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Once you've finished your kitesurf lessons your going to face the decision of which particular kitesurf discipline you choose to pursue. One of the most up and coming new disciplines in kitesurfing is Speed. This consists of hoisting an unfeasible windsurfinglarge kite in unrealistic winds and trying to hold on while hurling at breakneck speeds down a flat water course! Sound like your kind of caper?...read on.
GPS
The best thing you can do to instantly improve your kitesurf speed is buy a GPS unit. Sealed inside a waterproof bag and strapped to your arm this will give you accurate readings of how fast you're going and can be used to record data so you can analyze it later on and work out which your fastest runs were. This is great as a feedback and motivational tool and provides a benchmark against which you can keep improving.
Speed Kitesurf Board
The boards you have used up to now in your kitesurf career were most likely twin tip boards, these are very different to the boards used in speed kitesurfing which tend to be larger, wedge shaped with large fins. These are designed to give much more grip in the water and straight line speed, they also make great light wind boards and are becoming a more and more common sight on kitesurf beaches everywhere as people realize their potential for high wind fun and light wind accessibility.
Get Fit
Your gonna need to be fit to hold down the type of pressures that are acting upon you in real speed kitesurfing, you are constantly riding on the edge of a wipe out and while this is great for the adrenaline junkies amongst us it does mean you've got to have strong core and leg muscles to keep you going in a straight line.
Sam Guest is an IKO Kitesurf Head Instructor currently working teaching people to kitesurf in Tarifa, Spain. He has 10 years experience working in windsurfingthe water sports industry and has a passion for life, the ocean and helping people get the most out of what they've got.
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