Get the basics right and the rest follows naturally ...

The first thing you need to learn is how to ‘brace’ against the pull of the kite, keeping your feet apart and leaning back against the pressure.

Next comes learning to skid – like bracing, except you increase the power until you slide forward on the soles of your shoes.

Once you’ve mastered the first two, you can learn how to jump.

Think of these as the three steps to kiting heaven. It’s essential you take things one step at a time - you need to learn how to brace before you can skid and you certainly need to know how to skid before you can jump.

All this takes time, so be patient. You can't expect to go from novice to expert in a few sessions. It takes discipline and practice, especially if you’re planning to go buggying or kite landboarding where you have to control a powerkite and vehicle at the same time.

Keep at it and you’ll learn to react intuitively to the kite.

Remember, there’s more to kiting than simply increasing the power. Try to set yourself goals like learning a new move or perfecting an old one. If you start finding yourself short of thrills then try pushing the kite and yourself before upgrading your kit – just don't push too hard and overstep your skill level. As Dirty Harry once said, a good man always knows his limitations.