Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is a surface water sport that uses the wind to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). The terms kiteboarding and kitesurfing are interchangeable, with the USA and other countries referring to the sport as kiteboarding and the UK and a few other countries referring to the sport as kitesurfing. There are a number of different styles of kiteboarding, including freestyle (most common and utilises standard kite and board) or wake-style (flatter water using board with bindings) and wave-riding which is focused on big waves using a board designed for wave riding.
A kitesurfer or kiteboarder uses a board with or without foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel the rider and the board across the water. In 2006, the number of kitesurfers has been estimated at around 150,000 to 210,000, with 114,465 inflatable kites sold that same year. Kitesurfing has become more popular than windsurfing as a watersport because it is easier to learn the basics and because it is much easier to transport the necessary equipment
found on digitalfoto.nu
Jesper Anhede – multitalented kite/surf photographer
Big Wave Surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into or are towed onto waves which are at least 20 feet (6.2 m) high, on surf boards known as “guns” or “rhino chasers”. Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as the technique the surfer uses to reach the wave. A larger, longer board allows a rider to paddle fast enough to catch the wave and has the advantage of being more stable, but it also limits maneuverability and surfing speed.
In 1992, Big Wave Surfers Laird Hamilton, Buzzy Kerbox, and Darrick Doerner introduced a cross over sport called Tow in Surfing. While many riders still participate in both sports, they remain very distinct activities. This type of surfing involves being towed in to massive waves by jet ski, allowing for the speed needed to successfully ride. Tow in Surfing also revolutionized board size, allowing surfers to trade in their unwieldy 12 ft. boards in favor of light, 7 ft boards that allowed for more speed and easier maneuverability in waves over 30ft. By the end of the 1990′s, tow in surfing allowed surfers to ride waves exceeding 50.
found on wikipedia.org
Do you dare to ride the big ones..?
Considering buying your first power kite or want to know how to get started and progress safely in the World’s fastest growing extreme sport? Then Kite Coach is here to provide the answer to all your questions.
The Kite Coach team have many years dedicated experience and aim to help kiting, in all its wonderful guises, grow through sharing information and spreading awareness about this amazing new adrenalin sport.
Kite Coach offers a Mobile Kite Tuition Service and will assist with all your kite activities. While happy to cater for larger group bookings, we recommend the best and fastest way to learn any form of kiting is in a small group, and have been known to get new kiters up and riding in an afternoon when coaching on a One-to-One basis.
Using the framework of the IKO training programs we tailor our Kite Courses to exactly suit your needs: Basic Power Kite Handling Skills, Kite Land Boarding, Kite Buggy Sailing and of course the ultimate 21st century water sport – Kite Surfing.
When it comes to Kitesurfing lessons we can teach you elementary piloting skills and how to set up surf kites in the local park, then head down to the coast, selecting the spot with the optimum conditions for the day, getting you out on the water in no time. We organize “Escapes to the Beach” for like-minded kiters to get out of the City and share their kite experience and spirit of adventure – we invite you to join our Kite Community and GO KITING!
found on kitecoach.co.uk/