The perfect wind is worth chasing, and that’s exactly what Aaron and his Kiteboarding Academy team do. After spending five years teaching kiteboarding around the world, Aaron decided to build something unique in 2019 - a kiteboarding school that actually moves with the seasons. Instead of staying put in one spot with hit-or-miss conditions, they pack up their entire operation twice a year, moving between sunny La Ventana, Mexico (October through March) and breezy Corpus Christi, Texas (April through July). But moving an entire kiteboarding business across borders wasn’t easy until they found the right kiteboard rental software. With Booqable powering their kiteboard rental business, they’ve turned a logistical headache into a smooth-sailing operation that brings the best kiteboarding conditions to their adventure-loving customers year-round.
Finding the perfect kiteboard rental software
Before Booqable, trying to manage their on-the-move rental business was pretty chaotic. Aaron describes how they cobbled together basic scheduling tools and invoices that weren’t designed for a business that packs up and moves every few months. Their previous system couldn’t keep track of which gear was where, and customers had no easy way to see what was available when they switched locations. It was like trying to run two separate businesses with one inventory. When they discovered Booqable, everything clicked. They could finally add “an easy and visually overseeable tab” to their kiteboard rental website that helped customers book the right equipment no matter which seasonal location was currently open. The difference was night and day - suddenly their unique seasonal business model actually made sense online.
Day-to-Day rental management
With Booqable, Kiteboard Academy can now take both walk-in and online orders effortlessly, reserving gear instantly for students booking short lessons and courses. Whether someone drops by in person or books online from their phone; they can quickly enter the product, customer, and order details to see live gear availability and finalize the reservation. Booqable’s back office order system makes the process as simple as inputting the order details, processing the payment by Booqable’s connected Stripe payment gateway, and sending out a confirmation email automatically that is pre-filled with the customer’s information. Online bookings are just as smooth. When someone reserves kiteboarrd gear through their rental website; Booqable captures all the contact and payment details right at the checkout, syncs it to their customer database, and charges the card securely through Stripe. It’s made their whole operation faster, cleaner, and far more professional especially when bouncing between their seasonal locations.
Navigating rentals across different seasons
What makes Kiteboarding Academy special is pretty simple - they go where the wind is good. When Mexico’s perfect wind season wraps up in March, they don’t just shut down - they pack up their kites, boards, and foils and drive them all to Texas where the season is just getting started. Most rental businesses would find this completely overwhelming, but their kiteboard rental software makes it manageable. “We noticed that our customers and us have a better oversight on what’s available,” Aaron explains. Their Booqable-powered kiteboard rental website automatically shows only the current active location, so there’s no confusion about where to book or what’s available. With a small team (just four instructors in Mexico and three in Texas), keeping things simple is crucial. The software helps them focus on teaching rather than sorting through booking headaches when they’re setting up shop in a new location after a cross-border move.
Riding the perfect wave of growth
They’re still new to using proper kiteboard rental software, but the feedback is already rolling in. Customers love the “easy online booking, up-to-date inventory selection, and user-friendly reservation procedure.” Instead of explaining over the phone which location is currently open and what gear is available, the kiteboard rental website does the heavy lifting. This seasonal hopping between locations isn’t just a quirky business model - it’s a smart way to maximize both customer experience and equipment use. Looking ahead, Aaron sees potential to add even a third seasonal spot to their circuit, bringing their teaching expertise and well-maintained gear to even more wind-chasing enthusiasts throughout the year. By embracing the natural rhythm of kiteboarding seasons instead of fighting against them, they’ve created something special - a business that delivers perfect conditions almost year-round while getting the most out of every piece of equipment they own.
