I recommend booking private lessons with Giovanni Tran. His patience and ability to personalize my lesson allowed me to progress safely and very quickly. Within 4 hours, I was lapping back and forth at the bay winds spot, having never done it before. Giovanni respected my time by telling what to do and whether or not I was doing it. None of the fluffy what not to do lectures here! The Baywinds spot is knee-waist deep during high tide, perfect for walking upwind and learning. On average I am paying 123$/hr for instruction. Considering gear is included and Giovanni has well over 20 years of experience teaching, this is a bargain! read more

Wind Over Water Lessons - The spot on a weekday afternoon - Kiteboarding Near Me - Foster City, California

Giovanni got me riding in just a few hours. By the end of the lesson I was starting to practice going upwind and getting comfortable riding. Having it broken into 3 two hour sessions was helpful as it allowed me time to study and practice a little in between so the time with Giovanni was maximized on instruction not practice. Giovanni really cares and is passionate, his instruction is straightforward and the process was clearly explained, before hand. He clearly demonstrates safe handling practices and where the risk factors lie. He is very attentive and gives instant feedback. There is no substitute for experience, I'm an autodidact and had watched tutorials on every subject covered, having a good teacher's supervision was well worth it, in terms of time and safety. I never got yanked bc I listened the one time things started to get hairy. Thanks Giovanni! read more

I highly recommend Giovanni for kiteboarding lessons. I was an absolute beginner, and he did a great job explaining all the terminology, and how to be safe. Because of he has so much experience, he is able to see exactly what I was doing wrong, and describe how to do it successfully. He also provided gear recommendations and a safety checklist to make sure you rig everything safely. read more

I had an incredible lesson with Giovanni at 3rd Ave today and I couldn't recommend him more highly. He even set aside his own time after the lesson to help me with the drudgery of untangling my tangled lines. Six stars. read more

Giovanni makes sure that you learn all the safety procedures, so that you are ready for your independent launches and you come back to land safely. He supplemented with good reading material. I took beach side lessons at 3rd ave, and jetski assisted lessons with Jeff at Oyster Pt. which got me riding! The locations are best in bay area and instructors are awesome! read more

Had an amazing class with Giovanni after a 2-season break. Quickly got me back on my board. Can highly recommend!

Giovanni is an awesome instructor. Super patient, super knowledgeable, and really focused on making sure you're safe and actually understand what you're doing. He breaks everything down step by step--from setting up the kite to getting up on the board--and makes sure you don't just go through the motions but really get it. What I appreciated most is that he's right there with you in the water the whole time, giving you feedback and helping you fix things as you go. He doesn't rush you or get frustrated--just calmly helps you figure it out and keeps you going. You can tell he's been doing this forever and has seen it all. If you're looking to learn kitesurfing the right way and want someone who really cares about you learning safely and properly, Giovanni's your guy. read more

One-on-one lessons with instructor Giovanni who himself went through all the ups and downs in his long kitesurfing career means you'll get a very safety oriented kitesurf training which will also provide you with a plan B in case something goes wrong. Giovanni always patiently explains all the very critical details of how to build, correctly launch, operate the kite, and one will get enough opportunities to make mistakes and learn from Giovanni on the go. Also during the first board lessons Giovanni doesn't move from your side and is always next to you in the water tirelessly giving you instantaneous feedback and corrections for your next trial to be successful. His never ending patience and life long experience brings even absolute beginners like me on the board. This is definitely the instructor you are looking for if you commit to learn kite surfing without rush and for long term and stay safe on your own from the day one! read more

Giovanni was great and super experienced. Made it super easy and was up and riding quickly.

Currently taking 1:1 lessons with Giovanni and I would definitely recommend him as an instructor. He has decades of experience in kiteboarding, but allows you to learn at your own pace. He cares about his students and teaches fundamental skills from safely setting up, launching, popping up, and riding. Definitely recommend. read more

had two lessons with giovanni. He explained things well is super knowledgeable and has a great attitude and personality. If I get to take another lesson, it will definitely be from him. Thank you for all your help! read more

Giovanni taught me to Kitesurf out at 3rd Ave and it was a blast. He was so patient and taught me all the safety precautions and pre flight checks we needed to go through before launching the kite. I was up and riding after about 2-3 hours with Giovanni and his tips were very helpful. Definitely recommend this dude, knows what he's doing and a great teacher! read more

Giovanni is a good instructor. Nice, patient and pay attention details. Lessons and suggestions on water start is very useful.

Giovanni is a great teacher. He has been teaching kite surfing for over 20 years and is extremely knowledgeable. He got me riding on the board within 3 lessons. read more

Giovanni is absolutely awesome. He won't only teach you kite boarding, but he will also teach you valuable lessons in life as you walk back from the lesson. An awesome teacher and a really good person to hang out with. I would highly recommend him for any lessons if you are a beginner. His teaching style is flexible and professional. Don't hesitate if you want to learn how to kite board! Will read more

This was my second ever kitesurfing lesson, and Giovanni got me not only riding, but riding upwind. I took my first lesson in North Carolina and was disappointed with the instruction. Wind Over Water and Giovanni did lessons the right way. First of all, he stood in the water WITH me, so he could speak clearly to me about what we were doing (the NC lesson the guy stood on shore and shouted and I couldn't hear him). We discussed the gear/equipment and then went out into the water, after a few halfway decent rides, I asked Giovanni if he could ride the board back upwind for me so I could watch him and compare what I saw with what I felt. This helped in two ways, 1. I could see the correct technique, and 2. I could walk without having to fly the kite which saved my energy. Finally he said something to me which was similar to previous instruction but it just "clicked" better. The very next start, I was riding, and was able to turn upwind. It was literally a few words that made it click for me. I was able to ride every time from there till the end of the day. The gear was modern and usable, although I had some slight issues with the velcro on the board foot-straps. I was told this would be fixed in the future and it wasn't too big of a problem. Since the lesson went well, Giovanni even went to shore and started taking photos and videos so that I could share with my family. They also allowed me to extend my time since the weather was nice. Prior to my lesson, Giovanni sent me a very detailed text message with directions and what to expect. I would definitely recommend WOW lessons w/ Giovanni. The location at Baywinds Park was plenty big for what we needed and it wasn't too bad to walk over there from the parking lot. read more

My husband and 12-year-old son have taken multiple lessons from Giovanni after learning the basics from Jeff, and their experience has been wonderful. Giovanni is patient and knowledgeable, and he has taught them many valuable skills. read more

Walking along the beach near Golden Gate Bridge, I have always been fasinated by those kiters cruising over water, jumping and doing tricks in the air. Thanks Giovanni and Jeff for introducing me into kiteboarding and making me realize one day I could become one of those kiters! My friend and I took the 3 lesson package together. First two as a group with Giovanni at 3rd Ave and last one privately with Jeff at Oyster Point. They provided everything to get us started. With Giovanni we covered most of the basics and safety info and at the end of second lesson my friend had been getting up and riding already! The lesson with Jeff was jet ski supported so we drove to a wide open spot with nobody around and got tons of water start practice. As a group we were also given some extra lesson time and Giovanni also borrowed us his trainer kite for practicing. We also got advice on getting our own gears and practicing independently after the lessons. They are not only experienced and knowledgable kiteboarders, but also great instructors who are eager to introduce you into this sport safely and happily! read more

Wind Over Water Lessons - Kiteboarding Near Me - Foster City, California

I took about 10 kiteboarding lessons (20 hours) with WOW. Both with Geovanni at 3rd Ave. and Jeff at Oyster Point (jet ski supported) by the airport. Both are extremely knowledgeable and provide the tools you need to get started. I have been practicing on my own now and after about 10 times without instruction have been able to kite up wind and even get a few transitions in. I had no experience with many board or wind sports. I am very happy with my progress and would recommend both instructors. Kite boarding is as fun as it looks. Try it, you'll love it - but give it the time such a demanding sport requires. read more

Thank you Giovanni! I learned a ton from you and felt very safe. I appreciate your level of skill and patience with me - and especially with my frustration with the mud... hah? You made the lesson very fun for me!!! You are a beautiful human! read more

I took lessons with Giovanni and now I'm riding consistently. He is a very responsible and diligent instructor, doesn't waste any time and you'll get the most out of each 2 hour session. Very detailed about safety too. I highly recommend the lesson. read more

Both my dad and I booked beginner lessons together. Giovanni was a very good instructor for us and helped me get up on the water after only about 3 and a half hours. read more

As 60 year old, with no experience in wind or water sports, I tried kiteboarding. Giovanni was my first instructor. With his endurance mindset ("Never give up!"), and safety ethic ("Let go the bar!"), he helped me develop a love of the sport. Being in 60's himself (although you'd never guess it), he brings a wealth of experience to his students. I now enjoy kiteboarding more than I ever imagined. read more

Nicole and I took a refresher lesson with Giovanni at 3rd Avenue. We had lots of fun in the water and Giovanni was very flexible in adjusting his teaching style to our needs. He ensured that we understood all the kite sport's safety aspects. We now feel comfortable kiting on our own! read more

Jeff and Giovanni are both superb instructors. I took two lessons with Jeff at Oyster Point and learned a lot. Then I took the final lesson with Giovanni at 3rd Avenue where I plan to do most of my kiteboarding. I was up on the board the first day. I got a lot of great safety info and very practical info on kite control and getting up on the board. I also got a lot of practical advice on equipment and what to buy (this alone is super valuable). Love these guys. Keep up the great work. read more

Giovanni at Wind Over Water is awesome. His personalized approach to teaching allows him to challenge students without pushing too hard. I felt safe, confident, and had a blast learning with him. He's also wise, funny, and an excellent kiteboarder himself. If you're on the fence about getting started, I strongly recommend reaching out to him and Wind Over Water. You won't regret it. read more

Great team with an effective learning environment! Giovanni is extremely knowledgeable about kiting and safety. He was able to take me from crashing the trainer kite to riding upwind consistently in a handful of sessions. He watches the wind forecast and recommends the best days for lessons. If you need help getting started and comfortable kiting on your own, this is the place. read more

I had great learning sessions with Giovanni. Great instructor with years of experiences. He made me feel very safe & comfortable. Very friendly & funny guy. I started from getting very scared to launch the kite to comfortably ride on the board. I had a blast the entire time of my kiting lessons with him. Def recommend Giovanni as the instructor. read more

Giovanni is a great instructor. He gives great cues and emphasizes safety and is all around a good guy. Can't recommend him enough!

I've started to take kiteboarding lessons with Giovanni for 3 hours and was totally impressed by his teaching style and knowledge coupled with his life lessons. He made the whole sport drastically digestible and actionable for new learners. I was able to ride within 3 hours (totally unexpected). I've just signed up for 7 more hours with Giovanni to immerse myself in the sport. If you are new to the sport and want to try it out, Giovanni might be one of the best instructors not just in Bay Area but in the world. read more

Mr. Giovanni is one of the best instructors I ever had, very detail-oriented, in my second session I got on my board, oh boy it felt so good. read more

I had my classes with Giovanni. I was very happy with his safety oriented approach and adaptability to my learning needs. I had my first ride over the water last Saturday and it was awesome! read more

Had an amazing lesson with Giovanni! He taught me how to go upwind and I was able to do it very fast thanks to his advice. Highly recommend it! read more

Super great experience with Giovanni ! In 6 hours he teached me how to be autonomous in a very efficient way and his advices was very useful to quickly and safely learn kite surfing. I fully recommend lessons with him and has recommend him to my friends :) Thanks ! read more

Giovanni and Jeff are accommodating and helpful when setting up lesson. Giovanni has been my instructor 4 times. He focuses on safety and setting up correctly. I'm nearly 50, and can fly like a bird. I have my wings. I still have two more lessons in the Bay Area and am looking forward to them. if you also want to be entertained then Giovanni is the man for you. I took home lots of funny stories. read more

I bought a coupon from Zozi for a lesson with WOW. I was told by many boarders to go with the ladies at board sport school, but I was totally lured by the "deal" and the fact that I live very close to the WOW shop. I bought a 4 hour lesson and it clearly said it was both a land lesson and a water lesson. I had an average time scheduling the lesson. Jeff was a hard person to catch. Apparently he is traveling the world, but I was patient at the beginning so it was okay. The first thing that should have alarmed me was that the guy who did my lesson (Joe Cool) didn't bring any water gear or a board. I thought maybe I would go back later to the van to get the board and water gear. I waited quite a bit for the lesson to start and then waited for another guy who paid for the 1 hour land lesson. When he showed up we started. It was very slow and we spent a lot of time "talking" and waiting for Joe as he was very slow. I was patient, I thought when the other guy would leave we would get into the water. But when the other guy was ready to leave, 3 hours into the course we hadn't learned much but Joe was done with us. Joe cool told me the wind was dying and I should talk to Adam at the WOW shop and he would hook me up with a lesson. I was expecting to just show up the next weekend and get on the water. Guess what, after many emails with Adam, "the best he could do" was discount the $220 water lesson to $200. What a ripoff!!! I was annoyed by this, as according to the Zozi deal this was all included. read more

My daughter and I took some more kiteboarding lessons this year. My daughter enjoyed learning new skills from Jeff Kafka. I really enjoyed my lessons with Rob and Tai. Rob is an awesome instructor. He provided instruction and feedback to get me up and riding again. Tai is a great instructor. He gave me some great tips to help improve my kitesurf skills. Highly recommend Wind Over Water for kite boarding lessons and instruction. read more

Similar to some of the other reviewers, we had a mixup with the Zozi deal. Upon arriving, we were told we were only going to do a land lesson. We spent about 30 minutes debating the deal (I forgot the printout but remembered confirming it including water time before purchasing). At the end, my boyfriend and I along with another fellow, went out with Joe (an instructor) and talked about kiteboarding until the wind finally picked up and we took turns flying the kite. It was low key and not what we expected but we had a pretty good time as Joe was really nice. When I got home, I looked up the deal and sent the details to Jeff and asked when we could come for the water portion of the class. He was very prompt in texting and scheduled a day for us. He kept us in the loop for the schedule since it's so dependent on the wind. We were taught by Xantos who was incredible. It was just the 3 of us and he took us out in the bay on a jetski and taught us how to kiteboard by bodydragging. He was a patient and friendly teacher. We ended up having a great time and felt we got a good feel for kiteboarding which is exactly what we hoped when we found the Zozi deal. I'm bummed to read the reviews of bad experiences with the deal. Yes- they might not be the most organized folks, but they are professional and fantastic with instruction. We plan to go back for further classes! read more

Kitesurfing is an amazing spot, but has it's hazards. It's not safe to learn on your own on the Bay Area beaches with lots of people cruising around which threaten the sport and beach access if something goes wrong. Jeff Kafka and WOW kite take their teaching and safety seriously. They take you out on a Waverunner to the middle of the Bay - which a great, thrilling and safe place to learn. One lesson on the jetski is like 10 days on your own. If you want to learn Kitesurfing you should.... Just make sure you get the right training and safety skills. WOW kite is the best of the bay. Jeff Kafka is also head safety for the big wave world tour, so you know you're in good hands. read more

I have had two lessons with WOW, one of which was through the zozi deal I bought. I had absolutely no trouble scheduling a lesson. There were three of us in a group and the instructor did a fantastic job moving us through each exercise. He was very attentive to us and made sure we grasped each concept. He was very safety oriented and simulated various emergency situations. I really appreciate how thorough he was because when we got into the water that same day, I was readily able to apply the skills I learned on land. My second lesson was a two hour lesson out on the water. They take you out in a jet ski and review the concepts from your first lesson. They make sure you are comfortable with this before moving onto the board. I even got up on the board and was actually kiting in only my second lesson (albeit for a short time each time, but heck it was a success in my mind). I also got to practice relaunching the kite and additional safety routines, which is important. I'm definitely going back for at least one more lesson with these guys. read more