Build foundational kite and board skills on the water
3 hrs
Kite, board, wetsuit
Start your kitesurfing journey by developing kite-flying skills before combining them with board riding. Enter the water with a full-size kite for an initial body-dragging experience and a chance to stand on the board.
Cancel at least 7 days before your lesson for a refund excluding credit card fees. Lessons canceled due to unsuitable weather will be rescheduled or refunded.
Bring shorts, a sweatshirt, sandals, a windbreaker jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and a backpack. Bring a wetsuit if you have one; otherwise, one is provided. A 4–5 mm wetsuit is recommended.
Prepare for wind and potentially chilly conditions, especially when clouds block the sun.
John stands out as an exceptional instructor who's mastered the art of teaching kiteboarding, wingfoiling, and efoiling through his innovative boat-based approach. Students consistently praise how this method accelerates learning, with real-time feedback delivered through helmet radios that makes corrections immediate and effective. His patience, professionalism, and ability to tailor instruction to individual skill levels come up repeatedly. The boat also means chasing wind conditions and avoiding downtime, plus he captures great photos and videos of your session. The overwhelming majority of students describe significant progress in single sessions and genuinely enjoy spending time with him. One serious safety concern does appear in the reviews involving an experienced kiter who felt abandoned during a gear rental situation, which stands in stark contrast to the consistent praise from lesson students about his attentiveness and care. For those booking actual lessons, the feedback suggests a top-tier learning experience with an instructor who knows how to get beginners comfortable and progressing quickly, particularly in the challenging San Francisco Bay conditions.
John at KiteTheBay is a true professional with a unique way to teach you how to kitesurf. He very quickly understands your skill level and meets you where you are at. The class feels like you are talking to a friend. It may be a bit more than some traditional classes but the combination of learning how to kitesurf, his professionalism in answering all your questions and being on a boat you get a lot of value with John. I absolutely recommend this experience. Thank you John. I really enjoyed hanging out :)
Adrian Childers
May 12, 2026
John at KiteTheBay is a true professional with a unique way to teach you how to kitesurf. He very quickly understands your skill level and meets you where you are at. The class feels like you are talking to a friend. It may be a bit more than some traditional classes but the combination of learning how to kitesurf, his professionalism in answering all your questions and being on a boat you get a lot of value with John. I absolutely recommend this experience. Thank you John. I really enjoyed hanging out :)
Adrian Childers
May 12, 2026
Ride Bay Area kite and wing spots with hands-on setup guidance
Build your foilboard stance with a boat-towed session
Build foil-board balance, then bring kite and board together
Build board control before combining it with kite handling
Build foilboard skills behind a boat in calm waters
Build wing handling and foilboard balance from a support boat