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Learn Kiteboarding with Jeff Kafka – Founder of Wind Over Water Kiteboarding

If you’re ready to dive into the world of kiteboarding, Jeff Kafka is your guide. Growing up in the Bay Area, Jeff’s passion for the ocean began with surfing, but in 1999, he discovered kiteboarding—a passion that’s fueled his life ever since. In 2004, he founded Wind Over Water Kiteboarding with the goal of sharing the thrill of kiteboarding with others. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to advance your skills, Jeff’s experience and innovative approach will have you riding confidently in no time.

At Wind Over Water Kiteboarding, we are dedicated to continuously reinventing the customer experience. Regardless of your skill or background, we’re here to ensure you’ll be our best-informed, best-equipped, and best-taught rider yet. With one-on-one instruction, radio helmets for seamless communication, and Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis) for added safety and efficiency, we provide an unparalleled learning environment.

Jeff’s passion for the sport and his dedication to his students make every lesson a rewarding experience. He’s also an innovator, now collaborating on the Jeff Kafka Series of Boards with Linden Boards. Yet for Jeff, the greatest reward remains seeing his students succeed. “The greatest thing is sharing the huge stoke that comes from kiteboarding,” he says.

Ready to start your kiteboarding adventure? Contact Jeff Kafka at Wind Over Water Kiteboarding and experience the thrill with one of the sport’s true pioneers.

WOW Kiteboarding Lesson Centers:

  • Baywinds Park (east 3rd ave. Foster City)
    30 Lakeside Dr,
    Foster City, CA 94404
  • Oyster Point Marina (dock 12)
    95 Harbormaster Rd.
    South San Francisco, CA 94080
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Pricing

  • Kite Fundamentals - Beach Lesson - 2Hours

    This kite fundamentals class is your first step in learning to kiteboard. It covers all you need to know in order to safely get in the water with a fully-powered kite. That’s a lot of information! You will learn: KITEBOARDING EQUIPMENT: LEARN ABOUT BOW KITES, C-KITES, AND 5-LINE KITES; KNOW THE NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF ALL ELEMENTS OF THE KITE, RIGGING, CONTROL BAR, HARNESS, AND BOARD SAFETY SYSTEMS: CHICKEN LOOP, TRIM CONTROL, HOW TO DEPOWER YOUR KITE IN AN EMERGENCY SET-UP AND PRE-FLIGHT CHECK: HOW TO RIG, ADJUST AND SAFETY-CHECK YOUR KITE AND HARNESS LAUNCHING AND LANDING: HOW TO SAFELY GET YOUR KITE IN THE AIR AND PUT IT BACK DOWN, WITH OR WITHOUT AN ASSISTANT KITE CONTROL: HOW TO STEER YOUR KITE TO THE DESIRED POSITION, OR “PARK” THE KITE IN FLIGHT WIND THEORY AND KITE MECHANICS: LEARN ABOUT LIFT, WIND DEFLECTION, TRIM/ANGLE OF ATTACK, AND HOW THE KITE PERFORMS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE “WIND WINDOW” POWER ZONE: WHERE TO FLY YOUR KITE WHEN YOU WANT TO FEEL THE POWER! SELF-RESCUE: A KEY TECHNIQUE THAT HELPS YOU STAY SAFE IN THE WATER This course is taught at Oyster Point Marina in South San Francisco. Group lessons are available for this course.

    $ 250.00
  • Board Skills I (Water Lesson) - 2 Hours

    In this one-on-one private water lesson, you will fly a fully-powered kite while you are in the water. This class is packed with information; it is also physically demanding! Topics covered include: KITE CONTROL: HOW TO STEER YOUR KITE AND “PARK” THE KITE IN FLIGHT WATER RE-LAUNCHING: GETTING YOUR KITE BACK INTO THE AIR AFTER A LANDING BODY DRAGGING UP AND DOWN WIND: A CRITICAL SKILL FOR RECOVERING A DROPPED BOARD WHICH MAY BE UPWIND FROM YOU POWERING AND DEPOWERING THE KITE: USING THE TRIM DEVICE AND THE BAR TO CONTROL THE KITE’S PITCH AND POWER SAFETY SYSTEMS: HOW TO QUICK-RELEASE FROM YOUR KITE AND DEPOWER THE KITE IN AN EMERGENCY SELF-RESCUE: HOW TO USE YOUR KITE AS A SAIL, EVEN IF THE RIGGING IS BROKEN; ALSO HOW TO GET TO SHORE IN AN UNFAVORABLE OFFSHORE WIND You will practice all these skills with your body in the water. Your instructor will assist and give helpful hints via helmet radio. Some students progress quickly and have a little time at the end of the session to strap in and try standing up on the board. Actual riding skills will be developed in the next class.

    $ 300.00
  • Board Skills II (Water Lesson) - 2 Hours

    You’ve worked hard to learn the board skills which are fundamental to your safety with a kite in the water. Now it’s time to ride! Two or three hours of one-on-one instruction with plenty of helpful hands-on assistance will have you truly kiteboarding. You’ll learn: BOARD PLACEMENT: HOW TO POSITION YOUR BOARD SO YOU CAN MOUNT UP AND KEEP YOUR BALANCE EDGE CONTROL: HOW TO STEER WITH YOUR BOARD WHILE GETTING POWER FROM YOUR KITE ONE-HAND KITE CONTROL: HANG LOOSE! POWER STROKES: HOW TO BOOST YOURSELF OUT OF THE WATER OR SPEED YOURSELF ALONG SPEED CONTROL/TIMING: HOW TO MAKE SMOOTH TURNS AND TRANSITIONS, AND AVOID GETTING OVERPOWERED BY THE KITE The great thing about this class is, you’re free to ride as far as you can. There’s no stopping and walking back; it’s all riding. Your instructor will stay with you and provide helpful pointers via helmet radio to enhance your board skills further. Students usually end up miles downwind, tired out but full of joy. They’re kiteboarders now!

    $ 300.00
  • Board Skills: Edge/Power Control - 2 Hours

    Riding with an instructor is the fastest way to improve Intermediate-level skills. Get more finesse and power as you unlearn any bad habits you may have developed. This course focuses on kite and board control to manage speed.

    $ 300.00
  • Board Skills: Upwind - 2 Hours

    For new riders, staying upwind is the Holy Grail! Your instructor will cover the fine points of working your way upwind. You’ll learn how to use your board edge as a rudder, how to sheet and steer your kite for maximum upwind movement, and how to smooth out your transitions to maintain upwind speed and balance. Jeff would like upwind to be on top of transitions as you would need to learn to go upwind then transitions.

    $ 300.00
  • Board Skills: Transitions/Jibbing - 2 Hours

    If you can solidly ride in either direction, but you have trouble transitioning from one to the other, this is the course for you. Your instructor will cover multiple techniques for jibbing, including toe side transitions. This course is a great opportunity for riders wanting to learn to ride directional boards (surfboards). Jeff would like upwind to be on top of transitions as you would need to learn to go upwind then transitions.

    $ 300.00
  • Beach Launch With Personal Watercraft Support - 2 Hours

    This is a really fun course for our instructors as they support you in this complex environment. Mounted on a Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski), your instructor can help communicate with you to steer clear of trouble, and help you become comfortable knowing the limits and where and when to call it a day. Radio helmets make it easy for your instructor to stay in-touch with you and the PWC is there to support your progress. You’ll enjoy a regular kiteboarding session and review all your basic skills including self-rescue.

    $ 300.00
  • Beach Launch: Instructor Rides

    Our instructors love this class. If you can ride comfortably to left or right, and body drag in any direction to reach your board, then let’s play a game! You and your instructor will rig kites and launch together. Then, you’ll play “follow the leader” upwind and downwind while demonstrating courtesy and safety to other riders you’re sure to encounter. Your instructor will stay in communication using radio helmets. The game ends with a dry kite landing safely on the beach or a self-rescue in the water as you return to the beach.

    $ 300.00
  • Delta Day Camps - 4 Hours

    If you’re up and riding, you own your own gear, you’re self-sufficient, and you want more day camp experience, then join us for a Delta Kite adventure. Just outside of San Francisco is a large body of warm water with world class wind conditions! This location is unique because the wind is strong all day from April through October. Besides the awesome wind conditions, the Delta provides a wide variety of water conditions from rolling swells to carve to large areas of flat water for tricks. Our secret kite spots are a series of giant bays, with diameters greater than 4 miles in width and gorgeous grassy island views. We pioneered this part of the delta and have been bringing folks to this area for several years. This location has so much to offer. I think it will take us another 3-4 years to kite the distance. So, if you’re a kiter and you’re looking for your next adventure, this is it. We will meet in the Pittsburg Marina, drive up-wind in our captained boat and take you to several of our secret kite bays. We will also share our tips and offer you support if you need it. Then at the end of the day, we’ll set up for a 5-8 mile down-wind return to Pittsburgh kite point. This experience is truly one of a kind and is supported by 1 kite guide that will be with you at all times and a captioned boat fit for the location. Reserve your spot and join us for the time of your life.

    $ 600.00

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