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Beginner Kiteboarding Camp
Level	Competence
A-1	Carry and set up the lines and kite Determine the wind direction and upwind and downwind (windward, leeward). Fly a small kite (inflatable, stunt kite, foil…) on the wind window edge and maintain it close to the ground. Know how to stop the kite power in case of problem by releasing the bar. Be aware that the kite leash must be worn at all times, before kite launching and until landing.
B-1	Be aware of the area where the kite can fall down wind to the pilot. Recover the kite on land. Position the kite on request from 9 to 3 o’clock on the wind window edge. Launch a kite with an assistant and choose the right angle to the wind. Fly the kite in the power area without crashing it. Twist and untwist the lines while the kite flies. Recover a kite and secure it on land. Land a kite with the help of an assistant.
C-1	Fly a kite hooked to the harness. Pilot hooked to the harness with one hand. Activate the harness release system or quick release located on a leader line.
D-1	Perform a downwind course by body dragging and using the power of the kite.
E-1	Re launch a kite from the water. Wind the lines in the water and recover the kite. Perform a self-rescue in deep water. Launch a kite alone on land. Identify potential wind obstacles creating lift or down draft and be able to define the wind direction. Understand that practice with onshore wind is dangerous.
Kiteboarder level 1

Intermediate Kiteboarding Camp
Level	Competence
F-2	Define if the practice area is safe for practice. Set up and check the equipment alone (kite, line, control bar).
G-2	Go away from the shore (with side-shore and side-on-shore wind) while body dragging, go down wind and come back to the shore. In the water, pilot a kite with power from one side of the wind window to the other, passing by the power area. The pilot must be able to perform while piloting the kite at different heights from the water. Perform the previously mentioned exercise while piloting with one hand.
H-2	Know the water start theory: board and body positioning, kite piloting. Recover the board in deep water and position the feet in the foot-straps and keep the position while flying the kite.
I-2	Stand up on the board and ride while moving the kite up and down. Tie the board leash alone. Set up a 4 line kite alone and check that it is properly done. Obligatory at this point if it hasn't been done before. Fly 4 line kite. Activate the safety systems of a 4 line bar (power loop, leash). Adjust a four line kite while using the power loop. Adjust the trim system of a 4 line kite to avoid it to fly backward or to adjust the power.
Kiteboarder level 2

Advanced Kiteboarding Camp
Level	Competence
J-3	Know the right of way rules. Ride away from the shore and come back to the shore.
K-3	Edge on the heel and toe side to change the course. Accelerate by edging down and moving the kite. Stop by edging. Be able to keep an edge.
L-3	Ride away from the shore and come back at starting point. Ride upwind. Constantly ride upwind.
M-3	Recover the board without the leash, by body dragging upwind. Ride a twin tip. Optional if it has been done before. Switch of direction.
N-3	Know the theoretical approach to jumps. Perform a small jump and land it.
Kiteboarder level 3

Tail Grab:
Tail grab is a semi-advanced kitesurfing technique, which is more complex then the basic techniques but not as complex as, let say, a single back roll or a flat spin one hand back roll. The tail grab technique is good to learn before proceeding to the more advanced tricks since the tail grab element is present in many advanced techniques. Tail grab trick helps the kitesurfer to become more comfortable with handling the kite board stably in the air.

To perform the tail grab technique successfully, the kitesurfer will need to follow the following steps. First of all, the kitesurfer will need to speed up until the necessary speed and power is achieved. Next, the kitesurfer jumps in the air (starts flying). You will need to maintain the stable upright position going forward while you are in the air for the tail grab trick. Small movements are acceptable, but try to be as stable and as upright as you can. Maintaining upright position during the tail grab trick means that your body needs to be positioned almost perpendicular to the water line.

While flying forward when performing the tail grab trick, you will need to grab the back of your kiteboard with the hand that is positioned the backward direction. A right-side tail grab trick and a left-side tail grab trick. A right side tail grab happens when you are going forward with your right hand positioned in the forward direction and your left hand grabbing the back of the kiteboard. A left side tail grab happens when you are going forward with your left hand positioned in the forward direction and your right hand grabbing the back of the kiteboard. A right-side tail grab trick would be easier to perform if you are a right-handed person.

 

Single Back Roll
Single back roll is an advanced kitesurfing technique performed only by experienced kitesurfers. It is not as complicated as a double back roll but still requires the kite surfer to be comfortable with handling the kite board in the air and performing the basic techniques. Stability is of most importance for the single back roll. You can try practicing from a half back roll (180 degrees rotation with landing in the opposite direction) and then proceeding to the single back roll

Single back roll involves performing one full back roll at once. To perform this trick, the kite surfer will need to execute one 360 degrees rotation in the air and land in a forward position going in the same direction. As with the double roll, the single roll can be executed in two different directions: a right-side single back roll and a left-side single roll.

A right-side single back roll involves a 360 degrees turn in the right direction. After the appropriate speed and power is acquired, the kite surfer needs to jump (start flying) and turn to the right to perform a 360 degrees right rotation. How does the kite surfer position his or her body depends on the level of experience. For example, the body can be positioned at approximately 45 degrees to the perpendicular (to the water) line with the kite and the board turning in a type of a circle fashion. More experienced kitesurfers may position their body at more then 90 degrees to the perpendicular (to the water) line.

A left-side single roll is the same as the right-side single back roll, only in the opposite direction. Same 360 degrees rotation needs to be performed, only in the left direction. Start practicing the right-side single back roll first before proceeding to the left-side single roll.

 

The Scissors
Scissor is a technique that is somewhat different from the rest of the kitesurfing techniques. Scissor is an advanced and very complex trick and you will have to spend some time practicing before you can perform the scissor technique successfully.

To perform the scissor technique successfully the kitesurfer will need to follow the following steps. First of all this trick is performed high enough in the air, so the kitesurfer will need to speed up until the necessary speed and power is achieved. Next, the kite surfer jumps in the air (starts flying). The first thing to do to perform the scissor techniques is to move you body forward so your head is approximately 135 degrees and your kite board is approximately 315 degrees to the perpendicular (to the water) line, with zero degrees being the water level.

Next, to continue performing the scissor trick, you will need to move you body backwards so your head is approximately 225 degrees and your kite board is approximately 45 degrees to the perpendicular (to the water) line. At this position, the kitesurfer will need to spin the kiteboard forward for 180 degrees (half spin) and then to spin it back 180 degrees to the original position. These steps assume that you are going with your left foot in the forward position. Depending on the jump position, the kiteboard can be spun back and forward in the opposite direction.

After these scissor technique steps are performed, the kitesurfer will need to land in a forward position going in the same direction. As you see, the scissor trick is complicated, but practicing it enough times will definitely help you to improve. Just be patient, follow the scissor technique directions closely and don’t forget about the safety.

 

The Art of Jibing
There are various tricks you can learn once you have been kitesurfing for a while. One of the many popular tricks today is something called “jibing”. “Jibing” or “jibe” is when you are having your kite aloft and you change directions with the use of your feet on a board while going down into the wind. This is a popular method changing directions using a direction rated board.

To get up to performing a jibe manoeuver, you will need to have maintained a consistent speed and velocity on the water for a sustained period of time. Pull the kite upwards at a 45-degree angle; this may be altered depending on the weather conditions that day. Pull your back foot from its foot strap and place it directly behind the front foot strap. By doing this manoeuver you are actually slowing the speed of the board down. Once you feel the momentum, bend your knees and pull the kite toward you and add weight towards the back foot, which should and lift with the front. This will bring the board upwards and turn into the wind. Once you have achieved the new direction slide feet back into position.

This move should be practiced in and out of water to get the feel and footwork coordinated. Depending on the water conditions that day you may have problems transitioning your feet back into the strap. Beginners should always have good footing before even attempting to perform this trick. If your board is rated as a directional board you will make great jibes. The beginner should move the feet once the jibe is completed versus trying to move the feet during mid air.

Be conscious of wave conditions and look for smooth waves to jump between and not large chop that can give a rough landing.

 

Table Top
Tabletop is an advanced kitesurfing technique that has both some similarities and some differences when compared to the rest of the kitesurfing tricks / techniques. Tabletop is a very complex trick and, unless you are a professional kitesurfer, you will have to spend some time practicing before you can master the tabletop technique. However, your practice will definitely pay off, since tabletop is a very impressive trick.

To perform the tabletop trick effectively, the kitesurfer will need to follow the following steps. Tabletop is a trick is performed high enough in the air. That means that the kitesurfer will need to achieve the necessary speed and power is to jump (fly) high in the air. Next, the kite surfer jumps in the air. The first step that is taken to execute the tabletop technique is to move your body forward so your head is approximately 135 degrees and your kiteboard is approximately 315 degrees to the perpendicular (to the water) line, with zero degrees being the water level.

The next step for the tabletop technique is to spin the back of the kiteboard in such a way that it performs a circular 270 degrees rotation in the forward direction. After that is done, the kitesurfer will need to move the back of the kite board back in the original position. In other word, the same 270 degrees rotation needs to be performed, just in the opposite direction.

Both the rotation in the forward direction and the rotation in the backward direction need to be completed in such a way that the kite board turns parallel to the water line. After these tabletop technique steps are performed, the kitesurfer will need to land in a forward position going in the same direction.

 

Overpowered Situation
Kitesurfing is an exciting sport but is also very dangerous. There are many different possible dangerous situations and one of them is overpowered situation kitesurfing. Overpowered situation kitesurfing happens when winds get to strong and you are kitesurfing in very fast speeds. You are also totally overwhelmed by the speed and power of your kite during the overpowered situation kitesurfing. If you find yourself in this situation, do not panic. There are several different techniques that will help you to get out of the overpowered situation kitesurfing and continue enjoying your kitesurfing experience. Try to practice these techniques and follow them if you are in trouble or during the overpowered situation kitesurfing.

First of all, you can control the power of your kite during the overpowered situation kitesurfing trough your equipment. For example, if you have a 4-line inflatable kite, it is possible to de-power it by using the chicken loop and shifting the control bar away from yourself. It is a somewhat more complicated with the 2-line kite. With the 2-lene kit and during the overpowered situation kitesurfing you can slow down and reduce the power of the kit by flying close to the border of the wind window: near the upper border or near the onward border of the wind window.

If you are trying to fly close to the upper border of the window during the overpowered situation kitesurfing, try to fly your kite higher. As mentioned earlier, you can also fly at the onward border of the wind window. This is not easy during the overpowered situation kitesurfing because of the fast speed and requires some skill and training. You should try to go upwind for this technique to work. This is more easily said then done. You should try to battle the pull of the kite with your weight and your strength. Also try to employ your legs to rotate the board upwind. If you are successful, the pull will become less and you will regain the control of the kite and the board. This is hard but useful overpowered situation kitesurfing technique.

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