Kitesurf

KITESURF

Kiteboarding is an on and above water sport combining aspects of wakeboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding and sailing into one extreme sport. A kiteboarder harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable power kite to be propelled across the water on a kiteboard similar to a wakeboard or a small surfboard, with or without footstraps or bindings. Kitesurfing is a style of kiteboarding specific to wave riding, which uses standard surfboards or boards shaped specifically for the purpose.

There are different styles of kiteboarding, including , freeride, downwinders, speed, course racing, wakestyle, jumping and kitesurfing in the waves.^[1] In 2012, the number of kitesurfers was estimated by the ISAF and IKA at 1.5 million persons worldwide^[2] (pending review). The global market for kite gear sales is worth US $250 million