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.
@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
1 day 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.
4 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.
6 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