JP- Posted May 27, 2004 Report Posted May 27, 2004 Can anyone recomend a kitesurf school on the south coast... well an hour or two max from Eastbourne? I have seen there are a few like zero gravity and boost but which would people recomend? Also is it best to go for IKO or BKSA quals? Quote
DavidP Posted May 27, 2004 Report Posted May 27, 2004 NO!!!...do not go to Zero Gravity, what ever you do. I did my kitesurfing course there last year, and they run a real mickey mouse operation. My work mate went to Paracademy in Weymouth, and he speaks very highly of them. Infact he's gone back to complete his level 2 IKO... Shop around, and don't make the mistake i did and go for the cheapest...speak to people and get some opinions... All the best Quote
Mr Smith Posted May 27, 2004 Report Posted May 27, 2004 give Will a call at kites on board in Rye excelent instructor Quote
jonnybfive Posted May 27, 2004 Report Posted May 27, 2004 Hi JP Give Jon a call at Sussex Kitesurfing who are based in Shoreham, so only about 1 hour away! tel: 01273 452 422. All the instructors are IKO approved I had my lessons there and they really sorted me out. Jon is a top guy and his shop is fully stocked with 2004 Airsuh equipment so is worth buying of him if you decide its for you! You can have a one day or two day course for £100 and £200 respectively or have one on one lessons at £35 an hour. Well worth it! cheers Jonathan Quote
darrengray Posted May 27, 2004 Report Posted May 27, 2004 i 2nd that sussexkitesurfing jon is a mate god bloke will get you sorted jonnybfive are you coming on the water this weekend hopeing wind will hold for an al day sesh at shoreham tmoz:p ewing 1 Quote
marqueemark Posted June 1, 2004 Report Posted June 1, 2004 Try Poole harbour boardsailing - excellent IKO tuition with covering theory, safety kite skills etc. Should get you up and riding within 2 lessons. Quote
Kite Guru Posted June 2, 2004 Report Posted June 2, 2004 Hi, All Uk Instructors should be BKSA/IKO Qualified and check to see they are insured. When my guys turn up for lessons with me I show them my insurance. The first aid kit and mobile phone is with us all the time close by when on the water. Tea,coffee,water supplied. Personally I only have 2 pupuls to 1 instructor. If the kit looks really old walk away. If the kit is not up to scratch nor is the instructor At the end of the day It is a extreme sport and it could save injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kit used 4m,5m two line for first intro to flying kites 5m,7m,9m, Flexifoil Strikes 04, 1 large Directional 2 155*45 Airush Square 2's 04 Helmets Harness Bouyancy Aids And lots of fun Quote
JP- Posted June 4, 2004 Author Report Posted June 4, 2004 Thanks for the advice everyone. I have booked with www.kitesonboard.com in the end as they seem more flexible with wind conds and have IKO. Will take them in a couple of weeks time so will let you know how they went. I cant wait!!! Quote
Adrena1in Posted June 4, 2004 Report Posted June 4, 2004 Have fun with it JP. I went with Craig Byrne, from www.highflyerz.co.uk. Was difficult to give an opinion on his abilities as a kite surfer, as the four or five times I went there was no or rubbish wind, so I never got past a bit of body dragging. But he gave me an almost full refund, (despite me having at least 5 or 6 hours in the water), simply because I hadn't made the progress he'd hoped for, and that I thought was jolly good of him. He's a top bloke, and clearly does it because he loves it and not just for the money. (He even said I could go and kitesurf with him and he'd continue to give me assistance, free of charge!) He kites from Calshot along to Poole, depending on the wind. Quote
jelly man Posted June 4, 2004 Report Posted June 4, 2004 id like to 3rd sussex kitesurf center jon is a top bloke always friendly and will sort u a good deal out. i work there too so ull have me around helpin lol call 01273452422 darren got out this arvo powered on my flow kinda got jumping with it buts its no fun compared to my skoop and its a pig to go upwind on Quote
buggyboy1597507287 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Posted June 14, 2004 I am going down to Brighton in a couple of weeks and am planning on having a couple of lessons with Boost. Are they ok? has anyone had lessons from them before? Any info would be great Thanks. Quote
jelly man Posted June 14, 2004 Report Posted June 14, 2004 yeah boost are cool but not as cool as sussex kitesurf centre they now deal takoon airush and poss naish come down the intructors rock and the shop rocks and there soooooooo cool u wont regret it Quote
Tim186 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Posted June 14, 2004 NO!!!...do not go to Zero Gravity, what ever you do. I did my kitesurfing course there last year, and they run a real mickey mouse operation. My work mate went to Paracademy in Weymouth, and he speaks very highly of them. Infact he's gone back to complete his level 2 IKO... Shop around, and don't make the mistake i did and go for the cheapest...speak to people and get some opinions... All the best You only have to read Zero Gravities webpage and the conditions to find out that they are sh*t Quote
The_Fat_Man Posted June 14, 2004 Report Posted June 14, 2004 I went to Zero Gravity and they were very good. Flexible about timing so the conditions were right for making progress. They also help out on the beach with advice way after the course has finished. I think the most important thing is go when the conditions are going to be good, and this can be tricky arrange. Quote
DavidP Posted June 14, 2004 Report Posted June 14, 2004 Conditions aside, i thought Zero Gravity ran a very poor course...infact i'd say some of the stuff they allow is plain dangerous! Do not take your course with them...there are way better kite schools out there...and like Tim186 said, conditions are rarely good there, but having said that it is a good spot when the wind is right... Quote
Airhead Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 Sorry folks but if you have a problem with a school you should tell them so that they can improve a address your issues. Dont just sit on a forum knocking them you should be telling them. Quote
DavidP Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 Airhead, i'm not knocking anyone, someone asked advice about Zero Gravity and i gave some. I actaully wrote a more detailed post once on BKSA forums which have very strong ties with Zero Gravity...and guess what...the post along with the entire thread was removed from the forums. Quote
Spook Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 Anyone know if the lessons from Andy Biggs Windsurfing Shop's kitesurfing bloke are any good? Quote
XR33GTS Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 Hi, All Uk Instructors should be BKSA/IKO Qualified and check to see they are insured. When my guys turn up for lessons with me I show them my insurance. The first aid kit and mobile phone is with us all the time close by when on the water. Tea,coffee,water supplied. Personally I only have 2 pupuls to 1 instructor. If the kit looks really old walk away. If the kit is not up to scratch nor is the instructor At the end of the day It is a extreme sport and it could save injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kit used 4m,5m two line for first intro to flying kites 5m,7m,9m, Flexifoil Strikes 04, 1 large Directional 2 155*45 Airush Square 2's 04 Helmets Harness Bouyancy Aids And lots of fun Think that will be Kite Guru??? You can always ask him. Quote
Spook Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 Pass, all I know is I think his name was Darren or something...... Can't quite remember now tho Quote
jelly man Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 im gonna say it again cos u no its right sussex kitesurf centre the most friendly shop on the south coast Quote
Maj Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 i'd say some of the stuff they allow is plain dangerous! I'm not disagreeing, but can you give an example? Quote
JP- Posted June 15, 2004 Author Report Posted June 15, 2004 im gonna say it again cos u no its right sussex kitesurf centre the most friendly shop on the south coast Wow that is a big claim but their local comp airborn is the most unfriendly (and full of bs)! Quote
Kite Guru Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 Kite Surfing Instruction From Beginners Up To Jumping, Backloops, Forward Loops Grabs, Toeside Riding ETC. Be Trained In a Safe Environment British Kite Surfing Association/International Kitboarding Organisaton Qualified First Aid Trained Fully Insured Instructor Normally One Instructor To Two Students Taster Days Available Women Only Courses on Request Contact Darron For More Details Telephone : 02392 799731 Mobile : 07717 532406 Email : darron.smith2@ntlworld.com Hi, I work along side Andy Biggs as a Independent Instructor Any questions don't hesitate to ring Andy Biggs Or my self. I am away 3 weeks end of June. Regards Darron Quote
DavidP Posted June 15, 2004 Report Posted June 15, 2004 I'm not disagreeing, but can you give an example? The course was overbooked. Only one IKO qualified instructor to 8 pupils!...but oh yeah, he did have a kitesurfing buddy helping out!...weren't we the lucky ones... Emergency pack down was shown to us by Phil, but was never practiced!...on water or on land... Most alarming was the use of a strop with no safety realease. Meaning once you are hooked in...you are pretty much going where ever the kite goes, whether you like it or not! I got caught by several strong gusts, luckily i was in the water...otherwise it could have been a very short lived course for me. There were other issues too, not necessarily safety related, but made me feel like i'd been duped. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.