Kite surfing Facts for Kids

Kite surfing is an action sport combining aspects of wakeboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding and sailing into one extreme sport. A kiteboarder harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable power kite to be propelled across the water, land, or snow.

Compared to the other sailing sports, kiteboarding is both among the less expensive (including equipment) and the more convenient. It is also unique in that it harvests the wind energy from a much larger atmosphere volume, comparing to sail size.

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. Various surfing styles have appeared to suit both kitesurfers and conditions, such as waveriding, freestyle, freeride, jumping, and cruising.

Images for kids

A kiteboarder is pulled across the water by a power kite
1984 patent of the Legaignoux brothers
Peter Lynn lifting a kite in Dieppe, September 1988
Laird Hamilton demonstrated kitesurfing in 1996
evolution of extreme sports
Alex Caizergues^[fr] averaged 57.97 knots or 107.36 km/h over a 500m distance on 13 November 2017
Bruno Sroka covered 444 km (240 nmi) between France and Ireland on 19 July 2013
Francisco Lufinha covered 874 km (472 nmi) between Lisbon and Madeira on 7 July 2015
The wind window
The peculiar travel pattern of a kite, compared to a sail fixed to a mast as in windsurf
Most kitesurfing equipment: LEI Kite with bag and pump, twintip board and harness, plus floatation vest and helmet, lacking only the bar and lines
A leading edge inflatable kite
A Foil kite
A kitesurfer uses a bar with lines to control the kite, attached to a harness, and can wear a wetsuit
Twin tip kiteboard
Kitesurfers wearing dry suits on Long Island in winter when the air and water temperatures are near 0 °C (32 °F)
Aaron Hadlow dominated Freestyle from 2004 to 2008
Gisela Pulido is a ten-time Freestyle Champion
Unhooked freestyle
Board Off hooked-in freestyle
Foiling with a kite
Wave-riding
Course racing
The Lüderitz Speed Challenge had set records
Jumping
Big Air
Kiteboarder edging his board

Kite surfing facts for kids

Images for kids

See also