Kite surfing involves being pulled across water by an attached power kite while standing on a small board. The document outlines tips for beginners to safely learn this extreme sport, including starting on land with a small training kite before moving to body dragging in the water without a board. Trainees then work on the water start technique of sliding into footstraps on their board with the kite in a neutral position before standing up and accelerating with a second kite dive. Proper steering involves pushing and pulling different parts of the control bar while looking and turning the hips and torso in the desired direction.

1. Training for Kite Surfing
By Sam Gerson MD

2. Introduction
• Sam Gerson, MD, has focused his professional efforts on
diving and hyperbaric medicine and emergency care at
the University of California-San Diego Medical Center,
where he recently completed a fellowship. In his off
hours, Dr. Samuel Gerson is a devotee of kite surfing.
Also known as kite boarding, kite surfing entails
standing on a small board similar to a wakeboard and
being pulled across the surface of the water by a power
kite. Here are a few tips for newcomers to this extreme
sport.
Instruction begins on land, as beginners drill with a
small training kite.

3. Kite Surfing Training
• Students then move into the water, but prior to using a
board, they simply maneuver a kite as it pulls them
through the water in a process known as body dragging.
Once individuals are ready for a water start, they
position the board about 45 degrees downwind with the
kite at a neutral 12 o'clock position. From there, surfers
slide their feet into the footstraps, turn a little
downwind, and move the kite down while shifting their
weight to their feet, legs, and torso. Once they are
standing upright, surfers dive the kite a second time to
speed themselves up so that the board rides properly.

4. Conclusion
• While leaning back at a 45-degree angle, surfers
guide the kite to an eleven o'clock or two o'clock
position. Steering involves pushing one end of the
control bar and pulling the other. Moving upwind
involves moving the kite low, then swiveling to the
new direction from the hips and torso while looking
in the desired direction and keeping the back foot
down.
All of these techniques should be practiced under
the supervision of a trainer. Kite surfing can be
dangerous to the unprepared.