Styles of Kiting
Styles of Kiting
Kiteboarding has a range of different styles which are outlined below. Many people start out riding freeride/freestyle with a twin-tip board, and then explore other styles of riding as their skills progress.
Freeride
Freeride is anything that you want it to be and the most popular aspect of the sport in Australia. Most boards sold today are designed for freeride. They all look pretty similar in shape, but vary dramatically in width, length and depth. This enables a kitesurfer of any ability to take kitesurfing to which ever level they feel like. It’s about having fun. Australia has a great freeride scene and more then likely you can turn up to any good beach on a windy day and see another freerider out.
Freestyle
Freestyle is an extremely popular area of the sport. It use technical skills to perform big jumps, rotations, flips, grabs, and unhooking etc….
There are an endless number of freestyle moves of which the most advanced are handle passes (where you unhook from your harness and rotate your body while passing the bar behind your back at the same time). A smooth landing is the key to making a freestlye move.
WAKSA runs a Freestyle State competition each year. Feel free to come along and watch the aerial exploits of some of WA’s best riders, you could even help out by volunteering.
Wave Riding
Wave riding is explosive, fun, visually impressive and very addictive. The waves are ridden like surfing on a surfboard, but with the added versatility of the kite. Aerials and power tricks can be busted out using the power of the wave. Wave riders also have the option of riding strapped (with foot-straps) or strapless.
Wave riding is easy to get into because riders often begin by practising their balance and sharp turns on flat water before moving on to little waves and working their way up.
While some people use surfboards for kiting, as the popularity increased in the sport companies have developed ‘directional’ kiteboards and surfboards specifically for kiting. They are often shorter, smaller in volume, more rigid and reinforced compared to conventional surfboards.
Western Australia is one of the best wave kite surfing locations on the planet and it’s no surprise that our local talent is amongst the best in the world.
Course Racing and Hydrofoiling
Kiteboard course racing has been growing very quickly in popularity. In many ways it is similar to sailing racing. Course racing involves racing around a set course marked by buoys or flags. Courses will vary in length and are usually conducted in relatively flat water on the ocean or on rivers or bays. Kiters into course racing can use the same kite they use for other styles of riding or foil kites, which are much lighter than inflatable kites. The boards used for course racing however are often specifically designed for maximum speed and upwind pointing ability. They are much larger than normal freestyle or freeride twin tip boards to enable the rider to kite upwind in much lighter winds.
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Now we just need some wind... 🙂INDIAN OCEAN ROADBLOCK TO FINISH
WA's Premier Mark McGowan has just announced that Lancelin will be open to Perth people (and vice versa) from Monday, May 18. This is great news! The roadblock on Indian Ocean Drive will be dismantled next Sunday night and travel between Perth and the wheatbelt will be permitted. There are still restrictions on travel between 4 regions not affecting Lancelin/Perth. Click here for the government's statement - www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-regional-tr...
Lancelin restaurants, pubs and cafes will also be able to re-open on Monday May 18. This means you'll be able to dine in at Lancelin's eateries (max 20 people at 4sq/m per person) from tomorrow week.
The max number of people in groups will be set at 20 people for other social gatherings. WA's border with the eastern states will remain closed and be the last restriction to be lifted.
We’ve just released our roadmap to carefully ease COVID-19 restrictions to start getting Western Australians back to work safely and begin the process of re-starting the State’s economy.
This plan includes specific details on the next phase of easing restrictions in WA – which will take effect on Monday 18 May.
Western Australia has already implemented many of the changes announced by the Prime Minister on Friday.
We have led the way, and other States have looked to us for guidance on the way forward.
Our strong performance in controlling the spread of COVID-19 means we will continue to lead the nation when it comes to easing restrictions.
Our plan has been developed in conjunction with the National Cabinet framework and is based on the best health advice for Western Australia.
Phase 1 is already in place following the cautious relaxing of some restrictions from Monday, 27 April.
Phase 2 will focus on encouraging many Western Australians to return to work, unless they are unwell or vulnerable, so the WA economy can further rebuild in a safe and measured way.
The new phase will come into effect from Monday, 18 May, giving businesses and families time to plan accordingly and includes:
- Indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings lifted to 20 people;
- People are encouraged to return to work, unless they are unwell or vulnerable;
- Cafés and restaurants can reopen with meal service (including within pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and casino), limited to 20 patrons and the 4 square metre per person capacity rule applied;
- Weddings and funerals, limited to up to 20 attendees indoors or 30 outdoors;
- Places of worship, community facilities and libraries to re-open, limited to 20 patrons;
- Community sports (non-contact) limited to 20 people;
- Outdoor or indoor fitness classes (minimal shared equipment) limited to 20 patrons;
- Public swimming pools can open under strict rules (one indoor pool and one outdoor pool), limited to 20 patrons per pool.
If businesses or premises want to reopen in line with these changes, they will be required to complete an official COVID Safety Plan. More details on this will be released shortly, in consultation with industry.
As part of Phase 2, regional travel restrictions will also change, bringing the number of current borders within WA from 13 to only four (not including the Commonwealth Biosecurity zone and remote communities).
The new regional boundaries will allow:
- Travel between the South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt, Perth and Peel regions;
- Travel between the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions (excluding Biosecurity area);
- Travel within the Goldfields-Esperance region (excluding the Biosecurity area);
- Travel permitted within the Kimberley Local Government areas (the Biosecurity area remains in place).
Following this change, it is expected that Phase 3 will be implemented around four weeks from the commencement of Phase 2. Phase 3 will be finalised in the coming weeks, based on the advice from the Chief Health Officer, and will take into account the infection rates across WA.
Phase 3 will focus on continuing to build stronger links within the community and include further resumption of commercial and recreational activities, and may include:
- Further increases in number of people allowed at indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings;
- Possible further relaxation of regional travel restrictions;
- Restrictions further relaxed for gyms, health clubs and indoor sport centres;
- Contact community sport (indoor and outdoor) permitted, with gathering limits;
- Beauty therapy and personal care services permitted;
- Auction houses and real estate auctions (not just online as it is currently); and
- Public playgrounds, outdoor gym equipment, skate parks, zoos, cinemas, galleries, museums and concert venues permitted to open, with gathering limits.
Phase 4 and further future easing of restrictions will be assessed and finalised in due course.
Western Australia’s hard border with the rest of Australia will remain in place, and is expected to be among the final restrictions lifted.
For more information on this roadmap and the easing of restrictions, please visit www.wa.gov.au
Wow the swell certainly delivered in Perth yesterday! What an awesome shot from Gordon 👏🏼
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If you was lucky enough (or brave enough) to be playing out, you can find all of the photos up on his website 😁 (www.truespiritphotos.com)
📸 @true_spirit_photos
#kiteboardingwa #kitesurf #westernaustralia #surfsup #waveriding #justanotherdayinwa
Timeline PhotosWestern Australia has done an incredible job and we thank the WA community for doing their part and taking COVID-19 seriously.
WA's recent low numbers have been very encouraging. They give us the best chance to minimise community spread of the virus, if everyone continues to act responsibly and follow the advice.
As of tomorrow, health advice is that we can now cautiously relax the number for indoor and outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 10 people, while practising social distancing. The following activities can now recommence, while following the health advice:
• Hiking, camping, boating, recreational fishing and picnics within your region
• Weddings
• Outdoor personal training (no sharing equipment)
• Open houses and display home villages
Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gym equipment will remain closed.
Restaurants, cafés, food vans, food courts and road houses remain restricted to takeaway and home delivery.
All other restrictions will remain in place for now, in a bid to manage social distancing and better protect Western Australians.
Today’s announcement does not mean that people can have parties with large numbers or flock to popular outdoor spots. We’re relaxing some restrictions to ensure families and friends can stay connected.
While WA’s current low numbers are pleasing, we need to be aware that transmission of the virus is a very high risk and there is no reason to be complacent.
The best way to keep yourself and others safe remains to practise social distancing and at stay home other than for essential activities and connecting with others to maintain your mental health.
It’s important that people continue to avoid unnecessary touching like hugs and handshakes, try to keep 1.5m away from others, and maintain good hygiene and handwashing.
Police will continue to ensure compliance with all COVID-19 restrictions. If you suspect someone is breaching gathering restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate, or a business is not complying with restrictions, contact WA Police on 131 444.
For more COVID-19 information visit www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-community-a...