I will show you today what are the best GoPro accessories for kitesurfing and how to mount a GoPro to a kite in order for you to capture the best possible footage. Kitesurfing is one of my favorite water sports that I enjoy doing here in Dubai and in different places around the world.
If you haven’t got a GoPro yet then I invite you to check my GoPro camera comparison chart where I compare between the three Hero4 models using my personal experience with these cameras. You might also like to see my #1 ultimate GoPro guide that aims to help you get the most out of your GoPro.
Properly Set Up Your GoPro
I did this mistake many more times than I can remember! I would go out with a 4K setting at 30fps which I don’t need at all when shooting kitesurf videos, it creates huge files and eats both my battery life and memory card. I now make sure all is set up before heading out to the beach.
I always use the 1080p 60fps resolution, I think it’s enough for me during my kitesurfing sessions. But again it’s up to you, and it also depends on the GoPro model you’re using, but as I said, keep in mind the battery and the memory card.
I also check that the housing is clean and not foggy, battery is full and memory card has enough space. You don’t want to go out there, smash an amazing session and to discover later that your footage sucks or the camera died after 10 minutes.
If you want to create an awesome video later on then the important thing here is to be able to catch footage from different angles hence the need to have different GoPro mounts that need to be attached to you or your board. I usually use the below 4 accessories when surfing:
Let me Show you my Best GoPro Accessories for Kitesurfing
1- GoPro Surfboard Mount
Every kitesurfer needs this mount, if you don’t have it already then you’re missing a lot. Sometimes if I don’t want to over-complicate things I only use this surfboard mount. It gives the best video angle while surfing.
I fix it at the front of my board using the adhesive 3M anchors (which is really strong by the way) then I attach the GoPro facing me. I also make sure to use the camera tether for extra safety in case the camera adhesive mount detaches while in the water (just to be on the safe side).
This mount plus the GoPro wide lens gives me awesome shooting angle, it’s my best surfing accessory that I absolutely use every time I Kitesurf.
You can get your GoPro Surf Mount from HERE.
2- GoPro Floaty Backdoor
Even though my GoPro is properly fixed with the adhesive anchors and attached with a tether, I always use the floaty backdoor and I advise you to do the same.
You never know what can happen in the water,you can lose your GoPro in seconds if it detaches from the surfboard which happened a lot to my friends, you don’t want to risk it and lose the camera and the footage you took.
This floaty backdoor will keep your GoPro afloat plus it only takes a few seconds to replace the GoPro backdoor so why not use it.
You can get your GoPro Floaty Backdoor from HERE.
3- Chest Harness/Head Strap
Another favorite accessory I use for almost all my activities is the chesty (Chest Harness). The beautiful thing about it is the shooting angle.
It’s attached to your chest so it moves with your body and shoots what you see in front of you. As I said earlier, I use this strap everywhere whether I’m surfing, hiking or cycling, I think it’s suitable for all types of outdoor activities.
Another good accessory that is similar to the Chesty is the head strap, I also like it but not as much as the chesty because it’s not as comfortable, the shooting angle is higher and moves as you move your head.
It looks the same as a headlamp and it capture a headlamp-like perspective which is higher than the chest strap, I don’t think it’s very suitable for kitesurfing honestly because you can barely capt the board and your knees but for each person their own opinion, some people may prefer this one over the chest harness.
You can get your GoPro Chest Harness from HERE.
4- GoPro Kite Line Mount
The best kitesurfing mount I have is the Camrig line mount, the shooting angle it provides is really awesome. This mount attaches onto two lines of your kite, close to the bar.
It’s compatible with both 4 and 5 lines kites. This mount is very well designed and can hold pretty good on the lines. This is an updated model of the earlier version, it has been strengthened in three critical areas and the nut has been embedded in the mount so it doesn’t get lost in the sea. This GoPro kite line mount is a must have, check how awesome the point of view is from the photo below:
Another good thing is the ability to use with or without the floaty backdoor (my advise would be to ALWAYS use the floaty backdoor), you never know what can happen and you can lose your GoPro in seconds.
This mount is compatible with most of the GoPro models (Hero, Hero+, Hero 3, Hero 3+, Hero 4). So if you are into kitesurfing, you really cannot go wrong with this mount, a must have for all kitesurfers.
You can get your Camrig GoPro Kite Line Mount from Here
5- GoPro Kiteboarding Strut Mount
Another awesome mount that gives a very cool shooting angle. As its name says, the kiteboarding strut mount is attached to the strut mount of your kite.
Be aware that this mount works with kites that do not have struts sewn to canopy, strut must be free from canopy at strap mount. It’s compatible with all GoPro models, it has an EVA strap base for solid and secure placement and a 2 inch Velcro strap for extra stability.
The strap makes really stable that it doesn’t move at all, I get awesome footage from this mount, it has an all-around shooting angle so you can capt an extremely wide angle.
There is another way to mimic a strut mount using the GoPro head strap, well it’s not as safe as the PKS strut mount above but can do the job, although I personally wouldn’t recommend it. Check the below video for a quick guide on how to use the head strap as a strut mount for your GoPro.
You can get your PKS Kiteboarding Strut Mount from Here
Here’s a video that shows you how to mount a GoPro to a kite
My Advice
Now that you have an idea of the different GoPro kitesurfing accessories, you can check what suits you the best and get it. I personally have all the above accessories.
Each accessory gives you a unique shooting angle/perspective. I would normally use two accessories at a time, like the surfboard and the line mount to capture two angles then combine them when editing my video, believe me it’s really great when you’re shooting simultaneously from two angles. So if you own two GoPro cameras then I advise you to go ahead and experiment with two angles, I’m sure you’ll love it!
There you have it ladies and gentlemen!
What do you think of my GoPro kitesurfing accessories? Let me know by leaving a comment in the comments section below 🙂
April 1, 2016 at 10:59 pm
Hey Michel,
I haven’t been kite surfing in about 2 years, but the last time I went it was really fun. The only problem is every once in awhile I would fall off, which wasn’t really all that bad. Most of the time people just laughed at me. I was interested in what you think are the best locations for kite surfing though?
April 2, 2016 at 1:39 am
Hi Garen, it’s because kitesurfing is fun that I consider it my favorite water activity. Falling is normal, everyone does even pro kitesurfers. I think falling adds to the fun. For me, the best locations are SriLanka and Zanzibar. You can find amazing spots there. I can send you the exact locations by email if you’re interested.
Cheers bud
April 1, 2016 at 4:51 pm
I have a GoPro and it is awesome.. I used it on my sons kitesurfing classes and had the head mount.. so you could connect to a strap that goes on a head band so you can wear it on the crown of your head.. it came out with really good and steady footage of my sons kitesurf videos.I was very impressed by how steady it was while I was walking running and looking around.. I suggest everyone try the Gopro.. its an awesome camera.
April 1, 2016 at 9:30 pm
Hey man, yeah GoPro is really an amazing camera. With the variety of mount options you have, it can be mounted anywhere and used for all kind of activities. You may want to consider getting the camrig line mount when your son becomes more advanced in kitesurf. Cheers
March 30, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Just in the right time! I think I will be purchasing a GoPro soon for my next kitesurfing trip. I’m considering to get these mounts, I really liked the Camrig line mount, it really gives a cool angle that shows all the action. Thank you very much for your help.
March 30, 2016 at 6:08 pm
I do agree with you on the Camrig line mount! I personally use it most of the time since as you said gives one the best shooting angles that you can get while kitesurfing. I would advise you to experiment with 2 GoPros, that way you can shoot from two point of views then combine them later during the video editing!
Let me know how it goes with the mount 🙂
Cheers!
March 14, 2016 at 1:38 am
Hi Michel,
Lots more here than I ever thought possible for GoPro products. Thanks for the education. You seem very knowledgeable of the products and how they work. Best battery, exposure, the whole nine yards. Again, GOOD Job.
Cheers!
Jim
March 14, 2016 at 10:28 am
Hi Jim,
As you said, GoPro has tens of products, ranging rom accessories to cameras. You can also find many more aftermarket stuff.
I acquired this knowledge by experimenting with different cameras and accessories I owned over the past years and it’s something I like and passionate about.
Glad you liked the post!
March 14, 2016 at 1:09 am
Wow this makes me want to take up the sport of kitesurfing just so I can GoPro. Very visual and easy to understand. Thank you for all the good information!
March 14, 2016 at 10:17 am
Indeed, kitesurfing is an amazing sport. I’m glad you liked the article, cheers!
March 13, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Michel,
Those are some awesome pictures! You mention doing these activities in Dubai, funny enough I am hoping to be there on vacation next month! I’ve never surfed or done any water sports in my life though. Would you suggest a specific location for beginners in Dubai? Great post, thanks for sharing your tips and tricks!
March 14, 2016 at 10:14 am
Hey Irvan, because of its location and weather (summer all year around lol) Dubai is a good place to learn water sports. The wind here is not perfect but I do enjoy kitesurfing 2-3 times per month, the wind goes up mostly in the afternoon. If you’re coming to Dubai for a week or more than I advise you to try to take a beginner kitesurfing course, you will love it! Ask for the “Kite Beach”, most kitesurfers go there. I hope this helps!
March 13, 2016 at 8:18 pm
Cool accessories! Damn, I would really want a GoPro, but they’re all so pricy. Well, at least for my financial situation.
What would you recommend for a user who wants a budget-friendly GoPro action camera with a head mount?
March 13, 2016 at 9:07 pm
Hi there Julius! If you’re on a budget you can still get the GoPro Hero which is the cheapest GoPro camera, it has less features than the Hero4 but can shoot full HD videos at a good frame rate. You can use many accessories along with it including the head strap.
I hope this helps!
Michel