What Kitesurfing Equipment Do You Need? (And Why Not to Buy Yet)
Short answer: for your lessons, nothing — full equipment is included (kite, board, harness, wetsuit, radio helmet). Just bring a swimsuit, a towel, and sunscreen. And the most valuable advice in this article: don't buy equipment before finishing the course.
The gear a kitesurfer uses (and what each piece does)
- Kite: the engine. Comes in sizes (7m, 9m, 12m...) depending on wind and your weight — which is why buying one before you know is throwing money away
- Bar and lines: your steering wheel — directs the kite and controls power
- Harness: transfers the kite's pull to your body (which is why you don't need strong arms)
- Board: a bidirectional twintip for learning
- Wetsuit: always, in the Portuguese Atlantic
- Radio helmet: in our lessons, your direct line to the instructor while riding
Why NOT to buy before the course
- You don't know what kite size you need: it depends on your weight, level and your usual spot's wind — things you discover during the course
- Beginner gear gets punished: in the first months the kite falls into the water dozens of times. Better if it's the school's
- Your judgment changes: what seems like a good idea before the course rarely matches what you actually need afterward
What about after the course?
That's when it makes sense to invest. We advise you at no cost on what to buy based on your weight, budget, and spot — and we have access to school pricing across several brands, both new and refurbished used gear. Students who complete the full course save real money building their first quiver with our guidance.
👉 Ask us on WhatsApp before spending on gear. | See what's included in lessons →