My excel of sessions
Five years ago, I started an excel sheet to track my kitesurf sessions. I log the basics like the date, duration of the session in minutes, which kite and board I used, and where I rode. It began after a beach argument when I yelled that my 11 meter was my most-used kite. I could not prove it, so I started tracking.
Now it has become a yearly ritual. Every December I scroll through my sheet, see a year of wind and waves, and feel pretty good about it. And the funny part? My 8 meter is the one that flies the most.
Why it’s worth tracking
Guessing how often you kite or which kite you use the most is fun, but the data gives you something better: clarity.
If you like upgrading your quiver every few years, or you are more cautious with money and cannot afford to upgrade your whole setup every season, this can help you do it wisely. You will see which kites you actually use and which ones barely leave the bag. For example, my 8 meter gets about the same amount of sessions as my 6 and 10 combined. That tells me to replace the 8 sooner and maybe keep the others a bit longer.
You might also find that your twintip is collecting dust while your directional board gets all the action. In that case, sell the twintip. Someone else will be happy, and you make space (and maybe some budget) for gear you actually use.
Tracking your sessions gives you the data to make smarter decisions. You can even create your own rule. For example, after 100 sessions on a kite, start thinking about a replacement.
And it is not only about gear. It is also great to see how many times you actually went kiting. Which months were packed with sessions and which months were completely windless. You might think you ride all the time, but when you see that you average one session a week, it gives you a nice dose of perspective and some well-deserved respect for your own consistency.
Adding context
The next step in my excel sheet is adding a bit more detail. Not to overcomplicate things, but to see what really makes your best sessions work. Maybe rate them from one to five, add a short recap, or note the wind direction and wind speed. Over time, you will start to see what conditions bring out your best rides.
Next year, my excel will grow into something bigger, or should I say smarter... I will add wind direction, speed, a rating, and even which goal I worked on that day. The data lover in me cannot wait to see what that reveals.
2024 in the books
Last year was a good one. Lots of rides, lots of wind, and enough sandy rinses to last a lifetime. I am not sure how much I improved, but seeing everything listed gives me a strong sense of progress. Every line in that sheet is proof that I showed up.
Funny detail, most of my sessions are around one hour. Just an hour! So maybe this year I should push that to one and a half. We can do better.
Also, Thursday was my most common kite day. So now I am slightly convinced that if it is windy on a Thursday, it must be a good one.
From excel to KiteMate
All this connects perfectly with what we are building with KiteMate. It is basically the next version of that same idea, only smarter. A place to log your sessions, your gear, the wind, and your goals, and to actually see how it all connects. Or at least where I can log mine without fifty spreadsheet tabs open.
The excel sheet showed what is possible with a few notes. KiteMate will take it further. More data, less effort, and a personal timeline of every windy story. Almost like a diary, but for kiters. Keep an eye out for that one.
Wind, waves, and excel files
It does not take much to learn from your own sessions. A few lines in a spreadsheet can already show you what kind of kiter you really are.
If you ever doubt your progress, open that file. Seeing your year in rows is all the proof you need that you showed up again and again whenever the wind called.
xox Berito