Here is the information that anyone can provide; 120 euro for three hours with the company Pure Magic, on Lake Keel, Achill Island. On the other hand, what I can offer is a descriptive personal experience so as you can make up your mind before you start counting the pennies.

 It was, in reality, 120 euro to stand knee-deep in dirty water while the heavens pissed on you, and you flew a kite. However, I am no cynic, I am so glad I did it. Instruction was land based for the first hour and a half using a little kite, learning the theory such as the names of the kite’s equipment, wink, wink and all that malarkey. The latter half, we progressed to the real kite and in all seriousness stood in water up to our knees and through trial and error learned how to control it.

With half an hour remaining on the clock I psyched myself up for some time on the board. When I expressed my anticipation I received my equivalent of a slap in the face. Apparently you don’t get to try the board until the third or fourth lesson. Silence, followed by horror. No, no, what we got to do was much more exciting and more importantly, it was safe. The old fella (other pupil) and I, crippled in our safety gear got to kneel in the water and be dragged a few meters by the kite, until we were recalled to safety by a whistle, just in case we passed the pink buoy and drowned in the murky depths of the scarier hip high water. My badly needed adrenaline rush fizzled out promptly.

So freezing and pissed off, I stood like a drown rat as me and your man took turns holding the kite, feeling like a loser as all around us the chiseled vagabonds whirled through the air showing off and laughing at my hapless expression.

However, I cannot write off this sport because technically I never got to kite surf, but Il be damned if I’m coughing up another 320 euro to get to lesson number four where I actually get to touch a board. So Instead my new mission will be to find a nice young man that I will charm and he will teach me free of charge!