As with anything, prices for kitesurfing lessons tend to fluctuate in different areas and at different times of year. Since some beaches have a tourist season, you might find that tuition fees jump to ridiculous levels the moment that people start to arrive.
Honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure what constituted a fair price, so I started to do some research online. I think I might have gotten taken in the past!
So how much are lessons? When I started to look at a larger number of kitesurfing schools, I found that it seems that prices tend to vary anywhere from $130-350 a person.
This is a huge window.
Some instructors are better at promoting themselves, and that’s given them the freedom to charge a higher fee since they’re able to attract more kiteboarding students. You can save some cash if you don’t mind learning as part of a group, however.
Even the priciest schools don’t charge much more than $50-75 a person for group lessons. These are usually around 60-90 minutes long, so you could get twice as much instruction for the same price as a single hour of one-on-one instruction.
That being said, you won’t get as much of a chance to ask questions and receive correction for any mistakes you make if you go this way.
How to Find a Good Instructor
More than likely, the best way to find a really good instructor is to ask any buddies you have who kiteboard if they know any. Knowing someone with experience training with a particular teacher is probably the most trustworthy way to get information.
Unfortunately, I’m going to guess most people aren’t in this position. While you could check reviews of different teachers online, many instructors won’t have anything written about them.
Don’t be swayed by slick advertising. Larger kiteboarding schools tend to put out fliers and coupons in local motels.
Call every place you’re interested in and see if you can talk to a real person at them. Many instructors are essentially self-employed, and you should be able to chat with them directly.
You might find that this is a great way to get a good feel as to whether or not you could progress with a particular teacher. While you’re looking, you’ll also want to keep an eye on the price because higher-priced teachers aren’t necessarily better.
What to Expect for the Money
Group lessons usually start with some of the basics, including how to put together your kit. This is a great way to start if you’re truly just beginning, but you can save money by sitting in on a slightly more advanced class if you already know how some basic maneuvers.
In a one-on-one class, you’ll normally have at least some leeway with what you’re learning. While these cost more, you might get more out of it if you’re the type who needs to ask questions and get them answered while you’re learning.
You can usually expect the instructor to correct you on any problems you have with your stance or posture regardless of whether you’re in a one-on-one or a group class. A really good instructor that’s worth what you pay will spend more time on the things you really need to work on rather than just follow from a script.
In general, you should always expect to have a heavy focus on skills development. If you don’t feel you’re getting this, then you might want to start to look elsewhere.
Will I Learn Faster if I Pay More?
Just because you hire a more expensive kitesurfing instructor doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily learn faster. Some people will certainly learn better in a one-on-one class than in a group setting, but that doesn’t mean pricier is always better.
If you’re a pretty independent person who likes to practice quite a bit on your own, then you might find that almost any class is equally as good. Those looking for something with more personalized instruction might learn a little faster by hiring an individual teacher for at least a few lessons.
Once you learn enough to safely kiteboard on at least small waves or still water, you might find that you learn more by practicing so the whole question could end up moot. Don’t push yourself, though, since you don’t want to end up with any extra expenses in the form of medical bills!
Newer instructors who are just starting out may not be all that well known, so they might not carry as big a price tag as some more established ones. This can help you get a better value for your money while also giving a chance to support someone’s new business.
Is it Cheaper to Learn Locally or to Learn While on Vacation Somewhere Tropical?
Tropical vacation areas are hotbeds for high-priced kitesurfing instructors. It’s a simple case of supply and demand.
These services are going to be more in demand in places where you suddenly have a large number of people who’ve never gone kitesurfing before and want to start as quickly as possible. That helps to drive prices up to some pretty ridiculous levels.
That means you can normally save a lot of money learning locally, at least in theory. In practice, this doesn’t mean a whole lot if you live in the middle of the country in an area without any lakes or rivers.
You might be able to find some local water recreation areas that have some form of kitesurfing scene, however. Some people flock to relatively small lakes for at least a little action, and that’s attracted instructors in some cases.
Check local community boards and even social media. You might be surprised to find that there’s more activity than you might have imagined.
If you do start to learn at a tropical destination, then try to find someplace to either get lessons or just solo practice by yourself closer to home. Having a non-tropical destination to head to will help you to save quite a bit of money.