Tom and his team really do an excellent training. Me, totally new, and my two sons, one had experience, and tailored the kites and lessons for us. Tom recommended 5 hrs each and that was really just right. We took two days and by the second day I was starting to ride with some help getting started. My more experienced son was really able to get much better with the audio instructions coming over the remote radio in your helmet. The equipment was great. The location in Oso Bay is absolutely ideal. The wind conditions were ideal each day and the depth of the water was never over waist deep. Very soft bottom. We were here in mid March 2023. Recommend having a flexible schedule to allow for variations in the weather. Tom let us know which days would be best and we adjusted our schedule to match. He was dead on with the weather/wind. He even suggested days we would need a wetsuit, which he was right. Can't wait to come back. Absolutely recommend. read more

361Kite did a great job getting me up and riding. Aaron moved at my pace and covered each step of the process before moving to the next step. We focused on kite safety and had several drills to reinforce learning before moving to the next step. I went from having limited kite skills to riding by the end of the first lesson! I'm looking forward to returning to Corpus Christi to take more lessons as my skills advance. Corpus Christi is a great place for all levels of kiting. read more

361 Kite - Oso Bay - Corpus Christi - Kiteboarding Near Me

CERTIFIED AND VERY GOOD INSTRUCTOR: Tom as he explained unlike some others is certified. My son and I took kiteboarding lessons with Tom. He was very good teaching each of us. Without rushing us after first lesson we started riding the board while other instructors had their students keep handling the kite for 3-4 hours without even doing any body dragging. I know, every student is different but every instructor is different as well. For instance while other students were left alone for 20mn to figure how to position their kite for take off, Tom explained to us how to do it safely. Some of these other instructor students came to Tom for help (not to their own instructor who was MIA) and he did help them. That says a lot. read more

I set up an intermediate lesson with Tom and am so glad I did. Through his expert instruction and use of his radio helmets it was very easy to be able to address some of the issues I was having out on the water. This is an amazing sport and does take time to learn but hiring the right instructor makes a HUGE difference in how quickly you can ramp up to ride on your own. It was a pleasure meeting Tom and having him help me take my experience to another level. He is very knowledgeable, punctual, encouraging and patient when working with his students. I highly recommend him to anyone interested in taking up kiteboarding. read more

361 Kite - Kiteboarding Near Me

Went to Corpus this weekend specifically to get my hands on a kite & learn some basics about kiteboarding. I bought a groupon & added on an additional hour of instruction for a 2 hour lesson. At first, I was wary since there were no reviews about 361 Kite on Yelp. So I'm happy to contribute my experience. Tom is the main instructor for 361 Kite. He is a PASA (Professional Air Sports Association) certified instructor & has taught kiteboarding at schools before. He has history in wakeboarding & then sold his boat & got into kiteboarding. 1) Communication with Tom was easy-- email & text got us a meeting place & time 2) Tom's pretty easygoing & honest- he was honest about the weather & it possibly being difficult to do the 2nd hour of the lesson the same day (but thankfully all turned out ok) 3) He brought a cooler with drinks to keep us hydrated 4) He was organized & good at teaching. He had various equipment for people of all sizes & shapes. Tom was knowledgeable & ready to teach & set up everything very quickly. He was prepared & made learning enjoyable. 5) Safety was emphasized greatly. First thing you learn is what to do in case of emergencies. You get to practice safety measures before using a real kite. Didn't have any accidents & don't anticipate any if you follow his instructions. Within 2 hours, I got to learn the basics-- of wind, safety, setup & landing, maneuvering the kite. I got to fly a trainer kite & got on the water to try my hand with a 12 meter kite. Next time, hopefully I'll be able to do some body dragging & get on a board! :) You will need the following: 1) Flexible schedule- if you're only spending a day or 2 in Corpus, try to be flexible in case of bad weather 2) Water shoes- get the ones with velcro at the ankle that won't come off in the mud (I had to tredge in some muddy grounds & it was distracting when my shoe would get stuck & fall off) 3) Sunblock- ALOT of it... suffering from burnt back syndrome b/c it was cloudy & I didn't think I would get burned. 4) Neck/core muscles- neck muscles b/c I'm not used to looking up in the air so much & core muscles to stay balanced while the kite tugs you around. You do NOT need the following: 1) strong arms-- I have weak T-rex arms & wasn't really sore afterwards. 2) previous experience with anything else (but I'm sure wakeboarding/surfing would help significantly in later lessons) Overall, highly recommend Tom at 361 Kite :) read more

Tom is a great instructor and the class was well worth the cost. I had two short days on a recent work trip so I called up Tom and he made time in his schedule for me to get a lesson. The first day was basics but the second day I was out tearing it up on the bay. I'm definitely fired up and I'm going to go but a kite in virginia where I live. Tom, thank you for a great experience, tons of patience, and accommodating my schedule. I've picked up a new hobby and I can safely Kiteboard on the bay knowing what dangers exist out there. If you're in the Corpus Christi area, sign up for a lesson with Tom and thank me later. read more

361 Kite - We took this pic at the end of the first day's session. 8 meter airush kite. Awesome kite to learn on. - Kiteboarding Near Me

Had a lesson with Tom yesterday (owner of 361 kiteboarding), and had a fantastic overall experience. My experience level included one lesson that I had taken almost a year ago, so I had been up on a board before, but had little control and was still essentially a beginner He started with the basics of kiteboarding knowledge, moving quickly but thoroughly through the material. Teaching me about wind window, powering and depowering the kite, choosing kite size, understanding wind speed and everything else you need to know. He then showed me all of the equipment needed, how to get ready to launch and the do's and don'ts of buddy launching and self launching. Once we had covered safety and launching we took the kite out to the water. Tom did not use a training kite with me, but rather uses a smaller full kite with shortened lines. This kite was brand new (2014) and in fantastic condition. This means I started off with the same type of gear I would use when I started kiting by myself, with no need to transition from the arm-centric trainer kite to a more body-centric full kite. He was very insightful with his tips and within no time I was up and riding with the capability to ride upwind and full control in both directions. I went out the next day with some friends, and I learned to transition from one direction to another, keeping in mind the tips he had given me from the day before. The bottom line is that kiteboarding is a complex and involved sport to learn. I highly recommend getting lessons before going out by yourself to avoid injury. Please at least get them from someone, but if you want a guaranteed great instructor, get them from Tom over at 361! read more

I had a couple of lessons with Tom. Very professional and super patient!! He went above and beyond to help me. Thank you.

You won't find a more patient safety minded instructor. Old and out of shape and still can do it. Call Tom you won't regret it

I took a few lessons from Tom over the past few weeks and I am happy to recommend 361 Kite to anyone interested in learning to Kiteboard. He's got a lot of experience and did a great a job of not only teaching me the skills and knowledge necessary, but also helping me get involved in the local Kiteboarding community. read more

Respect the Wind!! If interested at all in experiencing kiteboarding I recommend you go to 361 Kite. Tom is an excellent instructor in teaching beginners and explaining how it works. He'll walk you through all the steps, go over all the safety, and get you out practicing in the water on the first lesson! read more