Since 2004, we’ve taught thousands of people from more than 50 countries how to kitesurf. Over that time, we’ve figured out what works and what doesn’t. The result is a system that combines the international IKO method with what we’ve learned ourselves – on our lagoon, with our equipment, after twenty years of practice.
This article explains exactly how our lessons work. What to expect, how it functions, and why our students progress faster than elsewhere.
What Is IKO and Why It Matters
IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) is the largest international organization for kitesurfing instruction. It sets the standards – how to teach, what to teach, in what order, and with what safety procedures.
Why does it matter? Because the IKO method isn’t random. It’s built on thousands of hours of research and feedback from instructors around the world. Every step has its reason and order.
All of our instructors are IKO certified. In peak season, we have up to 25; in quieter months, 8–10. Each has been through IKO training and regularly updates their qualifications.
And an important point: IKO certification is free for our students. After completing a course, you receive an IKO card that’s valid worldwide. Anywhere in the world, you can prove your level and rent equipment without further testing. If you prefer VDWS certification (German standard), we offer it for €40.
The Kite – Body – Board Principle
The IKO method is built on a simple principle: you learn step by step, with each stage building on the previous one.
1. Kite – Kite Control
Everything starts on the beach. Before you even get into the water, you need to know how to control the kite. That means:
- Understanding wind directions and the safety zone
- Being able to launch and land the kite
- Controlling the kite with one hand
- Using the safety system – how to release the kite in an emergency
This isn’t boring theory. It’s practical training with a smaller training kite where you try everything yourself. The instructor stands beside you, corrects technique, and explains.
Why this approach? Because the kite is the engine of the entire sport. If you can’t control it on land, in the water it will be chaos. Cutting this short doesn’t pay off – and we don’t do it.
2. Body – Bodydrag
Once you’ve mastered the kite, you go into the water. But still without a board. Bodydrag means letting the kite pull you through the water – you lie on the surface and the kite propels you.
You learn:
- Controlling the kite in water (different feel than on land)
- Bodydrag downwind – the kite pulls you forward
- Bodydrag upwind – a key skill for retrieving your board
- Water relaunch – how to restart the kite from the water
Upwind bodydrag is one of the most important skills. If your board drifts away on the water, you need to get back to it against the wind. Without this skill, you’re dependent on the rescue boat – and you don’t want that.
3. Board – Riding
Only when you have the kite under control and can bodydrag do you put on the board. And this is where the fun starts.
Progression:
- Waterstart – getting up from the water onto the board
- First ride in one direction
- Riding in both directions
- Upwind riding – riding against the wind (this is the moment you become independent)
The board is the last step because it requires coordination of everything before it. You’re controlling the kite, maintaining balance, and steering direction. If you skip the previous steps, this is where you’ll hit a wall.
Walkie-Talkie – Real-Time Coaching
Here we get to something that sets us apart from most schools. Our students have a walkie-talkie (waterproof headset) on the water and the instructor communicates with them in real time.
What does this mean in practice?
Imagine you’re on the water doing a waterstart. The instructor sees your kite is too high. At a regular school, they’d wait for you to fall, then correct you on shore. With us, they say: “Kite a bit lower, toward 45 degrees” – and you correct it right away. Immediately. Without falling.
The walkie-talkie is a game changer. Students make fewer mistakes, fall less often, and understand faster what works. It’s not theory on the beach – it’s coaching right in the action.
The instructor is standing in the water nearby or watching from an optimal position. The lagoon is shallow – you can usually stand even when you fall. The instructor is a few meters away and sees exactly what you’re doing.
What a Typical Lesson Day Looks Like
The daily program includes two water sessions, each approximately 1.5 hours. In total, you spend about 3 hours on the water per day.
Morning session (approx. 9:00–10:30): Wind is usually lighter, which is ideal for beginners. We use bigger kites that are easier to handle in light wind. The morning focuses on technique – slower pace, more repetition.
Afternoon session (approx. 13:00–14:30): The thermal wind picks up, blowing stronger. We switch to smaller kites. The afternoon session is more intense – more riding, more action.
Between sessions, there’s a lunch break. We have a restaurant on the spot where you can eat without having to go anywhere.
Why not three or four sessions a day? Because more doesn’t mean better. After three hours on the water, body and mind are tired. Teaching quality drops and injury risk rises. Two intense sessions per day is the optimum – proven by twenty years of experience.
How Many Students per Instructor?
It depends on student level — and we strictly follow IKO standards:
Beginners (Basic I): Maximum 2 students per 1 kite. Students take turns on the kite — while one rides, the other rests and watches. Both must be similar weight so they can share the same kite. Out of a 1.5-hour session, you spend approximately 45 minutes of active riding. That may sound like little, but trust us – after 45 minutes of intense kite work, you’ll be glad for the break.
Advanced (upwind+): Once you can ride upwind, the rules loosen. A higher-level instructor (IKO Level 2+) can have 2 kites and 4 students at once — each on their own kite. An IKO Level 3+ instructor with an assistant can manage 3–4 kites and 6–8 students. This is the format of our kite camps — everyone has their own kite, the instructor coordinates the group via walkie-talkie, and everyone rides at once.
Why the difference? A beginner needs full attention — the instructor tells them where to put the kite, how to stand, when to release the bar. An advanced rider doesn’t think about the kite — the instructor helps with technique, body position, jump timing. That works from a distance, for multiple people at once.
Why Students Progress Faster with Us
We don’t want to sound arrogant, but feedback from students is consistent: progress is faster with us than at other schools. Why?
1. The Lagoon
Shallow water, sandy bottom, no waves, no current. When you fall, you stand up. You don’t have to worry about depth, coral, or current. That means you can focus on technique rather than survival.
More about the lagoon and conditions on the spot page.
2. Equipment
We have over 250 kites from 2.5 to 21 m² – exclusively Flysurfer (since 2009) plus Levitaz boards and foils (since 2015). This isn’t advertising, it’s a practical advantage.
Why? Because for every student and every wind, we have the right size. You weigh 55 kg and there’s 15 knots? We have a kite for you. You weigh 100 kg and there’s 12 knots? Also covered. Most schools have 30–50 kites and the student has to adapt to what’s available. With us, the equipment adapts to the student.
Full equipment overview on our shop page.
3. Walkie-Talkie
Already described above – real-time corrections on the water. Instant feedback instead of waiting for a debrief on shore.
4. Experience Since 2004
20+ years at the same spot means we know every meter of the lagoon, every wind shift, every situation that can arise. Our instructors aren’t just certified – they’re experienced. And that’s the difference.
What the Basic I Course Looks Like
Our most popular course for complete beginners:
- Duration: 8 hours (spread across 2–3 days)
- Price: from €465 (shared) / €695 (private)
- What you’ll learn: kite control, bodydrag, waterstart, first ride
- What’s included: all equipment, free IKO certification
- Prerequisites: none – you just need to know how to swim
After Basic I, most students can do a waterstart and a short ride in one direction. If you want to ride both ways and start going upwind, continue with Basic II.
Full course offerings at kitepowerelgouna.com/kite-courses/. Bookings via booking.
What If I Already Know the Basics?
The IKO system has multiple levels. If you’ve kitesurfed before, you don’t have to start from zero. At the beginning of the course, we assess your level and place you where it makes sense.
We have students who arrive after two years without kiting and need a “refresh.” We have students who learned elsewhere and want to fine-tune their technique. And we have advanced riders who want to learn new tricks or transition to wingfoiling.
The IKO certification you receive from us lets you prove your level at any school worldwide. No “start from the beginning” – show your card and get on the water.
Safety Is Not Optional
Every course begins with a safety briefing. Before every session, we check equipment, explain water conditions, and review safety procedures.
The lagoon in El Gouna is one of the safest places in the world to learn kitesurfing. Shallow water, no obstacles, sandy bottom. But even so – we take safety deadly seriously. Every student must know how to use the safety system before getting into the water.
On the water, we have a rescue boat and instructors are equipped to respond to any situation. In 20 years of operation, we have a safety record we’re proud of.
Conclusion
Teaching kitesurfing isn’t just about getting a student on the water and hoping it works out. It’s a system – the IKO method provides structure, walkie-talkies provide instant feedback, the lagoon provides safety, and 250+ kites provide flexibility.
The result? Students who after 8 hours of course are standing on a board and riding. It’s not magic – it’s method, equipment, and 20 years of experience in one place.
If you’re curious about exactly what the first lesson looks like step by step, read our article about the first kite lesson.