KiteTheBay invites you to experience San Francisco’s legendary winds from the safety and comfort of Windseeker, a 21-foot jet boat turned floating classroom. Founder and lead instructor John von Tesmar has spent over 16 years perf...
John stands out as an exceptional instructor who's mastered the art of teaching kiteboarding, wingfoiling, and efoiling through his innovative boat-based approach. Students consistently praise how this method accelerates learning, with real-time feedback delivered through helmet radios that makes corrections immediate and effective. His patience, professionalism, and ability to tailor instruction to individual skill levels come up repeatedly. The boat also means chasing wind conditions and avoiding downtime, plus he captures great photos and videos of your session. The overwhelming majority of students describe significant progress in single sessions and genuinely enjoy spending time with him. One serious safety concern does appear in the reviews involving an experienced kiter who felt abandoned during a gear rental situation, which stands in stark contrast to the consistent praise from lesson students about his attentiveness and care. For those booking actual lessons, the feedback suggests a top-tier learning experience with an instructor who knows how to get beginners comfortable and progressing quickly, particularly in the challenging San Francisco Bay conditions.
I had an amazing experience getting a three-hour lesson with John. John is a very thoughtful instructor. He has his own boat and his own system of teaching boarding technique plus kite control, which I found very helpful in my case, although I've taken many lessons before and this is not my first time. The views of the bay are really incredible, so I definitely recommend John, and I'll be back when I'm back in San Francisco.
E
March 28, 2026
I had an amazing experience getting a three-hour lesson with John. John is a very thoughtful instructor. He has his own boat and his own system of teaching boarding technique plus kite control, which I found very helpful in my case, although I've taken many lessons before and this is not my first time. The views of the bay are really incredible, so I definitely recommend John, and I'll be back when I'm back in San Francisco.
E
March 28, 2026