Kite lesson no-wind policy: rescheduling, credits and refunds
The short answer
A good no-wind policy for kite lessons says who decides (the instructor, within wind ranges the school sets for each level), when students are told, and what they get: a new time, their credit back or a refund. It also covers wind that is too strong, gusty or offshore. Write it down, show it before purchase and apply it to everyone.
When there is no wind, or too much, a kite lesson needs a rule written in advance: who decides (the instructor, within ranges the school sets), when students are told, and what they get (a new time, their credit back or a refund). Show the rule before purchase and apply the same one to everyone.
Why does a kite school need a wind policy?
Because calm and blown-out days will happen, often. Without a written rule, every one turns into a chat negotiation: one student wants a refund, another wants a full slot, a third turns up at the beach without seeing the message. With a written rule, the conversation is short and the same for everyone.
It also protects instructors. When the wind ranges are written down, nobody pushes to go out on a day that is not safe.
Who decides whether a lesson goes ahead?
Separate the two decisions:
- The school sets the ranges. For each level, the minimum and maximum acceptable wind, which directions rule out a lesson (offshore wind, for example) and how to handle gusts. Decide this with your instructors, for your spot.
- The instructor decides on the day, from the forecast, the spot, the tide and the student. If the instructor says no, it is no.
Do not publish wind numbers as if they were a standard for the sport. Say the school uses ranges per level set by its team, and that the final call is a safety call.
Which conditions cancel or change a lesson?
| Condition | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Wind below the level’s range | Move it, or switch to a land session (theory, set-up, trainer kite) if the student agrees |
| Wind above the range | Move it, or advanced students only |
| Very gusty wind | Move it, or wait within the day |
| Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea) | No water lessons for beginners |
| Storm, lightning or an official weather warning | Cancel, no discussion |
| Wind drops mid lesson | Remaining time in another lesson, as the policy says |
Follow your national weather service’s marine warnings alongside the forecast services your team already uses.
When should students be told?
- The evening before, a first call: “The forecast is light for tomorrow; we will confirm by 8:00.”
- A few hours before, the confirmation, so nobody leaves the hotel for nothing.
- At the beach, if conditions change suddenly, the instructor’s call stands.
Always write in the student’s language. A traveller who misreads a message in another language turns up at the beach.
What do students get when the school cancels?
The three usual options:
- A new time with wind, with the booking kept and the freedom to cancel at no cost if the new time does not suit.
- Their credit back on their pack, to use later.
- A refund of what they paid for that lesson.
For travellers with only a few days, a refund is often the fairest. For local students, a credit works. If someone bought a course with a validity period and lost several days to calm weather, extending it avoids a bad review.
Consumer protection rules on cancellations and refunds differ by country, state and province. This is not legal advice: have a local professional check your final wording.
A policy template to copy
Replace the parts in square brackets.
Wind and weather policy for [School name]
Who decides. Each level has a wind range set by our team. On the day, your instructor decides whether conditions are safe. That decision is final.
Notice. We give a first call the evening before, by [18:00], and confirm by e-mail at least [2] hours before your lesson.
If we cancel. You choose: a new time, your credit back on your pack, or a refund for that lesson.
If the wind drops during the lesson. If the lesson lasted less than [half] its time, you get the remaining time in another lesson.
Courses. If you lose [two] or more lessons to conditions, we extend your pack by [15] days.
If you cancel. Free cancellation until [24] hours before. After that, the lesson is charged.
Questions: [school e-mail].
Ready-made messages for a calm day
- Evening before: “Hi [name]. The forecast for tomorrow at [time] is [light/strong]. We will confirm your lesson by [time].”
- Moved: “No safe conditions today. Your lesson is now on [day and time]. If that does not work, cancel from your account at no cost.”
- Cancelled: “No lesson today because of the wind. Your credit is back on your pack.”
How do you keep calm days from turning into bad reviews?
Most bad reviews after a calm day are about surprise, not about the wind. A few habits help:
- Say it before purchase: the booking page explains that lessons depend on the wind and what happens if there is none.
- Tell people early, in their language, with the new time or the refund already done.
- Offer something useful on land when the student wants it: theory, set-up practice or a trainer kite session.
- Keep your word on extensions and refunds, every time.
How elastudio handles calm days
In elastudio, you pick a day or a time range and the spot, then move or cancel every lesson in it at once. When you move lessons, bookings carry over and anyone who cannot make it cancels with no late fee; when you cancel, credits go back to packs or paid bookings are refunded, as you prefer. Each student gets an e-mail in their language: English, Portuguese or Spanish. See the page for kitesurf schools.
Weather calls are on every plan, including Free (US$0).
A written rule makes calm days calm
Set the ranges with your team, tell students early, offer a new time, a credit or a refund, and make it all visible before purchase. Windless days still happen, but they stop turning into arguments.
See plans on the pricing page or explore all features. Questions: support@elastudio.app.
Questions people ask
Who decides whether there is enough wind for a lesson?
The school sets an acceptable wind range for each level, and the instructor in charge decides on the day from the forecast and the spot. The safety call always belongs to the instructor.
Are students entitled to a refund when there is no wind?
When the school cancels, the fair options are a new time, a credit or a refund, as your policy sets out. Consumer rules vary by country, state and province, so have your wording checked locally.
How much notice should students get?
As much as the forecast allows. Many schools give a first call the evening before and confirm a few hours before the lesson.
What if the wind drops during the lesson?
Set it in the policy: for example, if the lesson ran for less than an agreed share of its time, the student gets the rest in another lesson.