10 Skills Every Kitesurfer Needs to Develop

Learning to kitesurf isn't a single skill — it's a collection of them that eventually connect. Here are the ten that matter most, roughly in the order you'll develop them.

1. 1.Kite control. Fly the kite with both hands, one hand, in different wind strengths. Everything else depends on this.
2. 2.Body dragging. Before the board comes out, you need to be able to drag yourself through the water using only kite power. This is how you recover your board after a fall.
3. 3.Water starts. Getting up on the board from the water is the milestone every beginner is working toward. It requires kite timing, body position and commitment all happening at once.
4. 4.Riding upwind. The ability to make progress against the wind direction. Essential at offshore spots like Atlantis Beach.
5. 5.Kite launching and landing. Safe, controlled take-offs and put-downs. You need an assistant for this — know the hand signals.
6. 6.Self rescue. Getting yourself back to shore without outside help. Every rider should know this before they go out alone.
7. 7.Edge control. Using the board's edge to manage speed and direction. The difference between riding the board and driving it.
8. 8.Transitions. Changing direction without stopping. The foundation of riding continuously rather than doing short runs.
9. 9.Jumps. Starting with small, controlled hops. Height comes later. First comes consistency.
10. 10.Wind and weather reading. Understanding what the conditions are doing and what they're about to do. This becomes more important the more independently you ride.