{"id":1369,"date":"2018-09-03T12:22:21","date_gmt":"2018-09-03T12:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kitesurfist.com\/?p=1369"},"modified":"2021-02-15T09:46:17","modified_gmt":"2021-02-15T09:46:17","slug":"how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-kitesurfing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kitesurfist.com\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-kitesurfing\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does It Cost to Start Kitesurfing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Besides learning curve and safety, cost is probably the number one hurdle for most people looking to start kitesurfing. Our sport is famous for having a relatively high initial financial barrier to entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how much does it really cost to start kitesurfing? First, expect to spend $500 to $800 for lessons – highly recommended for everyone’s safety.\u00a0 Then you’ll need to buy at least 2 size kites, each costing $500 (used) to $1000+ new. A kiteboard will set you back $300 – $500, a harness $75-$200, a kite pump $30-$50, a wetsuit $150-$300, impact vest $50-$100.\u00a0 Overall, expect a total budget of $1900+ to almost $4000 depending on lesson hours and gear age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know, the above estimates are quite broad ranging – in reality, the costs can range even much wider. Let’s look at those figures a bit closer and see what options you have for getting started at a reasonable cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should always start with kitesurfing lessons – teaching yourself kitesurfing is risky and counterproductive, see this post<\/a> for more on self-learning. Lessons are the first investment you need to make when starting kitesurfing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lessons prices can run very high depending on the place you’re at and the season you start in. If you’re smart and get a chance to wait past peak season, you may be able to find hourly rates of around $50-$60 for group lessons from a decent school. The price includes both lessons and gear – much better than using your own gear for learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure the school you choose is reliable and checks all boxes – read about how to choose a good kitesurfing school in this other post<\/a>. Even if looking for a good off-season deal, don’t compromise on instructor quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll typically need 10 to 12 hours of guided instruction (see: how long does it take to learn to kitesurf<\/a>) to learn the basics, so that adds up to $500-$700. You may then decide to rent some gear from the same school for self-practice under their supervision, setting you back another $200 or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that some beginners choose to invest in boat \/ jetski-assisted instruction. Such lessons are pricier, around $150\/hour, but can save you hours of drag walking your kite on the beach and speed up your learning curve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personally, I chose the less expensive path and went for cheap group rates without a boat. Took me more time and sweat (and got ripped off somewhat due to mixed levels and long transport time<\/a>) but I learned to kite anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that you can save some kite school time by teaching yourself basic flying skills on a trainer kite. A new trainer costs $250 to $300 but you may be able to find a used one in decent condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cost of a brand new kite from the current year normally retails from around $1300 for a 9m2 size without a control bar. Add about $200 for a 12m2 size, and -$150 for a 7m2. The control bar alone is at least another $400.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you purchase a brand new kite of a brand new model, expect to fork out $1500-$2000 for the complete depending on brand, size, and control bar type – some models come with high-tech bars that run $800 or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s the thing though: if you’re just getting started with kitesurfing, you’ll need at least two different kite sizes to avoid sitting it out when the wind is too light or strong – 3 sizes should actually cover most wind days, but you can initially make do with 2. Buying 2 new kites at the above prices will set you back over $3000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you get your different size kites from the same brand, you can usually use a single control bar for both, saving the cost of the extra bar\/lines. Vendors always recommend a smaller bar for a smaller kite – it does make the kite more nimble – but I – and many other kitesurfers – use the same bar and that works fine for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from using a single bar, what can you do to lower your total cost? Most cash-strapped kitesurfers buy models from the previous year. These are brand new kites typically sold at a 30% discount. They may not be as glamorous as the latest models, but who cares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other option is to look for used kites. This is a trickier choice since you need to know what you’re doing and how to assess the condition of the fabric, struts, bridles, lines etc. Also, like for a used car, you should know who you’re buying the kite(s) from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind you’ll still be abusing your kite for some time after your instruction, so either put off buying brand new gear until you almost never crash your kite, or get inexpensive kites (albeit ones that won’t blow up on you).<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow much does it cost to buy a kite?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n