Your first kitesurfing lesson at Riah Kite Academy in El Gouna starts with a warm welcome at the beach station, followed by a structured progression from land-based kite control through to your first water sessions—all in a shallow, flat lagoon where you can stand at all times. Here is what a typical first day looks like, hour by hour, so you know exactly what to expect.

Arrival and Check-In

Getting to Riah

Most guests arrive from Hurghada airport, just 20 minutes away. Riah arranges airport transfers for €28 one way or €50 round trip. The drive is straightforward along the main coast road into El Gouna’s resort area.

When you arrive at Riah’s beach station, you’ll find a relaxed but professional setup: equipment storage, a restaurant and bar area, changing facilities, and the shallow lagoon stretching out in front of you.

Meeting Your Instructor

Your instructor will greet you, introduce themselves (Riah’s instructors speak 5 languages), and run through the day’s plan. With max 2 students per instructor, you’ll get genuinely personal attention—this isn’t a crowded group lesson where you’re waiting your turn.

You’ll be fitted with a radio communication helmet that lets your instructor talk to you in real time while you’re on the water. This is one of Riah’s distinctive features—most schools shout from the beach or use hand signals.

The Theory Session (First 30-45 Minutes)

Understanding the Basics

Before touching a kite, you’ll cover essential theory:

Wind window: Where the kite can fly safely and where it generates power
Safety systems: How to depower the kite, release in emergencies, and use the safety leash
Right of way: Basic water rules so you don’t collide with other kiters
Self-rescue: What to do if you need to get back to shore without assistance

This isn’t a boring lecture. Your instructor will use the actual equipment to demonstrate each concept, showing you the safety release mechanisms hands-on and explaining how the kite responds to your bar movements.

Land-Based Kite Control (Hours 1-2)

Your First Kite Flight

You’ll start on the beach with a small trainer kite or a full-size kite (depending on wind conditions and your instructor’s judgment). The goal is building muscle memory for:

Bar steering: Pulling left or right to direct the kite
Power control: Sheeting in (pulling the bar) for more power, pushing out for less
Kite position: Learning to park the kite at different positions in the wind window

This phase feels playful—you’re standing on solid ground, the kite is doing interesting things above you, and you’re building the fundamental reflexes that will keep you safe on the water.

Body Dragging Introduction

Once you have basic control, your instructor may introduce body dragging—lying in the shallow water and letting the kite pull you across the surface. In El Gouna’s 0.6-1m deep lagoon with sandy bottom, this is about as safe as body dragging gets anywhere in the world. You can stand up at any point.

Water Sessions (Hours 2-3)

Into the Lagoon

With kite control established on land, you’ll move into the water. The shallow lagoon means you’re wading in at knee-depth—there’s no dramatic deep-water entry. Your instructor stays close, communicating through the radio helmet.

In the water, you’ll practice:

Water relaunch: Getting the kite back up if it falls into the water
Controlled power strokes: Steering the kite through the power zone to generate pull
Board introduction: Getting the board on your feet while managing the kite

First Board Attempts

Don’t expect to be riding upwind on day one—that’s a multi-session progression. But by the end of your first session (3 hours), most beginners have:

Controlled the kite confidently on land and water
Successfully body-dragged across the lagoon
Put the board on and attempted their first water starts
Possibly ridden a short distance downwind

After Your Session

De-Brief and Next Steps

Your instructor will review what you accomplished, what to focus on next time, and answer questions. If you’re on the Beginner Course (€660, 12 hours), you’ll typically have 3-hour sessions over 4-6 days.

Relax at Riah

After your session, Riah’s facilities are available: grab lunch at the on-site restaurant, have a drink at the bar, try a yoga class for post-session stretching, or use the co-working space if you need to catch up on work.

What Makes Riah’s First Lesson Different?

2:1 student-instructor ratio: You’re not sharing attention with 6 other beginners
Radio helmets: Real-time voice coaching while you’re in the water
Shallow lagoon: 0.6-1m depth means you can always stand up
North Kiteboarding equipment: Professional-grade gear, properly maintained
IKO 5/5 certified: International standard instruction and progression
Rescue boat backup: Safety infrastructure in case you need assistance

Practical Tips for Your First Day

Arrive 15-20 minutes early to get settled
Wear reef shoes or water booties (sandy bottom, but protection is wise)
Apply sunscreen before your session—the Red Sea sun is intense
Bring a water bottle (dehydration sneaks up)
Wear a rashguard for sun protection
Don’t eat a heavy meal right before your lesson

Ready to experience your first day at Riah? The Discovery Course (€360, 6 hours) gives you a taste, while the Beginner Course (€660, 12 hours) takes you to IKO Level 2 certification. Both include all equipment, instruction, and that game-changing radio helmet.