Operating professional kiteboarding & wing lessons since 2015 in The Columbia River Gorge WA (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend) and St Petersburg FL (October to May).
Kiteboarding and wing foiling lessons in Florida and the Gorge.
IKO-Affiliated
IKO-certified kiteboarding lessons, plus experienced wing foiling instructors.
Radio Coaching
Two-way radios on every lesson, with jet ski support in Florida and boat support in the Gorge.
Ages 12 and Up
If you can swim, you can learn. All gear is provided.
Gorge Lessons
Lyle remains a hidden gem in the Columbia River Gorge for those eager to learn kiteboarding and/or wing foiling. Situated only 15 minutes east of Hood River, away from Hood River crowds.
St. Petersburg offers ideal conditions for kiteboarding and wing foiling. The North Skyway beach between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, is the perfect spot for beginners to learn in shallow conditions.
This review is long overdue, but better late than never! I had the absolute pleasure of spending time with the crew at SA Kitesurf Adventures this summer while making my first ever Hood River kiteboarding pilgrimage.
I’m a newbie kiter… I started out this January, taking lessons in La Ventana BCS and became instantly obsessed with the sport. I’d managed to accumulate several weeks worth of lessons between trips to Mexico and the Outer Banks through the winter and spring, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the Gorge and further my education.
I arrived without any set plans, figuring I’d check out the vibes and find a local school that suited my particular needs as an enthusiastic but still relatively nervous “baby” kiter. Having just finished a great hike up Dog Mountain trail one morning, I decided to drive over to Lyle and check out SAK.
From the moment I walked in the door, I knew SAK was the school for me! I was immediately welcomed and quickly found myself signing up for a bundle of lessons… they even offered to work me into the schedule that very afternoon!
Every single second with the SAK crew felt like coming home… their warmth, kindness, enthusiasm for teaching, and clear expertise was simply a class above the rest. I still get fairly nervous before heading out on the water… I mean, let’s be honest, there’s a lot of power in those kites and the risk potential in this sport is very real… so take note when I say, with absolute conviction, that I trust the SAK team completely and unequivocally.
I felt entirely at ease and confident in every lesson… and it was that complete confidence I had in each of my instructors that allowed me to push myself and my skills to the next level. In fact, after finishing my last lesson, I committed to investing in my own gear – something I had been debating and delaying for quite some time. With my new gear in hand, and thanks in large part to the confidence that my new SAK friends had in me (!), I finally managed to pull on my big girl pants and go out for my very first solo kiting session! This had been a HUGE mental hurdle for me to overcome… not gonna lie, when I finished my session and landed my kite, I immediately broke into tears of joy, gratitude, and also of pride, for daring to take up a new sport at 40 and being brave enough to believe in myself. There are simply no words that could fully convey my appreciation for the SAK team and their role in making this happen.
If you’re in the market for wind and water fueled magic, do yourself a favor – visit SAK. I can guarantee they’ll have exactly what you’re looking for.
Everything SAK says about learning in 'Lyle' is true. It's such an ideal place to learn with the shallow water and usually lower traffic. Also, the instructors are top notch. Mack was my first day, and he was great. Then I had Aidan after that for 5 lessons in a row. Aidan was top notch. It's crazy how much this 23 year old kid knows about how the wind blows and all the minute details about 100 different kites and boards he's used.
These guys really care about you being able to build your skills and go out on your own. There was always a pleasant and fun atmosphere around their shop that help build a good mood and confidence. They even invited me to hang out with them in the shop after the lessons a few times, and it was always a good time.
Erica was really great with communication. You never really know what the wind is gonna do, and they're always watching the forecasts and communicating, because the wrong wind can really throw a wrench in your plans when it comes to kiteboarding (and foiling too). I recommend giving yourself as big of a window as you can to schedule your lessons in because of that. –but no matter what, Erica will accommodate you as much as possible, and she's a TOTAL sweetheart. She even made the effort (no easy task, really) to go out and snap some pics of me out on the water.
The owner Dale, is there everyday with is his wife (Erica) and his wonderful South African accent. He loves these sports as much as anyone, and they're there, working hard right beside all their instructors.
I not only got some really great training, but I also made a bunch of friends and had an awesome time. I can't wait to come back next year, take a refresher or 2, and hopefully start tearin' it up! Thanks so much SAK!
Great owners, instructors, and people in general here!! My best friend and I took 5 courses with Edwin, he is an amazing instructor! He will teach you everything you need to know and more!!! My buddy and I highly Recommend SA Kitesurf Adventures if you’re wanting to learn to kite-board, or anything involving wind lol!! Thanks again Erica, you are awesome and so happy and up beat! It was great to meet you all and I hope to see you all again soon and more!!!
Dale was absolutely incredible. Night and day instructor above any I have ever worked with. I’ve been Kiting since 2007 and got him set up to teach my son and he had him riding up wind his first lesson. He is considerate thoughtful. The location is absolutely epic and the spot is perfect for beginners. His location is night and day better than the event site and way better. I would recommend him and his team without hesitation.
Can be costly but it’s really worth it! Great instructions and awesome people. Sold me some quality gear as well. Patient when I asked many questions.
I came back for my first solo (non lesson) and the gusty winds threw me off my board. Alex tossed it 40feet my direction while demonstrating for his lesson.
Amazing place! This has to be the perfect place to learn wing foiling. Not the Hood River crowds, very laid back and easy in/out with sandbar to shelter on. It’s more upriver and dryer climate so there is more sun here even though only 18 minutes up the road. The wind is also steady and last all day! Plus there is a fantastic coffee shop and winery restaurant above!
My daughter and I took lesson with Dale. He’s very supportive, showed us the area. Great tips. My daughter is new to wing foiling and had great success. She was flying on her weaker side several times. I was also foiling as lesson went on.
They showed us how to access the area so we can come back other times to practice. I’m looking forward to more lessons! Thanks again!
This is a great school for learning to kite. I started my journey with them a year ago and I feel very confident with the skills I learned from them. Dale and the boys, Alex and Ayden, do a great job and go the extra mile to help you progress and enjoy your time in the process. I highly recommend going to SAK for leaning over some shady hoodriver kite schools, well worth the extra travel time if you are coming from Oregon.
Went in a group and took a lesson with Aiden, Dale and Alex–was a great experience, was great to work on kite control and try our turns at riding on the board. Great folks, highly would recommend if you're thinking about pulling the trigger!
Great setup and lesson. Dale is amazing in teaching wing foil with boat and radio assist. Learned so much from this lesson to get me progressing in this journey.
Great instruction! The site they teach at is not as crowded with great wind. Their instructors are incredible! I would highly recommend to anyone in the area looking to better their skills.
If you are looking for a kiteboarding school that combines expert, upbeat, and patient instructors, all the gear you need, and a stellar location; look no further than SA Kitesurf Adventures! Learning to kiteboard has been a decades-long dream for me. I remember getting my first kiteboarding magazine as a child and since then have longed for the opportunity to get into this exciting sport. I spent 3 days with Dale, Greta and the team learning the theory and practice of kiteboarding and by the end of those three days was kiting proficiently, riding the board downwind in both directions, honing my water starts, launching and landing the kite in various conditions, and having a blast while doing so. Both of my instructors were warm, explained things clearly and were stoked when I made incremental successes. Through the learning process, they would give me meaningful and clear feedback on how I could continue to improve and met me where I was as a student. Over the years I have had instructors in rock climbing, paragliding, scuba diving, and several other sports. I know what good instruction feels like and these guys really met and exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend them!!!
An excellent kiting school! It’s in a really chill spot, away from the event site, and is a beginner friendly spot. I’ve taken a number of lessons at other places before I came here and they were easily able to get up to speed with where I’m at with my kiting skills. My instructor was Aidan and he was able to help help me on riding upwind and doing transitions a lot more consistently. He even taught me to ride toeside which I didn’t even believe I could do since I’m a beginner. Prices are super reasonable as well. Dale is also great, fun to chat with, and super kind! Would definitely recommend this school!
Took 2 days of lessons with Dale and had a great time. He got me up riding in our first session and just continued to help me improve through the weekend. Had an incredible time and he didn’t a great job with ongoing coaching. Couldn’t recommend enough
Highest recommendation for SA Kites, both for kiteboarding lessons and purchasing gear. They run a great business with an awesome sense of community. Everyone there is helpful and excited to make you better.
Three of us each took 5 lessons in Lyle as complete beginners. We made a ton of progress and had a lot of fun. Afterward, we felt safe and competent enough to go out on our own; we have since been kiting together and having a great time. We worked with several instructions, all of whom were excellent, and primarily with Dale, Edwin, and Tanner. Erika was super helpful and organized working with our schedules and wind conditions.
For gear, Dale gave us competitively priced quotes for new and gently used gear that got us started quickly and easily. As beginners, we’ve had a lot of questions, all of which have been answered thoroughly.
Overall, the team at SAK has been a valuable resource for getting us into a new sport and a joy to be around; I can’t recommend them highly enough.
This place is amazing! Flat water, huge sand bar, no consequences with onshore wind, great instructors, no crowds! Instructors were amazing and gear was top notch! Skip the event center in Hood River and take your lessons here! You won't regret it!!!!
Had four classes with SA Kite Boarding and it was awesome. The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable, patient and like to see the students progress. Would suggest this company and instructors to anyone who is thinking of taking classes. Edwin was my primary instructor and he is a class act. Very professional, awesome humor and technically proficient in all aspects. Good work team, I’ll be back for sure.
Great experience for a trio of first timers. Erika was excellent in communicating and explaining the classes and setting us up for success. Dale, Edwin, and Kathy were awesome getting all of us boarding in both directions. Will be coming back. Location was much less busy than up in Hood River. Nice sand bar.
These guys are the real deal!! Super friendly staff and solid instructors. I was impressed with how much progress I was able to make during the session; they neither slack nor push beyond your limit and the session is tailored to your skill level and what you need to focus on. I highly recommend them & definitely going back whenever I’m around the area.
Just finished 3 days of instruction with SA Kite in Lyle. We had limited time in the area and they were great about working us in the schedule to get as much time on the water as possible. It was nice to have different instructors to be exposed to a variety of techniques and tricks. Edwin, Tanner, Dale and Erika were great!
Spent three sessions under the expert tutelage of Dale. Outstanding, attentive, safe, and appropriately calibrated to my skill and needs. I’m already booked again to return at the end of summer, 2022.
Definite quantum leap in my learning curve, and so enjoyed the time I spent with Dale and Erika. Do not miss this opportunity with these experts.
I had an awesome two days with Dale. This was my 8th time out kitesurfing but my first in Tampa with SAK. Dale was the best of the 4 instructors I have had. He had me confidently riding upwind and working on turns by the end of our second day. In addition to the excellent instruction, I appreciated the time spent on kite set up/take down and on safety. Amazing location, looking forward to coming back.
Absolutely amazing experience! Owners were super friendly and helpful, the instructor was a blast and was very good. I had done beginner lesson two years ago and did a back-to-back lesson this time. I was up, riding upwind and was starting to get smoother transitions by the end. Great place, highly recommended.
Dale is a great guy and great teacher with a laid back personality. Had a great time learning to get up and ride.
After going out with another teacher from another school, I realized that Dale is in it for the money.
Took lessons with SA Kitesurf in Lyle, WA and had an incredible experience. The instructors are very experienced, patient, and they are very safety oriented. Dale and Erika were incredibly helpful and easy to work with. An absolutely beautiful location in the Columbia Gorge. I had Tanner for my first lesson and he went above and beyond in his guidance and feedback. You guys rock!!! I'd highly recommend them to anyone wanting to get into the sport.
I highly recommend SA Kitesurf Adventure Kiteboarding School. I was up riding in a weekend!
Coming from Seattle they were very flexible with the schedule and warned us in advance when the conditions were predicted to be not good for the first session, I opted to do a back to back afternoon and evening session on Saturday, which they didn’t recommend but I was stubborn because family came to watch. In retrospect it would have been better to move to another day or have at least a longer break between sessions. Because my brain knew what to do (thanks to Dale over the radio in the helmet) just my arms and legs were jelly by the second session. Whereas on the Sunday morning session I wasn’t as tired.
Dale was an awesome instructor. He has a calm reassuring voice like Crocodile Dundee when you’re about to panic. As well as having knowledge and tricks to learning that I had not seen anywhere on YouTube. I came in thinking I wasn’t going to learn more than what I already saw but I was very wrong and the instant situational feedback made me progress so much faster.
The equipment was great. The radio headset were a must when taking a class. I wouldn’t have thought that the zodiac would be as well. However it was because the zodiac made it so we could go way upwind in the deep water for nice long downwind runs where you’re up on the board, as it is whole another level to ride upwind. Without the zodiac you would have to walk upwind with the kite for every run, giving you less time, energy and distance to practice.
The Lyle location with its wide flat waist deep sand bar worked great for the first part of learning to control the kite with one hand while getting your feet on the board and getting the beginning water start. A short crowded beach like Hood River would have been a lot harder and less safe.
The photo option is well worth it too, all attached were taken by Dale.
We teach at North Skyway Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida, from October to May, and in Lyle, Washington, in the Columbia River Gorge, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Both locations are open 7 days a week when it’s windy.
In Florida, kiteboarding lessons start at $300 and wing foiling lessons start at $325. In the Gorge, kiteboarding lessons start at $350 plus 7.5% Washington sales tax, and wing foiling starts at $300 per rider for a semi-private lesson. Current prices and availability are always shown on our booking pages.
You should be at least 12 years old, and you are never too old. The only physical requirement is the ability to swim. We provide all the gear, including a wetsuit if you don’t have your own.
Every lesson includes two-way radio coaching, with jet ski support in Florida and boat support in the Gorge.
Adventure Trips
Join us as we explore some of the world’s premier kiteboarding destinations. Our current adventures include kitesurf and wing safaris in South Africa and sailing charters through the Grenadine islands.
Kiteboarding St Petersburg Florida St. Petersburg, Florida is a prime location for kitesurfing due to its warm climate and access to the shallow waters of
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