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Editor's Note: Eric Beaudonnat is a professional sports trainer and instructor since 1991 specialized in sailing. He has been kiteboarding since 1997 and started teaching soon after. He was kiteboarding instructor’s trainer for the FFVL and UCPA before creating the Wipika school network teaching concepts. In 2001, he co-founded the IKO, International Kiteboarding Organization, www.ikorg.com. In his latest book, Kiteboarding Vision, he brings us a comprehensive vision of all aspects of kiteboarding in order for the readers to get a comprehensive and complete picture of the sport.

What is this book about?

It’s about kiteboarding! Knowing all there is to know in order to be safe and enjoy the sport whatever your level.

What is different about your book?

It regroups theoretical (such as why can we jump, meteorology and safety) and practical (such as equipment, getting started, improving) subjects with drawings, pictures, 3D views, which is quite unique on the market. Kiteboarding vision (in French Kitesurf, s’initier & progresser, published by Amphora) answers the needs of kiteboarders and people who want to discover the sport because it is easy to understand and provides a lot of visual information.

What were your main reasons for writing this book?

There wasn’t a book on the market I could recommend to a student or to our instructors that gathered all the information they required, so I listened to everyone and answered their questions with as much details as possible.

I have helped many kiteboarders around the world improve or learn kiteboarding; I wrote this book in order to give the same help to everyone.

Who is it targeted to?

Beginners, intermediate, advanced riders - regardless of their level, there is something useful in the book. But it is not only targeted to kiteboarders: some people simply want to understand how this sport works!

What is the best way to start kiteboarding?

The best way to start is to take a two hour discovery course to know if you want to continue and plan the required four to six lessons to become fully independent. Take lessons with a certified instructor. You can find the list of all IKO certified instructors on www.ikorg.com.

According to you, what are the most important things a person should know in order to start kiteboarding?

All the details are important but knowing about safety is the most important as it is a dangerous sport. Reading Kiteboarding Vision will teach beginners a lot but it does not replace a lesson with a qualified instructor and it is important to repeat all the exercises with an instructor. Keep in mind there are only two prerequisites: you must want to have fun and be able to swim!

Is there an age limit to practice the sport?

The physical condition is the limit, not the age; it depends on each one of us. As for children, they can start as early as 8 years old but under strict supervision. I would recommend the child is at least 12 so he can understand the power of the kite and feels responsible when flying one.

You have been deeply involved in teaching kiteboarding since almost the birth of this sport. How come?

I started as a sailing instructor before becoming a kiteboarding one. The first time I tried kiteboarding was with Manu Bertin and Bruno Legaignoux. I was amazed by the possibilities. But I also realized that there was a lot of work to do to make this sport accessible to the public. I started writing my ideas and feedbacks, and that is how it started.

Then, I worked with different people and groups such as the UCPA (Union des Centres de Plein Air), the FFVL (French paragliding Federation) and Wipika in order to develop a worldwide school network. This finally led to the creation of the IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization). All these experiences gave me the opportunity to travel many times around the world, giving me an open vision of the kiteboarding world.

Why did you decide to create the IKO? What are its objectives?

We (Fred and I) thought of founding an international kiteboarding organization in order to ensure the safe development of the sport and where all kiteboarding manufacturers would be involved and supportive. That is why we offered them to participate in the creation of a common organization. Flexifoil and Takoon were the only ones who decided to help during the first year, but since it was only those two, we were labeled as belonging to them. The following year, we decided to become totally independent.

IKO objectives are to help the development of kiteboarding in a safe way while providing learning and improvement opportunities to everyone. The IKO is currently the only kiteboarding organization acting worldwide.

As co-founder of the IKO, what advice would you give to a person who wants to get involved in the kiteboarding business?

We founded the IKO in a small flat three years ago, now there are almost 800 instructors around the world and more than 40 000 kiteboarders trained in our affiliated centers. My advice would be: do what you believe in and keep having fun while doing it no matter what happens.

Do you still have time to practice kiteboarding?

I practice as soon as the wind picks up above 12 knots. I work six hours in the morning so that I can go enjoy kiteboarding with my wife and other riders of the spot. Then I go back to work.

What else do you do?

I love shaping my own boards. It taught me a lot and allows me to ride the boards I like and change very often to try different ones. I spend the rest of my free time reading science magazine or books.

What is your best kiteboarding memory and your worst!?

Best riding ever: two year ago with two friends, glassy waves, side off shore wind.

My worst memory would be a two and a half hours swimming back against a current in 11° C water after having lost my kite. It was at the beginning of the sport and the equipment did not have safety systems and the kites were not always relaunchable from the water.

How do you imagine kiteboarding’s future?

I imagine kiteboarding a lot easier than is today and with more practice possibilities such as waves, jump, cruising, free style, speed.

But most of all, I see the equipment completely changed and believe the evolution is one step away!