The Irish Kitesurfing Association

The IKSA is the national governing body for kitesurfing in Ireland.
It represents Irish Kitesurfers on many issues including beach access for kitesurfers and organises a great calender of events and gatherings throughout the year
Membership for 09/10 will also include insurance and discounts on some kitesurfing shops.
We need your support as an organisation to help the sport grow safely in Ireland.
Check out www.iksa.ie for more details

How do I start ?

To start kitesurfing you need to learn basic kite-flying skills on land first with a small trainer kite.
Be careful and follow the instructions supplied with the kite.
Start in light winds to get used to your kite.
Never fly kites on a crowded beach.
The skills you learn using these small kites will help you progress faster.

Is it hard?

No!  Compared to other sports like surfing or windsurfing,I think that its much easier to learn. The water in duncannon is shallow flat waist high,perfect to start kitesurfing. Each of the steps can be great fun and you will learn a lot.

Do you need lots of upper body strength?

No. When kitesurfing, most of the power of the kite comes through a harness worn around your waist. You only need your arms for steering and there isn't too much pressure on them. Kids as young as 10 have are kiting and get on great as long as they have the right equipment an support from a parent.

Kiting is a sport for nearly everyone, and you can push yourself as far as you want, or stick to the basics and stay within your comfort zone.

 Why should I take lessons??

Kitesurfing can be a dangerous sport if not taken seriously. You are attached to a large kite that looks like a parachute. You would not go parachute jumping without lessons from a qualified instructor?
Likewise, you should not try kitesurfing without getting lessons from a qualified instructor first.

Insurance

It is essential to get insurance for kitesurfing. You might injure someone else while you are in the water or launching and landing a kite on the beach. You may also cause yourself an injury.
Co. Councils expect all kitesurfers to have insurance and you may be asked to provide proof.

The IKSA will be including a special deal on Insurance as part of their membership for 09/10  this will be reasonably priced too.

Websites and Fourms

There is a lot of information about kitesurfing on the Internet. A great place to start is www.iksa.ie There are links to many Irish websites from here. This site is regularly updated with whats going on in the community.
There is a good forum for Kitesurfing chat at www.kitesurfing.ie

Weather

It is essential to check the weather forecast and tides before you go kitesurfing.

Where can I get a forecast?

A wind-meter can be used to check the wind speed at the beach

NEVER KITESURF IN OFFSHORE WINDS

If the wind direction is not right for your beach, DON’T GO OUT.
Try a different beach or try a different day.
Ask local kitesurfers for advise on the best beaches for the conditions
Tides need to be checked on some beaches as you might have nowhere to launch or land your kite.

Please put your name and phone number on all your gear so it can be
identified if found. If you do loose a kite or board out to sea please
notify the coastguard by dialling 999 or 112 and explaining the
situation.