WELCOME TO KITE-COACH.COM
Do you want to learn kiteboarding? Are you a kiteboarder looking to sharpen your skills or take on a new challenge? Based in The Hague, @yourkitecoach is ready for you! Founded by Ruben van Domburg in 2015, Kite Coach is designed to optimise the learning experience. The concept in a nutshell:
✓ One-on-one Sessions
✓ From a certified teacher
✓ Providing feedback on the fly
Private Kiteboarding Sessions from € 70 per hour
Ready to hit the water?
learn to ride
Fact: People learn by doing. And, unlike other action sports like windsurfing or snowboarding, learning the basics of Kiteboarding requires constant supervision by a professional. So, in order to keep things safe, kiteboarding schools will always teach one student at a time, even in groups. At Kite Coach, we choose to focus on Private Sessions, so you can skip the waiting.
MEET THE FOUNDER
As a child, I’d spend my days playing with LEGOs, making music and practicing many different sports. The prospect of having to choose one pursuit after secondary school felt very counter-intuitive to me. My decision to move to The Hague and study Sports & Education was largely motivated by my then newfound obsession for kiteboarding. I decided to combine my Bachelors with a minor in Product Design. After graduating, this happened to be the perfect foundation for designing and launching the Kite Coach concept. I feel blessed that now again, I’m able to spend my days doing all the things I love.
Ready to ride?
Learning kiteboarding takes time. How much time you need depends on your experience, age, your physical health and of course: your personal goals. We sell Airtime, which is time spent kiting with a coach. The bigger the Package you get, the more economical the price. You can also share Airtime with family and friends, you can learn more for less! Scroll down to check out the options.
Don't know how much time you need?
airtime
Kite Coach offers Airtime Packages from 2:00-12:00 hours. Simply choose your package, checkout and start planning your sessions.
SIXPACK
The Sixpack is the most popular Airtime package. It contains 6 hours of Airtime, which on average is enough for a total beginner to learn the basics of Kiteboarding. With your Airtime, you can schedule Sessions with your Kite Coach ranging from 1:30 up to 2:30 hours. The duration of your Sessions is up to you, of course, but for most people 1:30 – 2:00 hours per Session is optimal.
| AIRTIME | PRICE |
|---|---|
| 6:00 | € 480 |
(Including gear, wetsuit & wearables)
planning
Once your Airtime is added to your Profile, you can start planning your sessions. Go to your Rider Profile, select a date and a time and hope for good winds.
Schedule sessions
Plan your Sessions in the schedule from your Rider Profile > 48 h ahead, 7 days a week between sunrise and sunset
forecast update
Your Kite Coach will keep a close eye on the forecast and update you on the status of your Session
final call
Your Kite Coach will make the final call on whether the Session is a go, on standby or canceled
Still have questions? Or would you like to discuss your options? Don't hesitate to reach out!
Looks like fun, doesn't it?
Ready to ride?
Learning kiteboarding takes time. How much time you need depends on your experience, age, your physical health and of course: your personal goals. We sell Airtime, which is time spent kiting with a coach. The bigger the Package you get, the more economical the price. You can also share Airtime with family and friends, you can learn more for less! Scroll down to check out the options.
Don't know how much time you need?
airtime
Kite Coach offers Airtime Packages from 2:00-12:00 hours. Simply choose your package, checkout and start planning your sessions.
SIXPACK
The Sixpack is the most popular Airtime package. It contains 6 hours of Airtime, which on average is enough for a total beginner to learn the basics of Kiteboarding. With your Airtime, you can schedule Sessions with your Kite Coach ranging from 1:30 up to 2:30 hours. The duration of your Sessions is up to you, of course, but for most people 1:30 – 2:00 hours per Session is optimal.
| AIRTIME | PRICE |
|---|---|
| 6:00 | € 480 |
(Including gear, wetsuit & wearables)
planning
Once your Airtime is added to your Profile, you can start planning your sessions. Go to your Rider Profile, select a date and a time and hope for good winds.
Schedule sessions
Plan your Sessions in the schedule from your Rider Profile > 48 h ahead, 7 days a week between sunrise and sunset
forecast update
Your Kite Coach will keep a close eye on the forecast and update you on the status of your Session
final call
Your Kite Coach will make the final call on whether the Session is a go, on standby or canceled
Still have questions? Or would you like to discuss your options? Don't hesitate to reach out!
Looks like fun, doesn't it?
Ready to ride?
Learning kiteboarding takes time. How much time you need depends on your experience, age, your physical health and of course: your personal goals. We sell Airtime, which is time spent kiting with a coach. The bigger the Package you get, the more economical the price. You can also share Airtime with family and friends, you can learn more for less! Scroll down to check out the options.
Don't know how much time you need?
airtime
Kite Coach offers Airtime Packages from 2:00-12:00 hours. Simply choose your package, checkout and start planning your sessions.
family pack
With 12(!) hours of Airtime, the Family Pack is the biggest and most economical option out there. Sharing the Airtime with your family or friends can save you a lot of money. It contains enough for 2 students to learn the basics of Kiteboarding! Following are couple of examples of how you can schedule your Airtime.
| AIRTIME | PRICE |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | € 840 |
(Including gear, wetsuit & wearables)
planning
Once your Airtime is added to your Profile, you can start planning your sessions. Go to your Rider Profile, select a date and a time and hope for good winds.
Schedule sessions
Plan your Sessions in the schedule from your Rider Profile > 48 h ahead, 7 days a week between sunrise and sunset
forecast update
Your Kite Coach will keep a close eye on the forecast and update you on the status of your Session
final call
Your Kite Coach will make the final call on whether the Session is a go, on standby or canceled
Still have questions? Or would you like to discuss your options? Don't hesitate to reach out!
Looks like fun, doesn't it?
Ready to ride?
Learning kiteboarding takes time. How much time you need depends on your experience, age, your physical health and of course: your personal goals. We sell Airtime, which is time spent kiting with a coach. The bigger the Package you get, the more economical the price. You can also share Airtime with family and friends, you can learn more for less! Scroll down to check out the options.
Don't know how much time you need?
airtime
Kite Coach offers Airtime Packages from 2:00-12:00 hours. Simply choose your package, checkout and start planning your sessions.
per hour
You can also get Airtime by the hour, with a minimum of 2 hours. This is great for occasional Coaching Sessions, or if you’d like to test the waters before getting one of our Airtime Packages. Choose wisely and if in doubt, don’t hesitate to give your Kite Coach a call!
| AIRTIME | PER HOUR |
|---|---|
| 2:00-5:00 | € 90 |
(Including gear, wetsuit & wearables)
planning
Once your Airtime is added to your Profile, you can start planning your sessions. Go to your Rider Profile, select a date and a time and hope for good winds.
Schedule sessions
Plan your Sessions in the schedule from your Rider Profile > 48 h ahead, 7 days a week between sunrise and sunset
forecast update
Your Kite Coach will keep a close eye on the forecast and update you on the status of your Session
final call
Your Kite Coach will make the final call on whether the Session is a go, on standby or canceled
Still have questions? Or would you like to discuss your options? Don't hesitate to reach out!
Looks like fun, doesn't it?
Ready to ride?
Learning kiteboarding takes time. How much time you need depends on your experience, age, your physical health and of course: your personal goals. We sell Airtime, which is time spent kiting with a coach. The bigger the Package you get, the more economical the price. You can also share Airtime with family and friends, you can learn more for less! Scroll down to check out the options.
Don't know how much time you need?
airtime
Kite Coach offers Airtime Packages from 2:00-12:00 hours. Simply choose your package, checkout and start planning your sessions.
per hour
You can also get Airtime by the hour, with a minimum of 2 hours. This is great for occasional Coaching Sessions, or if you’d like to test the waters before getting one of our Airtime Packages. Choose wisely and if in doubt, don’t hesitate to give your Kite Coach a call!
| AIRTIME | PER HOUR |
|---|---|
| 2:00-5:00 | € 90 |
(Including gear, wetsuit & wearables)
How much?
planning
Once your Airtime is added to your Profile, you can start planning your sessions. Go to your Rider Profile, select a date and a time and hope for good winds.
Schedule sessions
Plan your Sessions in the schedule from your Rider Profile > 48 h ahead, 7 days a week between sunrise and sunset
forecast update
Your Kite Coach will keep a close eye on the forecast and update you on the status of your Session
final call
Your Kite Coach will make the final call on whether the Session is a go, on standby or canceled
Still have questions? Or would you like to discuss your options? Don't hesitate to reach out!
Looks like fun, doesn't it?
DROP A LINE
Or send an email to:
info@kite-coach.com
DROP A LINE
You want to go for a session? Let's talk about you kiteboarding adventure first!
Or send an email to:
info@kite-coach.com
You might want to read
THank you
You'll find your order confirmation in your inbox. The Airtime you've purchased will be added to your Rider Profile, once the order is processed.
Kite
Learning to control the Kite is the key to unlocking all aspects of this beautiful sport. Kites come in various shapes and sizes, but they all work the same: they generate power through wind. Your input determines where you send the kite and how much power it will generate along the way. Kites are powerful toys, just like cars. With great power, comes great responsibility. Every session starts by selecting the right kite size to fit your weight, skill level and goals.
A group lesson at a school usually means sharing 1 setup with multiple students; so you'll be taking turns riding a setup that might not fit you at all. In order to becoming a confident rider, you need to experience what it feels like to ride an appropriate setup. As you become an independent rider, you will use this experience as a reference to choose the right setup for your own sessions.
Kite
Learning to control the Kite is the key to unlocking all aspects of this beautiful sport. Kites come in various shapes and sizes, but they all work the same: they generate power through wind. Your input determines where you send the kite and how much power it will generate along the way. Kites are powerful toys, just like cars. With great power, comes great responsibility. Every session starts by selecting the right kite size to fit your weight, skill level and goals.
A group lesson at a school usually means sharing 1 setup with multiple students; so you'll be taking turns riding a setup that might not fit you at all. In order to becoming a confident rider, you need to experience what it feels like to ride an appropriate setup. As you become an independent rider, you will use this experience as a reference to choose the right setup for your own sessions.
coach
Your Kite Coach is IKO Level 2 certified, as well as a Bachelor in Sports & Education with 10+ years of teaching experience. Working as an instructor, I immediately noticed: communication over large distances in windy conditions can be quite a challenge. Lucky for you, every Kite Coach Session is powered by an Intercom System. You get live feedback and instructions in your ear, so you can focus on the kite and the riders around you.
Kiteboarding is a truly 3 dimensional sport. As a beginner, it can be challenging to comprehend what is happening while it happens: you're missing the bigger picture. My job as a coach is to give you context on what is happening in the moment and why. By gaining insight into the mechanics of the sport, you'll eventually learn to make informed decisions on the fly and Ride with Confidence.
airtime
Instead of courses, your Kite Coach sells Airtime Packages, from 2:00-12:00 hours. Time is precious, which is why at Kite Coach we aim to make the most of it. The Airtime you buy is 100% spent on learning to ride, as we think it should be. If you're not familiar with the sport, private lessons might not seem the obvious choice for beginners, even though 70% of kiteboarders will recommend private to a friend (based on 200+ responses to a poll I posted in kiteboarders Facebook group).
Group courses seem cheaper, until you do the math. Sharing one setup also means sharing the time between the participants; usually 3 students. This boils down to only 20 minutes of practice per person for every hour spent on the beach. Lessons at schools take longer (usually 3 hours) and are part of a fixed schedule. The Dutch weather doesn't keep to any schedule what so ever; a lot can change in 3 hours. Therefore, at Kite Coach, you can schedule Sessions ranging from 1:30-2:30 hours, from Sunrise to Sunset.
Let's talk pricing
Most schools in the Netherlands sell 3-day courses. At Kite Coach, we offer Airtime, which is 100% spent on practicing, where as at schools you share the setup and the time with the students in the group. In order to compare, I've calculated two school examples to effective hourly rates.
Schools
| COURSE PRICE | HOURS / STUDENTS | AIRTIME | PER HOUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| € 350 | 10,5 / 3 | 3,5 | € 100 |
| € 389 | 9 / 3 | 3 | € 129 |
Most schools do offer private lessons as well. When it comes to planning lessons, however, the 3-day group courses will always have priority over the private lessons. So even though you're choosing the most efficient service, planning your lesson is often more difficult. You might find yourself stuck with an expired course at the end of the season, trying to get your money back.
Kite coach
Lucky for you, you found your Kite Coach, so you don't need to learn the hard way. This beautiful sport has so much to offer, wether you're a total beginner or an experienced rider ready for a new challenge. Your Kite Coach is available on windy days, from sunrise to sunset. Stop waiting, start riding!
kite coach blog
This is where I share everything and anything I write in relation to kiteboarding. Happy reading!
Any questions? Don't hesitate to get in touch!
The Art of Letting Go
22-03-2024 | Ruben van Domburg
Learning kitesurfing is a journey that demands both passion and patience. It's a process where you try, fail, and try again. While setbacks are inevitable and can be frustrating, they don't have to be dangerous or discouraging. It's not the act of failing that poses the greatest challenge; rather, it's how we manage the consequences of failure. One of the most critical skills to master in kiteboarding is the ability to let go of the bar. Pulling the bar reflexively is the root cause of 99% of all kiteboarding accidents. Therefore, recognizing the moment to relinquish control is a crucial skill that can enhance both safety and enjoyment in this exhilarating sport.
Why do we pull?
If properly powered, meaning you've chosen the right kite size according to conditions and your body weight, you should be able to maintain a stable position without being excessively pulled up or forward by the kite. However, the kite always exerts some force on your body, particularly noticeable when it's not positioned directly overhead. In such cases, the instinctive response is often to give into the power and walk downwind after the kite. To stay in one place or maneuver upwind, however, you need to lean into the opposite direction to counteract the kite's pull. This involves using your body weight as a counterbalance, leaning against the force of the kite to maintain control and stability. It's a counterintuitive adjustment that requires practice and familiarity with the sensation of leaning back while supported by the kite. This practice, however, can lead to unintended consequences. The sensation of leaning back while supported by the kite may initially feel like falling backward, triggering a primal reflex to restore balance or break a fall. Your body instinctively seeks stability, often grasping for anything within reach. Seeing as you're already holding onto the bar, leading to the reflexive action of pulling it, even though it won't give you any support. Moreover, pulling the bar results in the kite producing more power and reacting more quickly to your input. This is of course the opposite of what you want when you're about to lose control.
kiteboarding is mental
Learning the basics of kitesurfing presents both a mental and physical challenge. Reprogramming your brain to suppress reflexes is just as crucial as mastering the physical techniques. Your Kite Coach plays a pivotal role in this process, guiding you through exercises designed to practice letting go deliberately. By experiencing firsthand the consequences of releasing the bar, you gain a deeper understanding of its impact on kite control. Throughout your journey, you'll encounter various scenarios where letting go of the bar is necessary, and your coach will be there to help you recognize these moments. Despite your progress, the reflex to pull the bar may persist as you tackle new skills and maneuvers. This underscores the importance of establishing a solid foundation upon which to build your kiteboarding skills. In kitesurfing, as in life, you can't always control every outcome. What matters most is your ability to recognize when control is slipping away and to let go, trusting in your training and instincts to guide you safely.
feedback & adaptation
Live feedback through intercom plays a crucial role in helping students recognize and navigate challenging situations in real-time. As a kite coach, observing from the shore, I have a holistic view of the kiteboarding session, enabling me to provide timely feedback and guidance. By focusing primarily on the kite's movements and behaviors, I can quickly identify any unexpected behavior and relay it to the rider. This enables you to make on-the-fly adjustments and take appropriate actions, learning by doing and enhancing your overall kiteboarding experience.
Did you like this blog post? Click here to read more!
Do you want to learn by doing with feedback on the fly?
How does wind work
30-03-2024 | Ruben van Domburg
As a designer, I like to think of kiteboarding as the most elegant and efficient form of solo sailing ever invented by humankind. As a Kite Coach, wind is an invisible force that is often reduced to daily forecasts and gear selection. The magic is hidden, and this blog aims to explain how it works through the use of thought experiments.Now, picture yourself seated in a chair within a room, quietly absorbing these words. As you take a moment to survey your surroundings, envision the invisible spectacle unfolding around you. Countless air molecules, akin to tiny balls, traverse the space in an intricate dance. They ricochet off walls, furniture, and even your own form, some meandering lazily while others zip about with boundless energy, their movements choreographed by the ambient temperature.
In this room, the phenomenon of wind, while imperceptible, is profoundly influential. Your body, radiating warmth, creates a localized pocket of higher temperature, subtly altering the dynamics of the air within the room.1. Pressure Accumulation: Cast your gaze upwards to the cooler reaches of the room, near the ceiling. Here, molecules gather and huddle, densifying the air and elevating atmospheric pressure. This concentration of molecules generates a palpable weightiness, akin to a heavy presence looming overhead.2. Flow Dynamics: Now, redirect your attention downwards, towards the warmer expanse near the floor. Here, the weight of cooler molecules exerts pressure on their slightly warmer counterparts below, prompting a fluid motion towards areas of greater warmth. This graceful movement arises from the perpetual quest for equilibrium within the air.3. Pressure Release: As you sit amidst the lower-pressure environment near the floor, you may sense a subtle lightness in the air. Here, molecules enjoy greater freedom of movement, their lively exchanges fostering an atmosphere of buoyancy and ease.4. Upward Movement: Like a fluid ascent, warmer air rises towards the cooler, denser regions near the ceiling. Propelled by their inherent lightness and buoyancy, these molecules rise, perpetuating the cyclical dance of airflow within the room.This perpetual ballet of air molecules, imperceptible to the naked eye, embodies the essence of what we perceive as wind. On a planetary scale, this intricate interplay shapes the Earth's atmosphere, influencing the formation of high and low-pressure systems, such as the lower pressure systems, that traverse oceans and landmasses, orchestrating the exchange of air molecules on a grand scale.The next time you watch the news and check the weather forecast, you'll understand the link between temperature, high and low-pressure systems.
Did you like this blog post? Click here to read more!
Ready to harness the invisible force?
Is kiteboarding dangerous?
06-04-2024 | Ruben van Domburg
Is kiteboarding dangerous? Some people still like to call it an extreme sport. Well, let's draw a parallel: driving a car can be risky, yet millions do it safely every day. Similarly, kiteboarding involves managing multiple elements at once – controlling a kite, riding a board, and navigating the surroundings. In the early days, kiteboarding, being a relatively novel sport, didn't have mandatory lessons. While lessons are still not mandatory, their importance is widely acknowledged within the kiteboarding community. It's akin to driving a car – while not inherently dangerous, understanding the complexities is crucial for safety.
Kiteboarding is a sport suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds. If you can handle a car, you can learn to ride. The learning curve varies based on your familiarity with related sports like snowboarding, sailing, or power kiting, as well as your overall physical health. At Kite Coach, located in The Hague, we emphasise the significance of professional instruction. Our private lessons cater to individuals looking to master kiteboarding safely and efficiently. When it comes to driving lessons, would you rather have a group lesson, waiting your turn on the sidewalk, or go for private instruction? At Kite Coach, we prioritise personalised attention, ensuring you get the most out of every session.Join us at Kite Coach and discover the exhilarating world of kiteboarding while prioritising safety and skill development.
Did you like this blog post? Click here to read more!
Ready to learn safely and effectively?
NORTH SEA SESSIONS
Let's go!