ive read alot on the forums about everyone getting lessons because it saves alot of pain and money. would it be a better,for those who are questioning getting lessons, to have one lesson and learn all the safety and once you know that start flying your own kite around in the water (body dragging i think its called) and learn that way??
That would get u part of the way but you would be adding a bucket load of time to your progression.
Lessons will give you the 'know-whats' for you to understand whats happening - most importantly what went wrong & why - so you can very rapidly work towards doing it better.
Without lessons you will be floundering around never knowing why what you are trying isnt working. OR what it was you just did that made it work.
Trial & error will prove to be a very slow teacher as well as one who only teaches slow learners. 
BUT yep safety could be covered that way - sort of.
ahh its just annoying that lessons cost so much.i found a local teacher that does lessons for 175 each 2.5 hours and $400 for 7.5 hours. i really want to get into the sport quickly but if i get a $400 lesson its gunna take a while :S
Everyone seems to think kite lessons are expensive 
And so many think they should be or could be avoided
Look & compare.
Scuba Diving. No-one thinks twice about taking dive lessons if they want to dive. They are pretty much compulsory even though anyone can do it - with or without lessons - just by following a few safety rules. AND there is no-one ever put at risk but yourself. You will find them at least as expensive as a kite course and they are taught in groups. Work group cost back to hourly rates then see how much you would be paying if kite lessons were charged at that rate.
Sky Diving. - same same. Way more expensive. No-one ever does it without lessons. And there is no-one at risk but yourself.
Driving Lessons. - everyone does them now. You have to to get your DL. Compare the costs there.
Who would like to see people out there teaching themselves to drive a car?
Kite Lessons are NOT expensive and are absolutely necessary as well as being the best Way-To-Go.
Definately think the lessons are worth having, but I have to agree that it is pretty expensive. To do a five day dive course in Cairns will set you back about 5 to 600 bucks for 5 FULL DAYS of instruction and if you do it without taking lessons you are most definately putting other people at risk!!!
All that said though, I'm getting lessons this month. Those kites have a huge amount of power. Why learn like a lot of the experienced guys on here by trial and error if we don't have to??
yeah true all of that ^^^^ i agree i was just trying to avoid spending money.i think ill keep saving for a bit till i can afford the gear then get some lessons. if i like it i will be fully set to get straight into it :D thanks guys
Jesse,
I get your frustration with costs and stuff but unless you fully understand the wind, tide, power zone, how small adjustments can make a kite fly differently, depower, safety and everything else that goes with this sport then yes you will require some instruction.
Ask around, a lot of kite schools can provide a discount if you have lessons with them and then purchase gear from them so in effect you are putting a deposit on your equipment.
Lessons will give you the confidence to get out there on your own and progress quicker than alone. If you have a bad experience on your own then chances are you will scare the crap outta yourself, potentially injure yourself and or someone else and then give up.
Lessons give you a try before you buy, you may find that after a number of face plants etc that this may not be something you want to continue with.
Good luck whatever you choose.
thanks for the advice. does it take long to be able to fly a kite? thats the only thing im worried about :S it looks kinda hard lol
i dont know anyone who does kiteboarding. i live on the east coast of australia 2 hours north of newcastle which i know has alotttttt of people who do it but unfortunately i dont know any of them haha. can u buy training kites? or rent them?? hwo much do u reckon they are?
Hey Jessie!
I've recently taken on the challenge and like most ppl I kinda freaked at the cost of lessons, but having taken the journey I'm happy I did it that way and forked out the spondoolas.
Trainer kite and time on the beach with it? Good value because I wasn't wasting my lesson time learning how to control a kite. Lessons could focus on the safety and progression. (trainer kite cost, from $115-215 depending on trainer? or maybe keep an eye out for a second hand one).
It's a very steep learning curve and I really dont think I could have progressed to where I am now (not that I'm that far yet, but getting somewhere and having fun doing it!!) without coughing up the clams to do the lessons.
I got heaps out of the lessons, totally worth it for me :) most importantly I'm having bucket loads of fun now.. when the wind plays fair 
interesting point, my 13 y/o had 4 hours of lessons and got up and going, given all clear to practice what he's learnt before further lessons, then had a mishap that kept him out of the water for 8+ weeks, so got a bit rusty. the next couple of attempts were not real successful our local beach conditions not ideal, on shore shallow with close breaking waves. took trip away to a more beginner friendly location and he nailed it there or caught up. back at our local recently after some difficulty in getting going was sorted by shortening line length, still need to get working to windward together but handled the chop. the gear that the kite shop put together needs 15++ 7.5 M , we are lucky enough to be part of a small group that plays together share gear and advice, oli being the smallest has an advantage, has played with 15M, last man standing.
so after 20 odd hours on the water, looking at his own 12M kite and a 2nd larger board to give options on the day. it doesn't stop with lessons.
Lessons are important as is the people you play with.
P.s i'm a sailor not a kiter and oli has been land kiting from 10 y/o so probally had a head start. Pansh 4 line foil relatively cheap, though not on bar could help if you have not flown, before you line up a lesson.
interesting point, my 13 y/o had 4 hours of lessons and got up and going, given all clear to practice what he's learnt before further lessons, then had a mishap that kept him out of the water for 8+ weeks, so got a bit rusty. the next couple of attempts were not real successful our local beach conditions not ideal, on shore shallow with close breaking waves. took trip away to a more beginner friendly location and he nailed it there or caught up. back at our local recently after some difficulty in getting going was sorted by shortening line length, still need to get working to windward together but handled the chop. the gear that the kite shop put together needs 15++ 7.5 M , we are lucky enough to be part of a small group that plays together share gear and advice, oli being the smallest has an advantage, has played with 15M, last man standing.
so after 20 odd hours on the water, looking at his own 12M kite and a 2nd larger board to give options on the day. it doesn't stop with lessons.
Lessons are important as is the people you play with.
P.s i'm a sailor not a kiter and oli has been land kiting from 10 y/o so probally had a head start. Pansh 4 line foil relatively cheap, though not on bar could help if you have not flown, before you line up a lesson.
sounds like you need to go and introduce yourself to a few of the crew at Newcastle and ask them which kiteschool you should get lessons from. Kitemuddies, has an up and riding package that looks pretty sweet.
like your point, when do you reef , best line length, how to make the most of any kite, rigging/ fine tuning for conditions after beginner level is another lesson, given the variables a lesson for each or a crash course in aeronutics off beach, go out and put theory to test...
I agree, lessons do look expensive and I earn a decent income and was still a bit surprised at the rates. But I think they are totally definitely essentially important.
They look expensive on an hourly rate basis compared to say, ski, or dive lessons but it's really different. Ski and dive can pretty much book and go. Kiting can only teach when there is wind, far less times. And kiting is one on one, as against groups for ski / dive.
To be honest, I don't know how kite schools make a living. They get so few hours out of each student. I have snow skied for 40 years but i still go back and get the occasional lesson. Can't imagine doing that with kiting now im past the basics. Hmmmm maybe I should!
I really enjoyed my lessons, to the point I found it quite confronting to go out on my own, post lessons. I would have been happy to get more lessons. I wnder if the teachers are a bit embarrassed at the rates and seem very motivated to get you up on the board and independent ASAP.
I wonder how it would work to have a snow ski model, where you still keep going back for coaching / improvements on a long term basis. I'd pay. But it doesn't seem to be part of the culture.....
Cheers Dave
Sorry, I would have to disagree with most on this and you are all correct that if you can afford to take all the lessons, that it would be best...
For me though, for those people who are so cheap that they are considering not taking lessons and going to youtube to learn....
The first 2 lessons (basically up to the part of getting on a board) are the crucial ones and you can get them here in SA for $250 total.
These are the core lessons on Safety and Kite control that I think are essential.
After that, go and get a friend to show you the board side of things or just fly your kite body dragging for a while. (do this all on a deserted beach though as you will be in serious trouble if you hit anyone.)
Again, all the lessons would be best but the minimum that should be mandated would be the first 2 lessons.
Cheers.
Better yet, get a friend to teach you for free. Beats spending money on information that people can share with you for free; and they'll most likely care more about your long term kiting experience rather than just the time period you are paying them for
