Power is everything here. The more powered up you are, the easier it is to drive through whitewater and near breaking waves, or to gently boost over them.

Underpowered in big close out surf is the worst combination you can pick, so wait for the gust and commit rather than crawling out.

Start small and build up. Begin in smaller waves with solid kite power, then work your way toward bigger, more challenging conditions as your confidence grows.

A beach break is far less forgiving than flat water, and if you drop the kite in the impact zone you can get worked quickly.

"If you wouldn't paddle out on a surfboard, don't try to kite out through it."

Keep the kite flying

The number one priority is keeping the kite in the air. A flying kite is your engine and your rescue rope, so protect it above all else.

You can always find your board again, even if it means body dragging back to the beach to work out where it went.

Having your board but a downed kite in the surf is a far worse place to be, and it is where sessions turn into rescues.

Riding over the whitewater

Ease off your edge just before you hit the foam. Edging hard into whitewater makes you slide out or swing into a lame air, so stand tall instead.

As you meet the broken wave, steer the kite up toward twelve o'clock and lift the nose of the board so you ride straight up and over.

Bend your knees as you go up and over a steep face so you absorb it rather than launching into orbit off the lip.

If a wave is about to break on you, dive your head and body through it with the board still on your feet, a kind of kiteboarding duck dive.

Reading the beach break

Most beach breaks have a peaky, gnarly section and easier shoulders either side of it. Watch how the waves work before you commit.

Faced with a pitching lip, head left or right to find a softer section, or run downwind parallel to the wave until it breaks, then punch out over the froth.

Launch from the less aggressive part of the bank first so you can get your skills down before taking on the heavier peak.

Pick a spot where the rip is not too strong, and ideally one running slightly upwind so it feeds you power rather than stealing it.

When to turn around

If it looks impassable, gybe, stay in one piece and have another go. There is no shame in turning back and waiting for a cleaner set.

Never launch out in surf you would not swim or surf in, and stay well clear of flagged swimming areas by heading out wide.

Kiting in waves is amazing fun when done right, but the danger is real and should never be underestimated until you have the experience.

Check the wind forecast before you head down so you know the power will be there when you need it.

Questions & Answers

Twin tip or surfboard for getting out through the break? On a twin tip you really want to stay powered up to punch through the foam. On a directional surfboard you can get away with slightly less power, but power still helps you drive over the whitewater cleanly.

What if I lose my board in the impact zone? Keep the kite flying and body drag to recover it. If the rip is strong, retrieving a lost board gets tricky, so favour banks where the current is manageable and start in smaller surf while you learn.

How do I stop crashing into the wave behind after a jump? Only jump the wave if the wind and your skills are up to it, and land with speed and forward drive. Crashing flat into the face of the next wave is the worst outcome, so commit to riding away rather than floating.

How big is too big for me? If you would not paddle out on a surfboard in those conditions, do not try to kite out through them. Big close out waves with light wind are a trap, so build up gradually and respect your own limits.