The logic of progress in kitesurfing: How to evolve from Twintip to Hydrofoil through SurfKite
Kitesurfing is an exciting and challenging water sport that has grown in popularity in recent years. Kiteboarders use a kite controlled by a bar and board to glide through the water and perform tricks in the air.
But you already know this, so let's go to the mess that we have a while of reading ahead of us.
There are three main types of kitesurf boards: twintip, surfkite, and hydrofoil. Each of these boards has its own characteristics and suits different kitesurfing styles and skill levels.
The twintip board is the most common and versatile. It has a symmetrical shape and small size, making it easy to maneuver and suitable for jumps and tricks. It is the recommended board for beginners, since its design will allow them to learn to handle the kite and maintain their balance in the water with ease. It is also the ideal board for those who want to freestyle and freeride, as it allows tight turns and fast movements in the air.
My advice is to start with a large board that provides more stability, flotation and bigger fins to upwind easily. In your first sessions the important thing will be handling the kite, you will do the turns at the beginning with your butt, not that they are easy but not that you will wet it at each turn, restarting your waterstart.
The waterstart involves using the force of the wind and the pull of the kite to lift the kiteboarder out of the water and into a riding position.
Moving on to a board according to your height and weight, this is very important when you are going to buy it, it must have enough base for your weight or you will not be able to float in the water and upwind easily. I advise you to ask for advice from the best distributor we have in Spain Bestkiteboarding manufacturer of twintip and surfkite boards.
The surfkite board, on the other hand, has a similar shape to that of a surfboard. It is larger and has a narrow, rounded tip that allows it to cut through waves with ease. The surfkite board is the perfect choice for kitesurfers who want to make turns and maneuvers in big waves. Beginners can start using a surfkite board after they have mastered the twintip board. It is important to remember that the surfkite board is more difficult to control and balance than the twintip board.
For my part, I recommend learning this type of board without footstraps since having your foot inside can cause knee injuries in a hypothetical fall, without straps or footstraps your mission will be the waterstart which is not easy with waves moving the board, but that helping you with one hand you will place the board and with the other hand you will handle the kite after your learning with twintip.
The turns or transition changes in these unidirectional boards requires balance, as in a longboard skateboard, it is easy to make transitions and continue fucking or back, but to change feet you need speed and balance helping you from the kite.
And what happens when you overcome the waterstart and the transitions on the surfkite, it happens that you like it so much that you don't want to leave the surfboard to relearn suffering with a new toy, to convince you I will tell you that when you get to fly with the hydrofoil the sensation It is unique, if you already like sliding, this is one more step, you will be at the highest level of kitesurfing. Formula Kite is a sport that has come to revolutionize the world of kite surfing and has become the only discipline of kitesurfing. Olympic kitesurfing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Formula Kite is characterized by the use of a foil that allows you to navigate with little wind and at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour.
The hydrofoil board is the most advanced and specialized of the three. You can find boards of different dimensions and shapes, since the board can only be used for the waterstart, you can see it with or without straps, but instead of having a conventional keel, it has a wing-shaped keel that extends below the water. This allows the board to rise above the water, reducing drag and allowing the kiteboarder to reach higher speeds and perform impressive maneuvers. The hydrofoil board is the perfect choice for more experienced kitesurfers who want to experience the thrill of gliding over the water. Sail with light winds and due to its characteristic upwind with ease while the other 2 boards maintain the drift.
Now that we know the characteristics of the three kitesurf boards, it is important to understand that the recommended learning progression is to start with the twintip board, move on to the surfkite board and finally experiment with the hydrofoil board. Learning to fly the kite and maintain balance on the twintip board is essential before moving on to the surfkite board. Once the surfkite board has been mastered, you can experiment with the hydrofoil board. It is important to note that the hydrofoil board is more difficult to ride than the other two boards, and requires advanced skill to use it correctly.
Kitesurfing is an exciting and challenging sport that requires patience, practice and skill to master. Starting with the twintip board, moving to the surfkite board and, finally, experimenting with the hydrofoil board is the progression recommended by SUELTALABARRA for those who want to learn kitesurfing in a natural and progressive way. It is important to remember that each kitesurf board has its own characteristics and adapts to different skill levels and styles of kitesurfing. As you progress through the learning progression, it is critical to keep practicing and improving the skills on each board before moving on to the next. With dedication, patience and practice, anyone can learn to enjoy the thrill of kitesurfing in all its forms.
And remember, if you want to keep your flow with your favorite board, it is not necessary to go through these three boards or modalities, you can enjoy your flow because in the water we are all the same KITERS.