What is kitesurfing?
Kitesurf, also known as kitesurfing, kiteboarding, kiteboard or flysurfing, is an extreme traction sport in which a traction kite is used that pulls the athlete (kitesurfer or rider) attached to his body by means of a harness connecting 4 or 5 lines enter the kite and the bar to navigate sliding on the water using a board although it can also be done on land (landkite) or snow (snowkite).
What equipment is used to perform kitesurfing?
The basic equipment consists of:
- Kite
- Steering bar
- Harness
- Board with footstraps or boots
- Leash
- Lines
Optionally, the following elements are also usually included:
- Helmet
- Lifejacket (flotation or impact)
- Neoprene suit
- Hat
- Glasses
- sand buggy
- skateboard
- Boardbag (transport bag)
- Board leash
- Gloves
- Pump
History
The origin of this sport is very recent, specifically in 1977 Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise patented a navigation system on a surfboard tracked by a kind of paraglider becoming the father of this sport.
It is also known that since the twelfth century in China and Indonesia were used kites to drag small boats and in the early nineteenth century, the British inventor George Pocock patented a traction system with kites for cars and boats.
Security
Kitesurfing is an extreme sport that can be very dangerous if you do not have a basic knowledge of safety and a bit of ease with the kite, so it is always highly recommended to take a course with a school that has professionals who can teach and watch for our safety in our first steps.
It is not advisable to practice kitesurfing with off shore winds (they drag us towards the sea), at least if we do not have a sufficient level with which we can return to shore and always and much more important, Never sail alone, since if we sail with others Friends can help us in the event of an accident or tell the authorities to come for us.
Security elements:
- Helmet, it is very important to wear a helmet that protects our heads from blows, because if we lose consciousness in the middle of the sea, this can be fatal.
- Quick release, it is a safety element that have the bars by which to make use of it we leave the kite without tension joined only by a line to our harness.
- Kite leash, is a flexible rope that connects our harness with one of the power lines or the fifth line through the bar, the kite being held without tension only by this line in case we need to use the quick release. This leash has another quick release that allows us to fully release the kite in case we remain in danger.
- Board leash, is a flexible rope that connects our harness with the board, so that in case of falling we do not move too far from the board and we can recover it. To use this element it is very important to wear a helmet and a vest since the board can come towards us when we fall and hit
- Flotation or impact vest, It is a lifejacket that provides enough flotation to not drown and bumps.
What types of kitesurf are there?
Kitesurfing is a very versatile sport, so there are many modalities or ways to navigate
Freeride
It is the most common mode of navigation, it is the normal navigation mode navigating both sides for and against the wind. For this mode we usually use a delta, bow or hybrid kite and a twintip board.
Freestyle
Freestyle is the way of hardcore navigation, it consists of jumping and pirouettes with our board. A type C kite and a twintip board with footstraps or boots are usually used.
Surfkite freestyle
It is a modality like the previous one but more complicated since a surfkite table is used for it.
Wakestyle
In this modality, tricks from wakeboarding are performed using a twintip board with boots. It can also be done with ramps in the water.
Race
In this modality the speed is sought, either between two points or following a circuit marked with buoys. Usually a race table or a hydrofoil and a lightwind kite are used to take advantage of the maximum wind.
Strapless
In this modality the tricks are realized with a table without fixings, normally surfkite.
Is kitesurfing only for men?
Definitely this sport is not only for men and every time there are more women who dare to practice it, the girls have been hitting hard, they have demonstrated it in many champions such as Bruna Kajiya, Gisela Pulido, Rita Arnaus or Annabel van Westerop among many others .
What is the ideal place to practice this sport?
Undoubtedly, the best place to practice this sport is the beach, preferably one where there are no obstacles or stones to avoid damaging and damaging our gear and in which there is a minimum wind depending on our weight and the size of the kites that we have. there are also other indoor spots that can sometimes function as swamps or lakes.
In our spots section you can find the best places in the world where you can practice it and we will update it with the weather and wind conditions to get all the destinations for kitesurfers on the planet, starting with Tarifa, Almeria, Fuerteventura, Valencia, etc. to exotic destinations such as Maui or Aruba where you can practice it or give your course with the best schools in the area.