There are so many reasons to love visiting the beach: warm sunshine, an ocean breeze, and that inevitable feeling of happiness! How could it get any better?
If you want to take your beach trips to the next level, you may be interested in trying out one of the most popular beach sports around: kitesurfing! This is a fun and unique activity that can be done solo or with friends and family.
Keep reading to understand more about these costs, along with how and why they vary!
Cost Breakdown Step 1: Lessons
For those who have never been kitesurfing before, lessons from a certified and experienced instructor are a crucial investment. This will most likely be your very first kitesurfing expense, as it is recommended to take lessons before investing in your own equipment. An instructor will teach you all of the most important aspects of the sport to ensure you not only have fun but also remain safe!
The exact structure of your lessons will vary depending on the instructor or school that you go to. One of the most common aspects of all lessons is that they will be offered in blocks of a few hours at a time, giving each student time between to absorb information and rest their body. According to the International Kitesurfing Organization (IKO), it is estimated that learning to kitesurf can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours total – but often even longer!
Now that you have a general idea of the time investment of kitesurfing lessons, let’s evaluate how expensive your training can be. This will vary depending on location, so it’s important to research the specifics of where you want to learn.
Kitesurfing lessons average around 100 USD per hour. Beginner lessons are usually somewhere near or even below this rate. Advanced lessons, along with some private lessons, can go far above.
Money-Saving Tip #1: Go with a group! Most schools and instructors will offer a discounted group rate for those who opt-out of exclusive, private lessons. When it comes to the cost of kitesurfing, the more the merrier.
Below, you will find a breakdown of what different types of lessons can look like based on skill level. Don’t forget that you may need more than one of each lesson type before moving onto the next level. For example, some people may feel comfortable moving to the intermediate level after 2 beginner classes, while others may want three or more.
Beginner:
Beginner lessons typically include kite setup and control techniques, along with safety guidelines.
1 private lesson | 2.5 hours: $130 per hour ($130 per person each hour)
1 lesson for 2 people | 2.5 hours: $193 per hour ($96 per person each hour)
1 lesson for 3 people | 2.5 hours: $204 per hour ($68 per person each hour)
Intermediate:
Intermediate lessons can include practice getting on the board, riding, jumping, and more.
1 private lesson | 2.5 hours: $140 per hour
Advanced:
Advanced lessons typically include improving previously learned skills and practice riding on a board without straps.
1 private lesson | 2.5 hours: $140 per hour
In addition to these standard lessons organized by skill level, there will often be options for total packages that can take you from a beginner to intermediate level – or even advanced. See below for examples of what these packages and costs can look like.
Find out if kitesurfing is dangerous before heading out into the water here.
Beginner to Intermediate:
3 private lessons | 7.5 hours: $130 per hour ($130 per hour per person)
3 lessons for 2 people | 7.5 hours: $200 per hour ($100 per hour per person)
Beginner to Advanced:
12 lessons (1 per week throughout the entire season) | 30 hours: $120 per hour
Keep in mind that the above breakdowns are meant to give you a general idea of what to expect when it comes to kitesurfing costs. Actual lesson/package options and costs will vary by specific school and location, so it’s essential to research schools in the specific locations you’re considering.
One of the greatest cost benefits of taking lessons, even if the price seems high, is that you don’t have to worry about the expense of purchasing your own equipment just yet. Most instructors and schools – if not all – should have high-quality equipment for you to use while learning the basics of this sport. Using equipment trusted by professionals in the beginning stages and beyond of your kitesurfing journey will benefit both your safety and understanding of techniques.
Cost Breakdown Step 2: Buying Your Own Equipment
Once you’ve fallen in love with kitesurfing and have a strong understanding of the sport, you may be interested in buying your own equipment. The first thing you may notice when starting your research is how many different options there are – and how much costs can vary!
Let’s first look at exactly what equipment you will need to purchase, along with the broad range of how much each item can cost.
Kite: $400 to $2000
This is often the largest expense when it comes to kitesurfing equipment. You will need to consider things like kite size, wind range, and your body weight. Your kite choice will also be dependent on the location you plan to use it.
Board: $300 to $1300
Your board will attach to your kite and support you as you ride. Much like your kite, body weight and necessary board size will influence individual needs and board cost.
Pump: $30 to $100
This will pump up your inflatable kite. Your kite will inflate at different speeds depending on the liter size of your pump.
Control Bar: $200 to $800
The control bar will allow you to steer your kite by harnessing wind power. This includes changing speed, turning, and jumping. It’s important to make sure this piece of equipment
meets the highest safety standards.
Kite Lines: $20 to $200
Kite lines are another item that will vary depending on the size you need. These lines will connect your control bar to the actual kite.
Harness: $80 to $400
You will need to decide which type of harness you’d like to get. Your options include a waist harness or the less common seat harness.
Clothing/Wearables: $0 to $200
Depending on what you already have at home, you will likely need some extra accessories. This includes (but is not limited to) a wetsuit, helmet, goggles, earplugs, etc.
Overall Cost: $1,000 to $5,000
Money-Saving Tip #2: Look for equipment packages and bundles that include all of the above equipment. These complete kits can bring the total cost of your equipment down hundreds of dollars – or more!
Money-Saving Tip #3: A great way to save money while buying your own kitesurfing equipment is to purchase it at the end of the season. Most equipment is cheaper at this time of the year. One good option could be taking lessons for a season or two and then buying your own equipment at the closure of the season once you’ve developed skills that allow you to feel comfortable on the board.
Are you wondering why there’s such a broad cost range for each of these items? There are a few different reasons for this. For example, purchasing an older kite will be less expensive than purchasing a newer kite. There is also significant variance depending on whether or not the item is meant for beginner kitesurfers or advanced kitesurfers.
While the age of equipment and skill level will cause costs to vary, the largest deviation in price comes down to one thing: brand. The most popular, well-known, and trusted brands have the highest price tag on their items. What is the best way to figure out if you should invest in these bigger companies or buy from a lower-priced brand?
Here are a few questions to ask yourself that should help with the above challenge:
1. How often am I going to kitesurf?
If the answer is very frequently, you may want to invest in higher-quality, professional equipment. If not, it’s probably not necessary to pay top dollar.
2. What is the purpose of my kitesurfing?
If you plan on kitesurfing casually and just for fun, you may not need to buy the best out there; however, if you have plans to enter competitions or get into professional kitesurfing, the investment is worth it.
3. Is the equipment I’m buying safe?
This is by far the most important question to ask yourself. Sometimes a great deal is just that – a great deal! Other times, the price can reflect quality. No matter what your desired price point is, you should always look for the safest equipment available.
Money-Saving Tip #4: If you want to save even more money, you can consider buying secondhand equipment. It’s important to be extremely careful if you decide to go this route. Safety is the most important thing to consider when it comes to kitesurfing equipment, which can be compromised if you purchase secondhand without doing thorough research on both the seller and their items. Keep in mind that most professionals will recommend not buying equipment that is more than 5 years old.
There you have it!
We’ve now reviewed the general cost of lessons, equipment, and talked about a few money-saving tips. At this point, you hopefully have an idea of what costs to expect if you’re considering kitesurfing at any level.
Kitesurfing may be viewed as expensive to some, but not to others. Regardless, it’s safe to say that most who partake in the sport will agree that the fun is worth the money!
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.