According to our recent (well, not that recent but its taken this long to get the results analysed!) survey, most of you turn to your mates not only for inspiration on WHAT to learn next but also HOW to learn it.   Although we would have loved you all to say “DVD’s, yes we love them the most”  we are also smiling at this undeniable truth that makes kiting the sport it is.

Unlike many other water sports, in kiting you tend to need a buddy to help launch, land and generally help if you get into a pickle.   But i think its more than that very functional driver that makes this sport more social than its contemporaries.

Maybe its because there are so many things to learn – you can always get something new by watching your mates or others down the beach? Maybe its because people aren’t finding the sort of personal dialogue around instruction or inspiration in published media? Or maybe published media is not getting to people when they need it most? Maybe its because its still fairly new so we all feel that social ‘we’re doing this’ glue more than say a windsurfer does?  Or maybe that newness to the sport also makes it hard to do as an individual – so it becomes a sport that multiplies by friendly invitation?

Whatever it is, I know i get so much more from my session when i share it with my crew.  We egg each other on, take inspiration from what the other is learning, share our difficutlies, offer up our advice – and of course keep each other sane when we’re hanging around on those frustrating light wind days!

Next time you’re heading out with your kiting mates, share what you’re all gonna learn that day, impart any advice, offer up different suggestions and then discuss how it went after the session ends.  Being social is what makes our sport what is it so make the most of your mates and learn more!

Its been a busy week in the office as we continue to work on some future DVDs but we were also lucky to have UK Pro Rider, James Boulding, in the office getting some experience with Macs & Final Cut Pro (he’s stuck with a crappy pc laptop at the moment, not for long we reckon after this week!).  He’s a talented guy, as can be seen from his level of rider but also the video’s he’s been editing over the past year. I think it was a bit of an eye opener to see the level of work going into to making a 2 hour Progression instructional dvd, where ever word spoken and action delivered is meticulously considered!

We also got him working on a couple of short videos to keep you all progressing, and obviously with a rider of James level, it was only fair to let me tackle some advanced level tricks. So for those of you curious as to what the latest and greatest tricks from the PKRA are all about then check out the trick terminology video for the Bel Air (courtesy of a filming session we had with Aaron Hadlow, in Mexico, earlier this year when he was mastering the trick)

Second up is the first powered handle pass that a lot of people will attempt, the Blind Judge – basically a Raley with a backside 180, passing the bar in the air and landing toeside. Here we’ve got a mobile top tip video, covering 6 of the key elements, watch it on our Mobile site and download it for your ipod, iphone, mobile phone etc

Check out the trailer for our Progression Professional DVD, or buy it from our store, if you want to learn how to do the Blind Judge in detail, along with 23 other powered handle pass tricks.

In the last post we covered our first online stop for all things news related in the kiting world. Today we’re going to highlight a few forums that we frequent on a regular bases.

Now forums, or message boards, can be a mixed bag. Lots of people ranting and raving, under the hidden cover of anonimity, can put a lot of people off. And yes most forums will have a small number of more regular vocal posters but the speed of response and depth of information that can be gained is a massive benefit for riders of any level. Plus its good way to waste a minute or 30, and emmerse yourself in some kitesurfing discussions.

Kiteforum.com

Well you couldn’t start a post on kitesurfing forums with out starting with the daddy – www.kiteforum.com
By far the largest meeting spot online for kiters, kiteforum has an active community and is great for general advise on new kites and boards,  finding the latest online videos & dvds, best locations around the world and from time to time the most active, passionate & opinionated rants anywhere on the net Avoid or jump in, whatever your persuation!

Kiteboarder.co.uk

Though most people will stick to the main kitesurfing forum, there is also more targeted boards for each major country, region, kite manufacturer & riding style.
For us Brits, the forum of choice, is hands down Kiteboarder.co.uk – again another active community but with a very british sense of dry wit and sarcism! Its a great place to discuss what is going on with kiting around the UK. We are particularly fond of the “Instruction Zone“,  these two boards for Newbies and Technique, are great places to go to ask a question about whatever trick or technique you’re stuggling with, and you’ll get loads of help from a host of knowledgable riders.

Now from a personal level these are the two forums that the Progression team frequent the most, but there are few others we step into from time to time:

kitescoop.com – This ones for those on the darkside! Its a pretty hardcore blinding screntric forum. Go on there and try and defend the virtues of dangly jumps and you’ll quickly be cut down to size Joking aside, its a great place for anyone watching to chat about the wakeboard inspired side of the sport

community.flexifoil.com – Another predominately UK sentric community but has a massive following, particularly with the land based kite sports, if you’re looking to chat about power kiting, kite landboarding or buggying then it’s definitely worth a look..

seabreeze.com.au – Australia’s largest online kitesurfing community.

fksa.org – Florida Kitesurfing Association Forum

forums.ikiteboarding.com – South Africa’s biggest kitesurfing news site has a great forum geared to all kiters from Camp Town to Durban.

ikitesurf.com – A huge site focused on the USA, with a large database of real-time wind reports but they have a popular forum too, with specific areas for each of the regions across the States.

Now that covers the most regular reads for us, but there are so many other great communities out there, so over to you – what kite forums do you find yourself heading back to on a regular basis? It would be interesting to hear of more localised/specific forums, so let us know where you’re congregating online…

No matter how long you have been kiting for there is always more to learn and that’s what i, and probably lots of you, like about this sport.    But with so much to learn and typically so little time, (damn life seems to always get in the way) spending oodles of time perfecting one trick before you move onto the next will leave you making very slow progression and feeling mightily frustrated.

Maybe its because you can’t think of what to learn next or can’t find the resources to help you learn?  Maybe you were taught to learn things slowly, have had enough of taking those slams or maybe you are just a little perfectionist??   Some, if not most, of these ring true for me and in the past i have been guilty of regimenting my sessions to tirelessly learning a single technique or trick.

What i realise now is that not only does this make for some dull laborious sessions, it makes my kiting look dull and has potentially held me back.   Now i make a conscious effort to not necessarily push myself, but to focus myself and I am always looking for new things to learn and preparing a mental ‘progression to do list’ before i head out.   I have noticed that the more i mix it up the more i am learning; learning to jump has helped my toeside, learning to back roll has helped my carves, learning to carve has helped my jump transitions……you get the picture.   I guess it comes down to understanding more about the kite/board in different situations and generally getting more rounded experience on the water.

I am not advocating you run out and try something you are clearly not ready for but just try not to get stuck perfecting one trick. Broaden your goals, make your sessions more interesting and i guarantee you will start to see faster progression.

I am off out for a kite right now and my ‘progression list’ today is -  backroll transition, pop from toeside, big air looking upside down(!) and maybe try a front roll.   Wish me luck!

Get inspired and instructed for your next session, check out some of our Progression vids and make your own ‘Progression To Do List’!

We’ve had an awesome number of entries for our recent Kitesurfing Progression Beginner competition, to win a lesson with Cabrinha UK’s Christian & Karine, as well as some Progression goodies.

A big thanks to all who entered, its always good to see new kiters eager to continue their learning progression in this amazing sport!

So now the time has come for us to draw the winning names. Drum roll please…………

1st Prize - Congratulations to Nicola Salmon & Chris Rushe who both will be getting some top tuition from Christian & Karine as well as a box set of all the Progression DVD’s & T-shirt!

2nd Prize – Congratulations to Greg Crease, Oliver Macpherson & Fiona Smith who all win a copy of their choice of Progression DVD.

3rd Prize – Congratulations to Bill Stone, John Davidson, Phillip Allwright, Mark Newall & Robin Hammond who’ve all won a Progression.me T-shirt

We’ve also got to say a big thank you to Christian & Karine who are a great source of inspiration and instruction for kiters of all levels, with their unique clinics they’ll make you a better rider this summer for sure. Check out their site at www.christianharris.co.uk

Many of you may have seen the Forbes video that is online at the moment, that covers the recent MaiTai event on Maui and interestingly looks at the connection between kitesurfing and the number of Silicon Valley VC’s and Entrepreneurs who are into the sport. If you haven’t seen it check it out, as its a great piece.

Now let me start by making this clear, I think this is an intriguing video, the connection between Entrepreneurs (or an entreprenerial mindset) and kitesurfing is something that is obviously evident and the conclusions drawn in the video are delivered well.

What does concern me – maybe concern is too strong – interest me is that once again kitesurfing is painted as being a risky adrenaline sport, taken on by the elite and reckless.

Yes, maybe this was the case 5-10 years ago, but is kitesurfing really that risky if riders have the safety conscious new equipment, lessons with a trained instructor, understand the issues and use some common sense?

Pro-rider Videos = High Profile

Video of pro riders throwing complex unhooked tricks will of course attract more coverage and profile for our sport, but when the message placed along side these shots is that only risk takers need apply i feel the sport is being mis-sold.

Where are all the riders on the MaiTai event? Are they all wannabee pro’s? Unlikely, more likely the same as the majority of kitesurfers i meet who like to cruise around doing jumps, spins and the odd kiteloop – probably not so exciting for the forbes cameraman who knows nothing of kitesurfing, but far more realistic of what kitesurfing is to the majority.

A Kite Surfers Personality

What i would take from the entreupreniral connection is that kite surfing is a sport that continually challenges riders, it offers a constant flow of new things to learn and by its composite nature allows people to add in their own style or take on tricks.

I wouldn’t say “risk taking, aggression, addiction and adrenaline” defines the personality of all the people i ride with (and a lot of them are in fact entrepreneurs), but i would say that intelligence, creativity, self ambition and individuality does.  Isn’t that why entrepreneurs get into the sport?

Overcoming The Common Mis-Perception

The number of times I get chatting to non-kiters down the beach and the overwhelming perception is kitesurfing must be hard, you must be super fit, an adrenaline junkie, young and male! We need to counteract this common misconception and show the reality that kitesurfing is open to everyone.  Making the sport accessible is something we’ve tried to do with all our Progression DVDs, both through the narration and the visuals, using both male, female, young and old riders.

There is room for most people in the sport, whether you want to just cruise around, ride waves, do simple tricks or the most complex tricks adding in those elements of risk and recklessness. It really has got it all.

Lets keep using our pro’s to inspire and attract attention but lets not let the underlying message be ‘risk takers only need apply’.  Everyone can enjoy this amazing sport, how can we take that message out to a wider audience?

Many people new to kitesurfing are hungry for information and inspiration, and the internet has given niche sports like kitesurfing a way to allow us all to share news, product info, help and anything else you can think of  but so many people just don’t know where to look! So over the next week we’ll be highlight a few of the website that the Progression team visit to get our kiting fix online.

Today we’ll start with the one stop shop for all your kiting news – hanglos.net

For a longtime Hanglos has been a Dutch only site (and more recently also French) but has built a huge following. Now I can’t speak a word of dutch but it was still my daily destination for getting a snapshot of all the kitesurfing news, for the past few years. Thankfully a month ago they launched an International version, now in english with more features and for me its a must stop several times a day to see all the latest kitesurfing news.

Now where as many of the kite related news sites simply aggregate product press releases, new videos etc etc, re-hashing the same information, Hanglos are starting to add more and more of their own editorial opinions to their new posts, and linking back to the original story/article etc.  They also have a big community so most news items get a flurry of comments from the readers and the discussions continue on & on.

Keep up the good work guys and continue to expand on the original content and editorial pieces/introductions.

What do you think are the best sites for general kitesurfing news? Add your suggestions in the comments below…

Next up – the best of the kite forums…

Some how we got so carried away uploading all our Mobile Top Tip and Trick Definition videos up on to YouTube that we forgot about all the DVD trailers!

So we’ve gone through them all, cleaned them and uploaded them all in HD quality, up-res’ing the Standard Def versions, so they all look nice and shiny.

Check their YouTube playlist here, or each of the individual trailers:

• Progression Kiteboarding Beginner DVD Trailer
• Progression Kiteboarding Intermedaite DVD Trailer
• Progression Kiteboarding Advanced DVD Trailer
• Progression Kiteboarding Professional DVD Trailer
• Progression Kite Landboarding Beginner DVD Trailer

And don’t forget you can buy all the DVDs from our online store or every good kiteshop worldwide.