Expensive lessons.

fisherman · Since 06 Aug 2007 113 Posts Stoked

It seems that some instructors in Hood River are dragging lessons forever since they charge hourly.

Sella · Sun Jun 26, 11 9:48 am

I like long lessons....keeps more kooks off the water.

I don't teach but have helped friends and family kite and what I've personally realized is teaching lessons is a slow process and covers a lot of small details and tips. It also depends on the students skill level going into the lesson etc but my nephews only wanted to know when they could start boosting. It was a LOOONG painful process and helped me realize they were semi Forrest Gump like.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Not gorge gradients. Hit them up if you are looking for something different!

Macboy · Since 28 May 2011 32 Posts Edmonton, AB, Canada

My total investment in lessons has been just shy of $1,000. Three lessons spaced out over three seasons. Roughly $300 a pop. Lesson 1 was a bust but I had no idea what to expect so I didn't really know if I got what I needed. I think I got enough. Not $300 worth but the guy tried and the wind tried to not.

Lesson 2 was superb, concise and as advertised. Got me 90% of the way there.

Lesson 3 was the winner. As advertised, excellent value and took me to 100%. It was with a kiter named Jeanice and she's now at Kite the Gorge. I'd recommend her and her husband in a heartbeat and doubt they are charging hourly - probably package prices but if you exceed the "package" contents I bet they just keep teaching till your 3 hour slot is up.

Just my 2¢

abkite · Since 25 Jun 2011 27 Posts

Go to Floras lake! get a lesson with Andy, you won't regret it! Ive never heard a bad word about him and he lived up to everything we had been told.

windslayer · Since 30 Apr 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Just pay the money! I'd be like a top end snowboarder or skier taking there better begininger half on the chair lift right away. NEVER take a lesson from your spouse. Your buddy can also lose it too! THen for sure you wont have a friend or spouse at the end of it. Pay for the lesson. Every sport cost to learn.

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

Every student is different; they start with different skills and are finished with instruction at different levels. Over the last 2 weeks I have taught sailors, pilots, 1 air force navigator (they fly the fighter some of the time) and a girl with no sailing, flying or water experience. Each student learns at their own pace.
When you teach bodysurfing up wind to get the board, the navy seals and long time surfers are quick to pick it up. People who have never been in open water need more time.
I am teaching my students skills that are not needed in Florida but are critical to their safety in the gusty winds of the gorge.
A month ago I was rescuing a beginner who was taking a lesson from a rouge instructor who was washed away and left the student mid channel. The student though he was saving cash, but I found him with no flotation jacket, no helmet, extremely cold (cheap suit) and uninformed about self rescue. His instructor was rescued by the sheriff after someone at the event site saw him get swept off the bar toward the white salmon bridge. The lessons that I teach are focused on teaching as quickly as the student can absorb the info and are cost effective at $95 per hour.

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 597 Posts Addicted

Just get out and get started. If you spend a lot of time on the forum asking, you'll get lots of different answers. It is good to try to be informed, but dont let it slow you down. Seriously, get out there and get started. If you end up spending a couple of extra bucks, you probably needed it.

Here's the money advice. Devote at least 3 consecutive days, each with a lesson and appropriate skill level practice, to learning kiting. Dont be the person that shows up five mins for your lesson and is headed back home 5 mins after. Put in the time with the trainer and then whatever you can handle after each of your lessons. If you can put in more than 3 days together even better. Learning to kite costs time and money and though not really hard, is hard and pretty intimidating for FNG's. Continuing to kite costs time, money, girlfriends, jobs, etc. Its a lifestyle, droppin' the dough so you dont phuk you or someone else up is part of payin'yer dues.

rorzeck · Since 26 Sep 2006 36 Posts

Here is a solid recommendation. Get yourself a couple of instructional kiteboarding videos. I mean the basic ones, from the beginning. As painful as they are to watch, watch them a couple of times and pay close attention to all the details. Then go out and book yourself a lesson with one of the many great instructors that are in this area. This way when your instructor describes what he or she wants you to do, you will have some idea of what they are talking about, you will not waist allot of time needing long drawn out descriptions, and your progress will be much much faster. This little investment in time and money from the beginning will make the learning process easier on you and on your instructor.

Good Luck!

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

Dude, just get the lines right and remember to launch across the wind. Kiting is simple. I taught myself without lessons. You might break a leg or literally kill yourself, but it just makes for a better story later. I have permanent scars from the lines wrapping around my neck when learning, but as we all know, chicks dig scars.

Berto · Since 01 May 2011 6 Posts Kook

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

Quality has no fear of time. The instructors are not trying to milk your wallet. Seriously. There are plenty of people in line to learn. Buck up, practice & watch videos or other kiters. You don't become "zero to hero" in a few hours. If you feel like you are proficient in a skill - communicate that to your instructor so you can move on to the next skill. You will never self rescue practice enough either. It's all good & easy until you are in the middle of the channel with an inverted knarled up kite mess with a barge coming.

Pete · Since 29 Oct 2007 843 Posts Opinionated

I have a recommendation.

Don't kite. This sport sucks. You'll chase the wind so hard, you'll likely destroy your marriage, lose your job, and generally become a total degenerate.

Stick with something easy that you can do any time like road biking. Much more fun.

HotRod_18 · Since 28 Nov 2008 31 Posts

Melo-K has it. Take the time, pay the dough, watch instructional vids, of course kiteporn...get out for sure. Just don't be a jackass about it. Kiting will change your life. Smile

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Fisherman didnt need no lessons - tho he subsists on squawfish bounty

http://www.pikeminnow.org/

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 597 Posts Addicted

a bud of mine is learning to kite, sent me a link today to something he just got from one of the kiteboarder. Looks like they launched a 'beginners site'.

in the top 5 mistakes that new'b's make according to this, not researching your instructor is one of them. So, good for you i guess.
http://thekiteboarderschool.com/top-5-mistakes-learing-to-kiteboard/

Here's the link to the site root
http://thekiteboarderschool.com/beginner/

All seems like a decent starting point.