Go fly a kite and sample surf life
'Stick your wetsuit on the other way – it might fit nicer,' mocked my instructor. I was out of my depth.
When your opening gambit is to fail at this most basic of tasks, things don't bode well.
Kitesurfing is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK and I was on Hayling Island to try it first hand.
My – very patient – tutor was 25-year-old Chris Burke, a fully-qualified instructor from Hayling Island Kitesurf School.
Burke, and his flowing blonde dreadlocks, had recently returned from the States where he'd performed for photoshoots to promote next year's new equipment.
He'd also competed in high-class 'jams', where a flock of kitesurfers take to the sea to display their skills before voting on each other to decide the winner.
This guy is one of the best.
And now he was here. With me. A man who negotiates The Solent only to
attend the Isle of Wight music festival.
It was a comedown but Chris hid it well.
Perhaps he could see I was keen to experience this aesthetically-pleasing sport.
My lesson had really begun around 10.30pm the previous night when Chris called to brief me.
'The wind's good tomorrow,' he said. 'Be there at 8am.
'What?' I spluttered. 'Can you do the afternoon?
'Wind's not great.
'Friday?
'Wind's not great.
'Monday?
'Wind's really not great.
'I'll see you tomorrow.'
When you kitesurf I quickly learned, nature dictates.
As it transpired I was picked up by boat off Hayling beach at 9.30am – can't change newspaper deadlines after all – and Chris and I soon left the shore behind.
But any thoughts of immediately cruising the crest of a wave on my board were soon dashed.
While kitesurfing is easier and cheaper – 1,200 for a decent board and kite combo – to take up than, say, windsurfing, it still requires ample skill and practise.
As a beginner, I had to start at the very bottom.
'To kitesurf,' said Chris, 'you've got to know how to fly a kite.'
And to do this effectively – especially when boarding through the sea –
I learned you need to know about your wind window.
This has nothing to do with the previous night's vindaloo, rather an imaginary semi-circle above your head.
Keeping the kite on the edge of this semi-circle zone means less power, lowering it takes the kite into the power zone. Confusing the two, as I did, propels you uncontrollably forward and on to your backside.
Understanding these zones is key and, after a run through of safety issues, wind conditions and preparation essentials, I got used to manoeuvring a rather powerful kite around my wind window.
Hayling has some of the best kitesurfing conditions in the world. The East Winner sandbar – where I stood practising my newly-acquired skills – appears four hours either side of low tide.
It creates a huge flat shallow lagoon for over a kilometre out to sea, allowing for perfect learning conditions. It's also stunningly beautiful and a real hidden treasure of our area.
After some encouraging words from Chris, he prepared me for the next stage of my introductory lesson – bodydragging.
Basically, this involves using the bar to work the kite in a figure of eight so when you dip it into the power zone it flings you forward through the water.
It's all about getting used to controlling the kite and the direction you are heading.
I was definitely getting the hang of it before nature interjected and the wind died, making it near impossible to launch the kite.
Our boat turned for the shore but I was itching to get on a board and give it a go for real.
A glance at Chris' instructor colleague Ben Kelliher rapidly swerving around the sandbar with a few jumps and twists thrown in told me all I needed to know about how far I had to go.
I can't wait for lesson number two.
Now it's your turn: Hayling Island Kitesurf School teach seven days a week off the island from early until 8pm depending on the tide.
The school have one-day (100) and two-day (190) courses which cover all the basics of kitesurfing.
They also do advanced tuition from beginner to expert for 40 for hour.
For more information log on to hikitesurfschool.co.uk or email info@hikitesurfschool.co.uk
Alternatively, call 023 9242 2570 or 07956 125870.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
