How to kitesurf. What could an old codger like Geriatrikiter possibly have to say on this subject that would be of help to a learner, when there is plenty of instruction available elsewhere - from professionally qualified instructors to video and other instructions on the internet? The reason old codger pipes up is because despite all of this, people find difficulty stringing it together, and sometimes give the sport up because of their lack of success. This is a shame, because once mastered, there is nothing to equal the buzz of dancing over the waves in a stiff breeze on a sunny day - though it doesn't have to be. In my humble opinion it has the edge on windsurfing in that it calls for less sheer muscularity, and can be practised in lighter winds.

Not being able to string it together is especially frustrating when it is obviously so easy and effortless to do when you can do it. In that regard it's a bit like riding a bike, or ski-ing - though kitesurfing is more tricky in that you have a powerful (and potentially dangerous) kite flying in the sky, and your feet in the footstraps of a board which you have to keep in the right position, even if breaking waves are swivelling it out of position - and possibly knocking you off balance from behind. This may well be the scenario if you are learning on a stretch of water with an onshore wind - and if you are a beginner you should not be learning with an offshore wind - which will certainly flatten the waves, but also blow you away from base if you get out of your depth.

Flying the kite is one thing, and not too difficult to master. But harnessing the power of the kite for the purpose of propelling the board is another. You dive the kite to get power, and theoretically the pull on your arms through your body to your legs and feet will get the board going. This is generally where the difficulty lies. The learner will either get pulled straight off the board (because of too much power) or fall back into the water (because of too little.) The latter is perhaps the more common scenario, which may be recognised from the learner hugging the bar too close to his chest with arms bent, and the board heading up too much to windward. The thing to remember is that the board itself is the fulcrum around which you pivot before getting going - and in which you pick up speed by bearing away from the wind slightly. Initially you dig your heels in and then flatten out. The sequence has been rightly described as a sort of rolling action - you roll your weight onto the board, flatten it by bearing away a bit, and glance up to make sure the kite is in the right position, somewhere comfortably between the noon position and the edge of the wind window.

Here endeth the lesson.

Thoughts on jumping to follow. But first Geriatrikiter has to learn how to do it....