space for gear and extra passengers, it’s an effective and comfortable learning environment.
KiteBoard Riding
Like any board riding activity, (surf-boarding, wake-boarding, skateboarding, snow-boarding) you must know how to position your body so the board's edges keep you riding forward on top of the surface. The sideways stance can be tricky but with a little proper practice, you can adjust and find that perfect position. You want the majority of you weight on your back foot, keeping the front of your board up out of the water. From here, steering the board comes from rotating your hips so your board points a different direction and continues to glide across the water.The KitePole is a great training tool that teaches the board skills of kiteboarding. It works like this: Imagine the feeling of being pulled on the water by a kite but without having the responsibility of flying it. This is the job of the KitePole. You can then focus all your attention on riding the board. After some practice, you'll be feeing good with your board skills and ready to get pulled by a real kite! See video our here.
Putting them together It is very important to understand that while kiteboarding, you are "hooked in" to the kite. This is a good thing, but intimidating at first. You must use you body weight to lean against the pull of the kite and find a balance. Good kite control makes this process much easier. Learning to ride a board, like flying a kite, comes with being able to make small adjustments that keep your board positioned properly. Keeping a board flat on the water is sometimes helpful, and at other times you'll need to lean back on your heels to keep the board at an angle. Having the opportunity to learn these basic board skill makes your progression immensely easier and faster when you are putting your skills all together.
Interested in hearing about the experiences of our actual customers? Easy enough! Read our unsolicited testimonials here.