You’ve decided you want to learn how to kitesurf! Congratulations for making the best decision.

But now come a series of other questions, where do I learn, what school do I choose, then, what kite should I buy, where should I travel to kite?

On the question of where, we strongly believe that Tarifa has it all. Beautiful beaches and nature landscapes, nightlife, delicious food and most importantly: wind.

When it comes to choosing a school, it can be overwhelming.

In Tarifa there are over 60 legal schools alone, many with years of experience, great instructors and attractive offers.
So how do you choose one?

In this post, we will go over each of the important factors to consider, based on over 10 years of experience.

The best kitesurf school is one that:

1. Values customers
Many people will say the most important thing is certification, the price, the equipment (and these things are all very important)
however, we believe the number one thing to consider is:

Does the school value your time & money.

Learning to kitesurf is an investment and commitment.
That’s because it takes about 6-8 hours to get up on the board and get your first meters in, and roughly 10-16 hours to start riding independently.

During peak season, with so many schools, and so much competition, it is understandable that most schools will want to maximize the amount of students in the day. To ensure that you get the most of out of your lesson, make sure the school takes your time and money seriously.
Don’t be afraid to ask all the questions you have, make sure you feel confident that they have your best end results in mind.

Do they offer private or semi-private courses or do they want to group students together to optimize their time? Are they patient, are they willing to take the time to explain what the kite course will look like, will they personalize the course to meet your needs & abilities?

Once you feel good, about this factor, then you can start to ask the rest of the important questions that we will see now.

2. Certification & Registration

A registered kite school has many legal requirements to fulfill. Such as, insurance, boat rescue, up to date & safe equipment, along with certified and qualified instructors.
All schools that are registered and certified will be happy to share with you that they meet all of these items.

Tarifa can see many days with Levante wind, this means the wind pushes offshore. The beach is very wide, and there is lots of space, however, as you start to learn, you want to guarantee that you can be rescued by a boat if you get to far or need help.

There are a few different certification boards for kitesurf instructors, the most famous being the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO). Teachers & schools have to keep up with their trainings & certifications, so it’s crucial to make sure the school teaching you is certified.

3. Experience
“The only source of knowledge is experience.” -Albert Einstein

Every teacher has to start with their first student, and that is the only way they will learn to truly pre-empt every student’s needs. Make sure the school you choose, has a good background of years in the spot + a team with a sturdy history teaching.

Training and certification are great tools, but even better amplified with at least two years of teaching. This will ensure a good understanding of different wind conditions, different skill levels and most importantly, adaptability and a versatile approach to teaching.

A school who has been in Tarifa for several years, will know about the changing wind conditions, where to find the best wind direction and consistency on which day, and that will maximize your experience.

4. Cancellations 

Although very rare, some days there can be no wind in Tarifa. When choosing your school, don’t forget to ask if they will honor a no-wind refund policy.

It you can’t do your class at least you will get your money back, or the very least, a voucher to come back on your next holiday.

As we said, you are making a great decision by becoming a kitesurfer, and you won’t regret it.
Take your time, check out the different schools and don’t be afraid to call and talk to the school directly.

At Kite Progress Tarifa, we are dedicated and passionate in teaching and ensuring that you get the most out of your experience. It truly makes us happy to see people become new kitesurfers.

Our school has over 10 years of experience in Tarifa, along with two other schools in Cuba & Italy. Peppe the owner is a seasoned instructor and takes pride in creating a team of passionate & professional teachers.

Don’t hesitate to contact us now, whatsapp or info@kiteprogresstarifa.com to ask all the questions and book your course!

We hope this post helped