South Africa - Seven hours of kite lessons in a row

19.02.2009 - Travel

Finally. The wind is supposed to get better again today. I have agreed with the Polish seven hours kiting for today. Corinne sleeps in the meantime, her last surf lesson starts at 10 o'clock. For me it should actually start at 9 o'clock, but the sky is still overcast, no wind in sight and we postpone the start by one and a half hours. At 11 o'clock we finally start. Wind good, mood good. I learn to control the big kite and am amazed at the sensitive steering impulses it takes to keep the thing in place. But I'm doing quite well and I'm confident to cut a good figure on the board. But there is still a long way to go. First I have to launch the kite cleanly from land and water. No problemo so far.

A bit more difficult is 'kiting against the wind', which is important to regain a lost board, for example. Here, the missing board must be made up for by a stiff posture in superman position. Lying down with one hand holding the kite at 45°, I try to get my head above the water surface at least once in a while. A rather salty experience. But at least, when it goes later on the board, I benefit from the learned technique but inige times.

After a short lunch break (I allow myself a sandwich and half an hour of sleep) I finally have a board in one hand. With the other hand I have to hold the kite in the zenith and wade into the deeper water. Laying backwards into the water, one-handed the board to my feet. The kite still in the zenith. So far all is well. Now it's all up to me. Actually, I just have to get the kite in the practiced figure of 8 to the sky and the force of the wind would pull me onto the water and further. So much for the theory. The practice looks a little different for me. I get easily on the water, but the kite and the strong wind lifts me at the second 8 already in the air and forward always with the face first over the water surface slapping towards the power zone. Ouch. At the third attempt I even get my helmet broken.

Doretta, my Polish teacher, just says "Yea, learning kiteboarding must be heard". I am totally exhausted after the seven hours and feel like cured fish. I kiteboarded a few meters, the rest was mostly flying quite high and far - involuntarily but still. Corinne unfortunately couldn't take any photos of it, but a sore rib will have to do as proof. Ouch. Admittedly, the day was tough for everyone: On the beach, two kites ended in tatters because of the strong wind and the student in front of me also destroyed a set of lines including the control bar.

After the hard sports day, Corinne has also mastered her lesson well, we relax for once alone in the courtyard.

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