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like i said "unless you want to learn kite surfing with a 20 sqm kite". for beginners learning to kite with material that big can be quite intimitating at least to speak. i dont have to tell you what unstable winds can do to you when youre attached to 20 square meters of sail 25 metres above your head.
its doable doh. a fun sport. check it out! you will love it once youre onboard.
from my own experience over the last seven years thailand wasnt the best place to kite. it just lacks the wind to go with "small" fun material (9 - 12sqm equipment).
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HI Guys,
im not too sure where your getting your info from banger_chris BUT.....was out yesterday from 7am - 12pm on my 12m Ozone, blowing 13 knots gusting 15 max, was staying upwind and jumping (although not very high) even seen a guy out on his 9m last week.
no school here will teach you with a 20m kite, all use 9 - 12 sqm, thats a fact!
Had about 15 days of GOOD wind last month and maybe 20 with winds you can teach in (dont need strong wind too teach) December was the same. November we went to chumphon averaging 15 - 20 knots daily !
Ive never seen anyone use a 20m kite here, maximum a 17m Contra.
If you want to kitesurf this time of the year dont even think about Patong, the wind direction is wrong, go to Chalong Bay, friendship beach resort early in the morning, its blowing right now 14 knots cross on shore!
sitting in Patong you will never feel it.
if the tide is low go to south end of rawaii beach
The wind here is not perfect but we do get wind, you will always find it here somewhere, ive found when the north easterly doesent blow you get a south westerly build up from the heat of the land in the afternoon around promthep cape, (this is when you will feel it in Patong or Karon) take a little longtail out to buddha island just off the shore and its blowing 20 knots!
Another tip is usually around cape panwa it is about 3-5 knots windier than chalong if the direction is more easterly, low or high tide there is a great spot that can have you on the water for hours!
Regarding lessons i would reccomend using Rogers kite school rather than the German guy! Roger charges PER HOUR, not per course, he is reasonably priced at around 1500 baht per hour and maximum 2 students per teacher, he is also the only school that can teach at low tide and a SUPER nice bloke, German guy just loves to shout! Roger usually does 3 hours per day until your ready, most of his students are up and riding after the 3rd day.
Also get yourself a trainer kite of you want a head start, they can fly in 6 knots of wind which we have here nearly everyday, they are small 2 meter or 3.5 meter kites and will give you good understanding of steering a kite and how the power of the wind window works.
Anyone need a trainer kite let me know i have some available to sell, also some second hand kitesurfing gear and some brand new kites from OZONE. The trainer kites range from 6 - 9,000 baht.
This sport is amazingly addictive so be carefull, very quick learning curve also once you get the kite skills down its just a matter of practice makes perfect.
Anybody got any questions PM me, also check out
Welcome to KitesurfThailand.com
and
Thailand Kitesurfing Schools Thailand Kiteboarding Schools: Phuket Kitesurfing school: Hua Hin Kitesurfing school: Chumphon Kitesurfing school
Good Winds!