Beginner Kite lessons recommendations, this weekend

30knotwind · Since 20 Apr 2012 36 Posts White Salmon, WA

My wife and I are considering kite lessons--we are gorge windsurfers now, we live in White Salmon, she has finally agreed to kite. Any recommendations?

Floras Lake looks attractive, i.e. warm, this weekend and prices may be best, but wind forecast is for 6 to 10 mph: is that enough to learn with? I am 180 lbs, wife is 130 lbs.
Thanks!

Floras Lake:
http://www.floraslake.com/kite.html

wind forecast:
http://www.30knotwind.com/p/week-custom-noaa-coast.html

Jonpnw · Wed Aug 15, 12 6:42 am

Floras is a great place to learn. Give Andy a call down there he will know what the wind is doing.

Light wind sucks.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Floras lake. That wind is too light. Would have to learn on the turbine:-(. Will and Andy have a great set up and there is no better place to learn to kite in Oregon. Jones would be second for learning. Then go to the unarmed spot to keep progressing since it is so close to you. The spot east of you not the ws sand bar. U can always stay at the b&b if you are trying to really coax the wife into kiteboarding.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1490 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Call Mark at Gorge Kite school.
Floras lake is great - Will and Andy are the best.
But if you live in White Salmon why drive 5 hours when you have great resources 5 minutes away?
Probably not windy this weekend, but for future call Mark at Gorge Kite school.
He's great with locals - he'll call you when the wind forecast looks good and make sure you learn safety first.
http://gorgekiteboardschool.com/

brass · Since 15 Jul 2006 152 Posts Stoked

Personally I think you will progress faster with Kite the Gorge or New Wind but all of the schools are good.

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

Gorge Gradients no questions asked is the fastest program to learning to be a kiteboarder. Why do you think Big Winds is affiliated with only Gorge Gradients?? No other school has you out riding the board on your second lesson not to mention any water class you take is 1 on 1 with jetski support. No wasting time walking back and forth at the sandbar...

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

i don't get the floras love affair, it's small, easily crowded, short reaches, far away.
In a few weeks most of the tourist will be away from the gorge and it's still warm. The gorge is a great place to learn, might as well learn here and develop the confidence you'll need. I wouldn't shop for lessons on price, seems like a lot of places are stretching lessons out. Look for brick and motor schools, jet ski support.
You should be on your board in two lessons.

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

Reality Check....The Event Site is waayyyy to crowded for learning. IMHO

Weaz · Since 23 May 2012 360 Posts Beaverton Obsessed

Wind is much more forgiving and constant at the coast, typically, along with the flatter water in floras lake. Personally I'd rather take first lesson or two in a more forgiving location, then take a lesson in the gorge. Saying he and his wife windsurf he knows the gorge wind, chop, swell pretty well I'd imagine, and would be ready for the pounding the gusts and chop in the gorge can give.

It's almost like learning to ride a dirtbike on a supercross track instead of a nice open fairly flat field. It can be done, some would prefer it, others would like to know how it works before running through a bunch of woops on the track on a two-stroke 500cc bike the first time riding.

Not to mention trying to get the wife, who sounds a bit hesitant about learning, not completely scared the first time getting pulled by a kite.

There are plenty of good places to learn, the gorge is one of them, but there are others that are equally as good. If you don't mind the punishment, and are a fairly aggressive fast learner there is no better place in my opinion to learn. If you or your significant other are a bit more hesitant, I’d recommend somewhere more forgiving at first. But please still hit the gorge schools, it's a completely different beast than Floras or similar locations.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

floras is not too small to learn.. Its crowded because all the "good kiters" hog the flats which are good for learning instead of dropping down the lake where the reach is much greater and the wind is stronger and there are no beginners. Will and andy let you go as far down the lake out of any crowd as you want. Anyone that says the gorge is a good place to learn has there head up somewhere!!!! Yes great instructors up here once you progress and dont want to drive, but steady winds and true flats while you are learning are priceless. Get a weekend of the flats so you can work on basic stuff instead of worrying about the next swell or gaper that will roll through on you as you are gettind ready to get up. Then come back and use mark or anyone else ie cascade etc. You must learn with someone with a ski so you can get upwind of the crowds. Another reason is that will and andy have been teaching for years as well as some others in the gorge but they have zero turnover because they are quality. The love affair continues:-)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Lol all of you saying the even site is too crowded and choppy and such are right on. You forget that Gorge Gradients teaches on the Oregon side of swell city making for smooth waters and steadier winds and much less crowds. Please do some research about the lessons on your own before listening to random people on this forum!

Weaz · Since 23 May 2012 360 Posts Beaverton Obsessed

Go back and read the OP. this weekend. So far HR looks like a bust unless your wanting some downwind downstream action. Everyone stating only learn in the HR when the guy obviously wants to get his wife into the sport and learning in "the strongest windiest" year for the gorge with a low chance of decent wind. Also I know quite a few that threw in the towel after taking lessons in the gorge, that were talked into one more lesson outside the gorge. They are now kiting in the gorge 80% and coast when not. All some of us were trying to state is you don't have to learn in HR, there is calmer places, but still hit a gorge school when coming back is wise. I don't think anyone stating Floras is a good spot to learn said anything bad about the gorge schools or the gorge itself, just offering up opinions for alternate locations.

Hell the guy lives in WS... Maybe wanted to take a weekend vacation away from the spot he's windsurfed for years and probably be kitting for years.

30knotwind · Since 20 Apr 2012 36 Posts White Salmon, WA

Thanks for all the advice. I was hoping for the heat-in-PDX-wind-on-the-coast set-up but it doesn't look like it's gonna materialize.

We love to hit the coast when temps are up out there, makes for more of a vacation-like atmosphere and facilitates a relaxed, learning spirit. Gorge lessons may be in our future, but, as stated, I sail the Gorge and understand why it can be scary.
thx

abkite · Since 25 Jun 2011 27 Posts

As a wife that watched her husband learn to kite in the Gorge I am so thankful that we spent the time and money for me to learn at Floras lake.
The helmet communication was my favorite! I liked that someone wasn't trying to yell directions and everything was kept super calm.
Good luck to your wife!

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

Well since everyone is pimpin there school or the school they work for on this thread I'll whore myself also.

Floras and Andy are awesome hands down no questions about that. Not even a debate. If your up for a long drive and weekend he is the man. But if your interested in staying close to home and still having a great experience in the gorge Air Pirates Kiteboarding is your choice.

Lessons in the gorge area only minutes from hood river
No crowds!!!!
Lots of space and shallow water, it's not swell island.
Dedicated highest caliber kick ass instructors
Jet ski support all the way.
Radio helmets so u can always hear the instructor.
www.air-pirate.com

There ya go my one shameless self promotion for the year is done. Enjoy.............

Jonpnw · Thu Aug 16, 12 8:18 am

@kochease

any wind at Jones this weekend?