What to Expect When Taking a Kitesurfing Course on Koh Phangan
Kitesurfing (Kiteboarding) Lessons in Koh Phangan Explained Step by Step
If you’re new to Koh Phangan and have heard about its reputation as a hotspot for kitesurfing, you’re in for a treat. While the island is globally known for its vibrant nightlife and yoga retreats, it also offers one of the most idyllic settings for kitesurfing in Southeast Asia. Whether you’re a complete beginner ready to start your windy journey or simply curious about the sport, Koh Phangan has everything you need for a thrilling kitesurfing experience. With stunning beaches, warm waters, and consistent winds, it’s the perfect place to catch your first kite session.
If you’re a beginner, the first thing you should do is thoroughly research which school you want to learn with. The quality, safety, and effectiveness of the lessons will directly influence your experience, progression and safety. Schools will typically offer a range of course options based on your level and budget, but the most important factor that will shape your learning experience is the weather conditions—wind strength, consistency, and water tide. Experienced and professional schools will always choose the safest, most “learning-friendly” conditions, ensuring the water is neither too high nor too low and that the wind is stable. Since wind forecasts in Koh Phangan can be unreliable and weather conditions unpredictable, being flexible with your schedule and being ready to try when the conditions are optimal will increase your chances of success. As with any sailing sport that depends on decent wind, kitesurfing requires patience and persistence. One of the most reputable and dedicated kitesurf centres in Koh Phangan where you can both take lessons and rent professional equipment from is located right in the heart of Thongsala beach, the station can be easily accessed by a motorbike and even a car. add Google Map Link
The First Lesson: Theory and Equipment
The first lesson typically begins with a theory session on the beach that lasts around 30 minutes, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of the wind (wind strength, wind directions and the wind window concept) along with some basic kitesurfing rules and safety considerations you need to know before heading into the water. Your instructor will introduce you to each piece of equipment and explain how to set it up. You will also learn why there are different kite and board sizes, when they are used and how to measure and choose the correct size of the equipment based on wind conditions and your body weight. You’ll discover that kitesurfing has evolved into a variety of disciplines such as free-ride, big air, freestyle, wave-kiting, kite foiling etc.
As a beginner, to get a good understanding of all basic principles of the sport you will surely look into and begin with “freeride” style of kitesurfing. “Free ride” in kitesurfing refers to a style of riding where the kitesurfer enjoys the freedom to cruise and perform maneuvers without any specific focus on tricks or competition. It’s all about enjoying the ride and the conditions, often in more relaxed or consistent wind, and can involve everything from simple carving and jumping to exploring the water or experimenting with different styles.
For many, freeriding is the essence of kitesurfing—there’s no pressure to land complex tricks, just the freedom to explore and enjoy the sport at your own pace. It’s ideal for all levels, from beginners who are still mastering the basics to advanced riders looking for a fun and effortless session.
Before heading into the water, at the end of your half an hour theory explanation, you’ll also be given thorough safety instructions, including self-rescue techniques. This is one of the most critical parts of the lesson. Unfortunately, some less-professional schools may skip this crucial step in the rush to get students to the “fun” part, but it is essential to know what to do in case of an emergency. Kite control usually takes 2 to 4 hours, which may span over 1 or 2 days. While some students grasp it quickly, others may need more time. This doesn’t affect your potential as a rider in the long run.
Kite Control: Wind at your fingertips
Once you’ve covered the theory, it’s time to get into the water to practice kite control. This phase will teach you how to generate and manage the power from the kite. You’ll practice techniques such as parking the kite at different positions in the wind window… controlling the kite one-handed, practicing water-relaunching techniques, as well as performing the quintessential self-rescue steps. These skills are vital for your safety and will build your confidence as you progress.
Body Dragging: A Crucial Skill
After mastering basic kite control, the next step is to learn “body dragging.” In essence there are two variations – upwind body drag and the downwind bodydrag.
In this phase, you’ll navigate your way through water using only the kite (without the board) to generate power. Body dragging is a crucial skill in kitesurfing, as you’ll often lose your board in the water during the learning process. Understanding how to retrieve your board by body dragging will save you time and effort. This technique also comes in handy for collecting lost items like sunglasses or hats, or in case you lose your board entirely, so that you still can to come back to the beach without it.
The time required to master body dragging varies depending on water depth, current, and wind conditions, but expect it to take 1-1.5 hour after the kite control component. In areas with calm, flat water, students typically progress faster, while places with stronger currents or waves may slow down the process. Remember, everyone progresses at their own pace.
The Water Start: Taking Your First Ride
With confident kite control and solid body dragging skills, you’re ready for the water start. On this day, you’ll need decent, stable wind (at least 8-10 knots or more) and water that is ideally above knee deep, but less than chest deep. At first, learning the water start may seem challenging and it’s normal to feel frustrated for a short while… You’ll be juggling multiple tasks: controlling the kite with one hand, getting your foot straps on with the other, and maneuvering the kite to gain board speed without crashing it into the water. Failing, crashing, and even swallowing some seawater are all part of the learning process! These “mistakes” are actually some of the best teachers – so enjoy the process and don’t take the initial learning stages too seriously. Have fun!
At first, you’ll likely ride only downwind and a little crosswind; this means that eventually you will either need to walk back upwind with your kite and board, or have the instructor assist you by taking the equipment back to the starting point. The second method is probably most efficient as it will give you time to recover and walk back to the start-point without expending too much energy walking against the kite’s pull through the water.
As you improve, you’ll learn how to edge the board with the proper technique and generate enough power and board speed to ride upwind, meaning you’ll be able to travel against the wind independently. Once you can go upwind, you’ve mastered the core skills of kitesurfing and can be deemed a ‘kite boarder’!
Moving Toward Independence
Once you have successfully and consistently achieved upwind riding level, you’ll need less (or no further) assistance from your instructor. You will be able to continue practicing on your own and rent equipment to practice by yourself in suitable conditions. Being able to ride upwind independently is a major milestone in kitesurfing, and once you’ve reached this point, you’ve mastered the fundamentals of the sport.
Koh Phangan’s Popular Kitesurfing Spots
If you’re wondering which spot on Koh Phangan is the best for learning, both Thong Sala is the best (Mid-January until End of September) and also a few spots further in Bantai are great for beginners. However, Thong Sala is better for majority of the year and particularly in summer (may to September) for 2 reasons:-
1) Best water tides: During these months, Ban Tai beach is much drier and has an overall lower water tide. When Thong Sala is knee deep or more, Ban Tai area will still be around ankle deep. This means less kiting time while the wind is already blowing!
2) The wind direction during the summer months varies throughout the day. The moment the wind becomes more westerly or north-westerly instead of a south-westerly, the Ban tai area is completely blocked off from the wind due to the geography and landscape of the island. On the other hand, Thong Sala being on the most south-western point of the island can still get good winds even when the direction becomes a full-westerly or slight north-westerly. (Sometimes at Thong Sala it can be 10-13 knots, and Ban Tai is offshore 4-6 knots)
Chaloklum, in the north of the island is the best spot for the winter season between November and Mid – January. However, it does present a more challenging environment as it is a much smaller spot, with local fisherman boats parked in the way, combined with a rocky shoreline with pine trees instead of a proper wide ‘sandy’ beach to accommodate your kite safely. Combined with an onshore/side-onshore wind direction, the margin for error is small and you must take care to not damage your kite or yourself! However, beginners can still take lessons here, as professional school’s instructors know the spot well and will choose the safest times and positioning in the lagoon for lessons based on your skill level.
Koh Phangan offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, making it one of the best places to learn kitesurfing in Southeast Asia. With its scenic beaches, steady winds, and welcoming kitesurfing community, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience both on and off the water.