"Every August and since the first Kite Surf event in August 2000, Martin's company, Kiteboarding School of Maui, has held an event for youth involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Martin wanted to give youth the opportunity to experience something they may never have had the chance to, while maintaining safety."
Rick Ortiz
Program Director-Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui (BBBS)
Kiteboarding Questions
I already kiteboard. Can I rent kites?
There is no insurance policy in the USA that allows kite rentals, at this time. The sport is very new and insufficient accident/loss history has been established with the sport to convince the insurance companies to write a kite rental policy. Of course, there are insurance policies for instructional programs and at KSM we provide all kiteboarding gear during lessons. Clients who provide IKO, PASA or other acceptable proof of kiteboarding skill level and can demonstrate strong intermediate or advanced riding skills have the option to demo kites with supervision and can apply 100% of the cost towards the purchase of a full price, current model-year kite.
We are expecting to have an insurance policy for kite rentals by the end of 2008. To rent kites from KSM, one would need to purchase personal IKO insurance or present an IKO insurance ID number and demonstrate specific intermediate kiteboarding skills to a KSM instructor or present an IKO certification card. If one doesn't possess or has forgotten the IKO certification card, a card would be issued after an appropriate skills demonstration. Even if one does possess an IKO certification card, a skills demonstration may still be required considering Maui's wind conditions are more extreme than most other areas around the world.
- What are the terms and names for kiteboarding tricks?
- What is the difference between kitesurfing, kiteboarding, and flysurfing?
- What is the wind window?
- Can I relaunch the kite from the water?
- Do I need assistance to launch or land the kite?
- How much does equipment cost?
- How big a kiteboard should I choose?
- What is the typical wind range of a kite?
- How many kites do I need?
- Will I need a wetsuit on Maui?
- What equipment do I need to kitesurf?
- Do I need to bring anything with me for the lesson?
- When is the best time to come to Maui for lessons?
- Is kiteboarding safe?
- How hard is it to learn how to kite?
- I am a windsurfer, is it hard to convert?
- How fast will I learn the sport?
- What sort of physical shape do I need to be in?
- I have done some trainer kite flying and body draggng. Will I be able to take a class starting with the kiteboard on my first lesson?
- Will I be riding on a board the first day?
- Will I get on the water on the first day of lessons?
- What is the best time of day for lessons?
- My son and I would like to take a lesson together. Do we have to each take private lessons or can we take lessons with one instructor?
- What can I do to prepare for my lesson ahead of time?
- I already kiteboard. Can I rent kites?
- What does FAA have to do with kiteboarding on Maui?
- What does the IKO and PASA certification offer students?
- Is KSM insured?
- How long has KSM been in business?
- How much experience do KSM instructors have?
- What sets KSM apart from other Maui kiteboarding schools?
- What should I look for so I know I have found a safe, quality school?
- Will the 2009 Cabrinha IDS control bar work with 2008 Cabinha kites?
- Is the bow kite bridle system complicated?
- How do the bow kites turn?
- What does the bridle on a bow kite do?
- Can I use the bow kite with a 5th line?
- Are bow kites better than other kite designs?
- How did kiteboarding start?