Kiteboarding anyone?

For years I’ve druelled over the idea of kiteboarding possibilities. So what else is there to do in Clifton but kiteboard. Every day kiteboards skim over the waters at our bows making it all look so easy. Except, that is, the foiling kiteboard that hit out boat with his kite. No damage done and I can’t say I was sorry to see him getting dragged past our boat as his kite lay on the water half filled with air. As he drifted by I did ask him if he needed help but he declined as his kite headed towards another boat.

So, now it was my turn. Lesson time. Yes, I am crazy but I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

No, Tony, these are paddle boards NOT kiteboards!

Okay, so strap on the gear and start the lesson.

No, Tony, it’s not remote controlled you actually have to learn how to control the kite.

Okay, so no big deal. The first hour of the lesson is learning how to inflate and handle the kite. Laying out the lines is crtical as you don’t want tangled lines. After that’s done then a little lesson in hooking yourself up on the beach.

Okay there were too many trees onshore to let an amateur like me fly the kite so Butta, the instructor takes over and then said it’s ‘in-the-water-time’.

“What, no I don’t think I’ve had enough land based instruction.” “Too bad,” Butta said “get in the water and it’s time to learn how to actually fly the kite.”

Pause here, as Connie, the official photograper, cannot join us in the water and is restricted to land so not many photos. That’s good though. No evidence.

So out in the water where I learned, I think, the principles of kite flying without the board. The last 20 minutes of the lesson was to use the board and get up and off into the horizon. Well I did that but

Help, rescue me! Yes, that’s me holding onto the kite but not quite on the board.

For a better picture of me on the board see below in centre of boarders.

Well not exactly but close ha, ha

I’m hooked though but have to wait for another opportunity as we have got to head north.