THIS EXHILARATING TWO-DAY ACTIVITY IN SANUR WILL GET YOUR BLOOD PUMPING FOR SURE! KITE SURFING IS BOTH EXHILARATING AND FUN TO LEARN REGARDLESS OF YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL IN THE WATER. THE BEST PART IS THAT YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO STAND UP ON THE BOARD TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE BLAST. BUT WHEN YOU DO, IT’S A THRILL OF A LIFETIME!
See ya!” That was the last thing we heard before Mario, our Level 3 instructor, was whisked out of the boat and rocketed three stories high into the air. Moments later he landed gently like a feather on the calm waters of the Sanur lagoon.
We looked at each other in disbelief before realizing that he did it all for show – very impressive! Shortly after, we headed back out in the small boat towards the reef to practice maneuvering the kite with a control bar at kite surfing speeds as it flew high above our heads. Mario looked at me with anticipation in his eyes and a smirk on his face and said simply, “Wanna fly?”
KITE SURFING
Being from California, I’ve spent most of my life in the water. From being a junior lifeguard as a kid to surfing here in Bali, I belong in the ocean. For Dana, my good friend from Prague who joined me on this adventure, it’s a different story. However, we both found that kite surfing is both exhilarating and fun to learn, regardless of your experience level in the water. The best part is that you don’t even need to stand up on the board during your first few lessons to have an absolute blast. But when you do, it’s a thrill of a lifetime!
Our adventure started with a 20-minute classroom session at the Rip Curl School of Surf on the beach in Sanur. In the Level 1 course they provide an informative introduction booklet on kite surfing basics that covers the history, equipment, safety, wind, and more importantly the principles of flying these specialized kites.
After the classroom session it was time to set up the equipment on the beach and practice flying two different training kites in the comfort and security of the soft white sand. The power of holding the wind in your hands with these kites is a rush in itself, even while just standing on the beach!
2-DAY PACKAGE
Our lessons were part of their two-day package deal – three levels of approximately two hours each. It’s a pretty simple formula: Level I - Essential Basic Kiting, Level 2 - Water Control (Body Dragging and Board Starts), and finally Level 3 - Riding.
With the harness system it doesn’t take much upper body strength, as it’s all about finesse. Once you learn to let the kite lift you onto the board, it’s time to start slicing across the tropical waters of the Sanur lagoon under the power of a kite. This is one Bali adventure that you don’t want to pass up.
The beauty of learning to kite surf is that it’s truly about the journey. Just to fly one of these kites from the beach or to practice being pulled through the water by the wind is well worth the price. I recommend their package deal where you get Levels 1-3 for Rp. 3,000,000. This includes everything you need, but if you want more time, you simply tack on one or two more lessons before you’re on your own.
Once you’re a kite surfer, Rip Curl carries the latest range of equipment for rental or purchase. And when you want to keep honing your kite flying skills, Rip Curl allows their students to come by and practice anytime, free of charge.
IKO CERTIFIED
Dotted with colorful kites on the beach, the Rip Curl Kite Surfing School is impressive. No wonder it is Asia’s leading educational water sports center. With all IKO (International Kite Organization) certifi ed instructors, top-notch equipment and even showers for a post lesson rinse, there’s a great buzz of energy and activity all around the center. They even have a grassy area next to the beach with beanbags for resting after a long day of kite surfing.
Safety is their first priority, and with the new advances in gear, this sport has never been safer or easier to learn. The setup is a snap and the curriculum they’ve created to teach kite surfing is quick and effective. I was up and riding for a short distance the very first day, and by the second day I was riding all the way across the beautiful Sanur lagoon and loving every second of it. I never imagined that within the fi rst four hours of instruction I’d be a kite surfer. I’m hooked!
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