First Water Lesson Was A Disaster. Help!
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:26 pm
Just had my first water lesson. I'm quite satisfied with the instructor and the operation - no problems with that; nice place, nice people. But really curious about their teaching methodology. Seemed like a strange way to introduce a first-timer to the water part.
Before the water lesson, I spent about 8 hours with a trainer kite. No problems with the trainer kite, did all of the exercises required. Successfully. Every one.
After the trainer kite, had a land lesson. Lasted about 2-3 hours. That went well, although in retrospect it seemed - and probably was - too brief.
First lesson on the water was body dragging.... With a big bow kite the kind of which I had used for maybe 15 minutes total beforehand.... whilst treading water in switching currents.... with waves lapping at my ears..... with an instructor behind me calling out instructions (over the din of an idling jet ski) that sounded mostly like "Sheestkum oughtfriktsit! Pull dcranscumpliert! Turn feidkder!"....until I somehow managed to get the kite up and it started yanking me through the water like I was a rag doll being key-holed, as the sailors call it.
That was about it for my water lesson. Very depressing.
In the name of all good common sense, how is this instruction technique supposed to work at all? If it worked for you, can you give me some helpful advice? If it didn't work for you, what did you do?
Wouldn't it be more appropriate as a first water lesson to just step out into shallow water where you can wade into waist/shoulder height and practice these same maneuvers? That way you can remove the variables of switching currents, waves lapping at the ears, trying to keep your upgright balance, idling jet ski noise, etc, and just focus on the kite which would then pull you into your (first anyway) controlled body drag. I realize learning how to "body drag" in deep water is essential, but as the very first exercise?
I really would like to learn how to kiteboard. It looks like a fun sport and I believe I can do it. Unfortunately it seems I may have to help the instructor as much as the instructor is helping me. Not being negative, but sometimes that's the way it goes.
Any advice? Please share anything helpful for me. What are your secrets? Thanks.
Before the water lesson, I spent about 8 hours with a trainer kite. No problems with the trainer kite, did all of the exercises required. Successfully. Every one.
After the trainer kite, had a land lesson. Lasted about 2-3 hours. That went well, although in retrospect it seemed - and probably was - too brief.
First lesson on the water was body dragging.... With a big bow kite the kind of which I had used for maybe 15 minutes total beforehand.... whilst treading water in switching currents.... with waves lapping at my ears..... with an instructor behind me calling out instructions (over the din of an idling jet ski) that sounded mostly like "Sheestkum oughtfriktsit! Pull dcranscumpliert! Turn feidkder!"....until I somehow managed to get the kite up and it started yanking me through the water like I was a rag doll being key-holed, as the sailors call it.
That was about it for my water lesson. Very depressing.
In the name of all good common sense, how is this instruction technique supposed to work at all? If it worked for you, can you give me some helpful advice? If it didn't work for you, what did you do?
Wouldn't it be more appropriate as a first water lesson to just step out into shallow water where you can wade into waist/shoulder height and practice these same maneuvers? That way you can remove the variables of switching currents, waves lapping at the ears, trying to keep your upgright balance, idling jet ski noise, etc, and just focus on the kite which would then pull you into your (first anyway) controlled body drag. I realize learning how to "body drag" in deep water is essential, but as the very first exercise?
I really would like to learn how to kiteboard. It looks like a fun sport and I believe I can do it. Unfortunately it seems I may have to help the instructor as much as the instructor is helping me. Not being negative, but sometimes that's the way it goes.
Any advice? Please share anything helpful for me. What are your secrets? Thanks.