Group or Private Kitesurfing Lessons – Which Is Better?

Semi-private (2 students) vs. private (1:1) kite courses. Price comparison, pros and cons. Which lesson format is right for you?

When choosing a kite course, one of the first questions is: do I want private lessons, or do I share an instructor with another student? Both options have their advantages, and the right one depends on what exactly you’re looking for. Let’s break it down.

How It Works at Our School

We offer two formats:

Semi-private — maximum 2 students per instructor sharing one kite. Beginner price: from €465 for the 8-hour Zero to Hero course.

Private — 1 student, 1 instructor, 1 kite. Beginner price: from €695 for the same 8-hour course.

Important: “semi-private” with us does not mean a group of ten people with one instructor. It’s a maximum of two people, and they must be of similar weight (so they can share the same kite). If we don’t have a suitable partner for you, you go alone — at the semi-private price.

Semi-Private: Advantages

Price — roughly €230 less than private. For 8 hours of instruction, that’s a noticeable difference, especially if you’re planning a longer course.

Rest — while your partner is riding, you’re resting. Kitesurfing is physically demanding and those little breaks between rides help. You can watch your partner, learn from their mistakes (that sounds harsh but it’s very effective), and recharge for the next round.

Social aspect — learning with someone is simply more fun. You share experiences, challenge each other, and laugh at your own falls. Many people find a kite buddy during the course for the rest of their stay.

Two-way helmet coaching — even in semi-private format you wear a two-way BB Talkin Bluetooth helmet. The instructor gives you real-time guidance — and can hear you too — even while keeping an eye on your partner. So you don’t get much less feedback than in a private lesson.

Semi-Private: Disadvantages

Less time on the water — you share the kite with another student. In practice, this means that in a 1.5-hour lesson you get roughly half the actual water time. In a private lesson, you get the full session.

Pace adjusts — if your partner is slower (or faster), the instructor has to find a compromise. Usually this isn’t a problem because we match students by level, but occasionally one person is a step ahead.

Depends on the partner — if your partner doesn’t show up (illness, change of plans), it’s just you in the lesson. That’s actually an advantage — a private lesson at the semi-private price. But you can’t count on it.

Private: Advantages

100% instructor attention — the entire session, the instructor focuses solely on you. Every fall, every attempt, every detail. Nothing escapes them.

Double the water time — the full session, every session, you’re on the water. That roughly doubles your actual time riding compared with semi-private.

Faster progression — more water time + more attention = faster learning. People in private courses often reach upwind riding a day earlier.

Your pace — the instructor adapts exactly to you. Need more time on body-drag? No problem. Want to practise water starts for the entire session? Let’s go.

Flexibility — easier to schedule lesson times because we don’t need to coordinate two students.

Private: Disadvantages

Price — €695 vs. €465. That’s not a negligible difference.

Intensity — a full session without a break is exhausting. In semi-private you get natural pauses; in private you’re going the whole time. Some people find it more tiring than expected, and the second session of the day becomes less productive.

No comparison partner — you can’t watch someone else do it. Learning by observation is an underrated but effective method.

When to Choose Semi-Private

• You’re on a tighter budget and want quality instruction at a reasonable price
• You’re coming with a partner or friend of similar weight — a perfect combination
• You enjoy the company and social side of learning
• You have time — planning 5+ days, so slower progression doesn’t bother you
• You’re less physically fit and appreciate the natural breaks

When to Choose Private

• You want maximum efficiency — you have limited time (3–4 days) and want to learn as much as possible
• You prefer an individual approach without compromises
• You’re of atypical weight (very light or very heavy) — harder to find a suitable partner for semi-private
• You’re returning after a break (a refresh course) and want to get back into shape quickly
• You’re travelling solo and don’t want to depend on finding a suitable partner

What Both Have in Common

Whichever format you choose, you always get:

• IKO certified instructor — a professional, with a maximum of 2 students per instructor
• Two-way helmet coaching — instant, real-time feedback on the water via a BB Talkin Bluetooth helmet
• Complete lesson equipment — Flysurfer kite selected from suitable available sizes for your weight, level and measured conditions, plus board, harness, helmet and vest
• IKO skill-level record — the level you actually demonstrate is recorded at no extra charge; completion alone does not guarantee independent-rider status
• Rescue support — available during operating hours; a specific intervention or response time cannot be guaranteed
• Equipment insurance — during lessons

Instruction follows the same IKO methodology, with the same instructors, at the same spot — and in both formats you go straight into the water rather than spending a day on the beach. The difference is purely in the level of personal attention and time on the water.

What About Groups of Advanced Riders?

Everything above applies to beginners — people who are still learning to control the kite. But once you can ride upwind and are independent, the rules change.

Under IKO standards, a higher-rank instructor can supervise more independent riders at once, each on their own kite — so for confident riders, group coaching becomes possible in a way it simply isn’t for beginners.

In practice, this means we offer kite camps and group coaching for advanced riders, where every participant has their own kite and the instructor coordinates the entire group. It’s a completely different format than beginner courses — more people, more action, more fun. And significantly more affordable per person.

Kite camps are ideal for groups of friends who want to ride together, improve, and soak up the atmosphere at the spot. If you’re not yet sure which level you’re at, our guide to kitesurfing skill levels explains the steps from first water start to independent rider.

Refresh Courses — Same Choice

For refresh courses (for those returning after a break), you also have both options:

• Refresh 4h — from €285
• Refresh 6h — from €395

Both are available in semi-private or private. For a refresh, we usually recommend private — you need as much water time as possible to get the technique back quickly.

My Tip

If you’re coming as a couple or with a friend of similar weight and you have 5+ days — go semi-private. You’ll save money, have fun together, and learn just fine.

If you’re coming solo, have 3–4 days, and want maximum results — go private. You’ll pay more, but the extra water time and individual attention will show.

And if you’re really not sure, get in touch — we’ll advise you based on your situation. You’ll find a full overview of formats and prices on our kite courses page.