Ocean Addict

Kite Surfing Definition

Kite surfing or kite boarding is a water-based sport involving the use of an inflatable power kite to tow a specially modified surfboard or twin-tip board similar in style to that of a wakeboard.

Can also be done on snow using a snowboard or on land using a specially constructed ATB (All Terrain Board) or mountain board, this is known as kite land boarding.

Background

The birth of kite surfing were kite designers Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux.

These two brothers from France patented the first self-relaunching marine wing in 1984, and using water-skis entered several international speed sailing events in both 1986 and 1987.

Over the next decade the brothers perfect their inflatable wing, testing many types of power kite and board until in 1993 they sell their first ‘Wipika’ wing.

Kite boarding’s first big break through came in 1996 through big wave riders Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin. The two Hawaiian based surfers/windsurfers are documented using specially modified ‘tow-in’ surfboards (with foot straps for riding giant waves) and power kites, and later with specially made kitesurf boards and Wipika wings.

Following this, the first kitesurf boards for commercial use were invented by professional windsurfer Raphael Salles and launched in 1997 and kite surfing hits the world stage

Still a relatively young sport, kite surfing arrived in the UK in 1999. Since then interest in the sport has grown rapidly, with the number of UK kite surfers increasing from 12 to 9,500 at present.

Getting Started

According to the British Kite Surfing Association (BKSA), the best way to get started is to take a 2-3 day kite surfing course at a BKSA approved school. The BKSA recommends that you be able to swim 200m in open water and a good level of physical fitness is required. The good news here is that you don’t have super human powers of strength because it’s all about technique.

Experience

Like all sports, there are risks involved but if you receive proper tuition to become aware of the hazards and talk to experienced kite surfers then the risks are minimised.

If you do take risks and go out in conditions that you can’t handle then obviously you are increasing the risk level.

It’s important to remain in full control of your kite at all times, and watch your lines, especially if there are other kite surfers out at the same location.

Learning to fly a two-line power kite before you take a course will help you learn significantly faster, though most people are standing by the end of the first day of a three day course.

Within three months you can be a competent kite surfer and within six months to a year you may well be pulling off jumps of 10 – 15 foot.

Equipment

You are looking between £500 – 1000 for your start up costs, though it’s nearer to the £500 mark if you buy some of your kit second hand.
You will need:

· An Inflatable kite. You need a kite between 9 – 14m depending on your body weight, but an instructor will be able to tell you which is most suited to you. These are controlled with either; 4 or 5 lines. The control lines are attached to the bar .Expect to pay between £200 - 400 for a used kite, with the 5 line costing the most. New from £350 for a new close out kite, but expect to pay up to £850 plus for a top of the range current model.

· A kiteboard and leash. Board-wise you are looking for one between 130 – 150cm in length. The twin tip wakeboard style is ideal as you can ride it in either direction.
For those with a windsurfing or surfing background directional boards are great for speed and light wind conditions, however, the fact that they can only be ridden one way may well hamper your learning curve. Expect to pay around £250 for a second hand board and between £300 – 500 for a new one.
A leash is also a pretty essential piece of kit enabling you to keep the board attached to you when you wipe out- you must use a helmet if you use a leash. Approx £40.

· Lines and control bar. Modern kites normally come complete with lines and bar so you don't have to worry much about the lines. The line length is dependant on the size of the kite and wind conditions, though most kite surfers use 25m - 30m lines to give the most versatile range for starting, pointing (going upwind) and for jumping. Whichever control device you use, make sure that it has a dependable safety release system, and a depower device. This system should be able to disable the kite completely even in the event that you become unconscious. Expect to pay between £100 – 250 for a control bar.

· A harness. This performs the basic function of attaching you to your kite. There are two types of harness - the seat harness and the waist harness.
As a beginner, the best harness for you is the seat harness as this is less likely to ride up when the kite is in the zenith position (directly above your head) where the kite will probably spend most of its time as you learn. Around £70-£90.

· A helmet. Pretty straight forward, useful for protecting your noggin while racing across the water at speed. Expect to pay between £30 – 50.

· A Wetsuit. This is the UK not Hawaii, you will need one. Your best bet is a winter suit (3/5mm) if you plan to kite surf all year round, though the summer suits are cheaper, thinner and are guaranteed to give you hyperthermia if you wear one in the winter.
A winter wetsuit will cost you between £120 – 220, where as a summer suit will set you back between £80 – 180.

Contact

Visit www.kitesurfing.org the BKSA website has a wealth of information on getting into kite surfing safely, practical advice, links and lists of BKSA approved schools.

Rating

Kite surfing has the manoeuvrability of wakeboarding and the speed of windsurfing, with kite surfers travelling at a rate of 15 knots (the equivalent of 20mph), but some of the top-level speed kite boarders can reach speeds of up to 40 knots, which is knocking on 50mph.

If you’ve never tried any aquaplaning water sports then the feeling of speed can be quite overwhelming.
Couple these speeds with the big air jumps of up to 50 – 60’ that some of the better kite surfers can pull off and you have yourself one intense experience.