The sport of kiteboarding
Kiteboarding is an individual recreational sport that is conducted on open areas of water, preferably in constant winds ranging between 16 – 30 knots. It can be performed on flat or bumpy water conditions. The ‘kiter’ aims to fly the kite in a pattern to produce power to pull him/herself along the surface of the water across the wind, following the same basic principles as sailing. There is no motor power involved.
Below are more details of the equipment and skills required for kiteboarding.
There are many disciplines to the sport, which have different aims from performing freestyle tricks, wave-riding or course racing or free riding. A large part of the sport involves performing jumps, which are initiated by the kiter flying the kite in a certain way. The directions of possible travel are similar to the basic principles of sailing.
The kitesurfer is the link between the board and the kite, as the two pieces of equipment are not connected.
The kiter wears a harness to balance his/her weight against the kite. There is no connection between the kite and the board apart from via the rider.
Skills Required
The primary skill to kitesurfing is to be able to control and fly the kite competently. Once the kite is mastered, the board is then introduced and the kiter must initiate power in the kite at the appropriate time to pull them up and along the surface of the water. This power must be prolonged by the constant flying of the kite in the correct zone in order to continue moving.
Once the basics are mastered, the skills of riding, jumping, tricks, waves can then by practiced. Due to the nature and freedom of the sport, there is no end to the skills base, as it is evolving and growing continuously.
Equipment
The essential pieces of equipment for kiteboarding include a kite, control bar and lines, a safety leash connecting the chicken loop to the harness, a harness and a board.
The Kite
This is the means of propulsion. It is wind powered, by flying within a ‘Wind Window’ where there are different zones of power/pull and neutral stability.
Kites used for kitesurfing in the majority are supported by a series of inflatable tubes, which provide a framework between which material is stretched to grab wind in the same principle as a sail. Not all kites have inflatable tubes. These can be substituted for solid battens, or a double layer of cloth, providing a cell type structure with a series of ‘Bridle/ supporting lines’ to help maintain a stable shape.
Inflatable kites tend to relaunch from the water better when crashed hence their popularity. There are three type of inflatable kite SLE, Hybrid, and C shape. These refer to the kite’s design and flying characteristics.
Control Bar and Lines
The majority of kitesurfing kites fly on Bars. These will involve a ‘depower’ system to help control the kite. Some kites can be flown on handles. The bar option is more popular as it allows easy single-handed flying.
Lines made from non-stretch spectra type material connect the kite to the bar. Depending on the type and complexity of the kite, there can be, 2, 4 or 5 lines used to fly the kite. The majority of kites are flown on 4 or 5 line depowerable bars. Line length can vary between 10m and 40m. Typical line length is from 20 – 25 metres.
All bars/ kites will have some form of safety system allowing complete ejection of the kite’s power without releasing the kite completely. The basic principle of a safety system is to release the wind from the kite’s canopy by releasing tension of all but a single line, or prevent the kite’s canopy from collecting wind effectively letting it ‘flag’.
Good modern safety systems allow quick relaunch capabilities as well as instant depower.
Harnesses
Kiters wear a harness in order to connect themselves to the lines attached to the kite. The harness spreads the load of the kite’s pull. Harnesses come in two styles, seat or waist harnesses.
Seat harnesses have a lower hook position, and fit around the kitesurfers bottom with leg straps coming around and under the legs from front to back. Seat harnesses provide good support while learning and are sometimes preferred by people with pre-existing back injuries. The lower hook position can also make the bar easier to reach for riders with shorter arms.
Waist harnesses have a higher hook position and fit around the rider’s lower abdomen/stomach like a weightlifters belt. They provide more flexibility and freedom of movement for tricks and manoeuvres.
Boards
Twin Tip Boards
Kiteboards can come in a wide variety of types/shapes and sizes. The majority of the market is occupied by ‘Twin Tip’ boards, which can be ridden in either direction and are symmetrical in shape. These range in size between 1.1m and 1.6m in length, and .3m and .5m in width at the widest point. Twin tips tend to be made from snowboard type materials such as volcanic basalt, wood or carbon fibre with hardened rails.
Directional Boards / Kite Surfboards
The second type of board is comparable to a surfboard and is often referred to as a ‘directional’ board, with typical sizes ranging between 5′ and 6’2″ in length. These directional boards can only be ridden in one direction and can either be ridden with foostraps or ‘strapless’. Directional boards are for riding waves or the open ocean.
Both boards will have fins on the bottom to provide grip through the water, although some riders will remove the fins from their Twin Tips when using ramps or park obstacles.
Hydrofoils / Foil boards
A third type of board is one which has a hydrofoil connected via a lightweight underwater mast. This is a rapidly developing area of kiteboarding with new breakthroughs in technology, design and materials driving change in the sport.
A hydrofoil raises the board out of the water, reducing drag and allows riders to kite in much lighter winds than when using twin-tips or directional boards.
@kiteboardingwa
Kiteboarding Western Australia
1 day ago
Rick Pryce has been capturing our most memorable kitesurfing moments for the kitesurfing community since before 2010. He has been a dedicated photographer at most of the WA kitesurfing events and competitions over the years even capturing a lot of the National competitions. He went above and beyond sharing our passion for our sport.
Some of you may not know that he has terminal phenomena! I think it would be amazing for everyone to share some of your favourite photos that he has taken of us over the years!
Let’s share with him how much he has given to us by posting some of our favourite photos that he has taken!
Thank you Rick so much for everything you have given to us and the amazing adventures that you have captured over the years! Your an absolute legend in our community 💕
Ps: If you tagged him in your Facebook posts you can go to the face book search and type your name followed by Rick price eg “Shannon ducker Rick Price “ and it will bring up some of your past photos.
Photo taken by Amanda Terry ... See MoreSee Less
Kiteboarding Western Australia
2 days ago
The North Kiteboarding KWA State Freestyles are scheduled in a couple of weeks! Let’s hope the wind plays game 🌬 We’ve secured the rest of Feb for backup dates just in case 🙂
Register 🔜 www.kiteboardingaus.com.au/events/75691/
AdrenalineBoardSports Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Kiteboarding Australia Safety Bay Yacht Club ... See MoreSee Less
Kiteboarding Western Australia
4 days ago
Great to see one of our local kiters Ryan Crawford giving a great summary of the recent wind conditions. If you aren't a kiter we recommend going easy of your fellow grumpy kiter friends over these trying times! #swwinddance #weatherman #freodoctor ... See MoreSee Less
Kiteboarding Western Australia is in Cocos Islands.
5 days ago
Wishing one of our awesome committee members Luca De Prato a massive Happy Birthday! 🥳 He may be 40 but never too old for stupid crazy antics! 🤣
📸 @zephyrtours
#nevertooold #northkiteboarding #kiteboardingwa #cocos #kitefun #boatfun @northkiteboarding.au @northkiteboarding ... See MoreSee Less
Kiteboarding Western Australia is in Perth, Western Australia.
7 days ago
Happy Birthday Ruben! 🥳 #wajuniors
Repost • @rubenswarty #13bday Entering the #teenager years with a bucket list ✅ jumping the #SandBar at #pointwaltersandbar #kiteboardingwa #westernaustralia #kiteboardingaustralia ... See MoreSee Less