The Joy And Thrill Of Kite Surfing By: Suta Chabok

There is a surprise for you in store because today, the humble little kite has become part of a growing water sport that is fast gaining popularity, kite surfing! The sensation of watching a kite soar high can very thrilling for many. Interestingly, this simple idea has been combined with another activity to produce a new extreme sport. The kite has been a part of a very exciting sport today - kitesurfing.

Kitesurfing is a totally new way to have fun with the simple kite. Everyday people are finding something new to give them a break out of the routine of everyday living. It involves the use of power kites to pull a rider on the water with a small surfboard or kiteboard.

When the excitement of kite flying is combined with another thrilling sport, the result is simply mind blowing. Kites were used by the Chinese sailors to propel ships and carts back in the 1800's simply by using the 4 line control system. The rising cost of horse taxes has caused sailors to find an alternative and kites seem like a good idea.

In the 70's Kevlar and Spectra flying kites were made, making them more controllable and efficient with more kite traction. In the 80's kite were used for wide range of vehicles on land and water. November of 1984 saw a new development in the kite surfing industry - inflatable kites. The birth of the 'Wipika' in 1997 marks a new era in kite surfing.

This had preformed inflatable tubes and the simple bridle system that helped in re-launching in the water. In 1997 kite-boards were developed and replaced the skis: then in 1999 it turned into a mainstream sport. It is a mere ten years ago when the first kitesurfing competition tool place in the Island of Maui.

Get an instructor to guide if you are starting out, it makes learning so much easier. There are many aspects to master which include kite launching, landing, how to use the bar, how to manage the lines and how to manage lines plus a dozen of other safety devices. It is easy to misunderstand these complicated pieces of apparatus so a lesson from a certified instructor would be very wise indeed.

After the students have learned kitesurfing techniques they must learn body-dragging. Body drag is an upward motion lift instead of forward as in board-surfing. Be prepared to fork out a considerable amount of money, this is an upscale sport that can cost more than 3000 dollars just to buy the additional equipment.

It I can be a dangerous affair to kitesurf and there are restrictions to where you are allowed to practice this activity. It should not be an issue to worry too much though, there are many sites you can hang out to try your hand. It is always preferable to avoid accidents so make sure you follow safety guidelines and go properly equipped.

Article by Suta at: http://activespots.blogspot.com/

Total Views : 1    Word Count: 482   See All Articles By Suta Chabok