SNOWBOARDING KENT
What is kitesurfing, learn about the sport and how to get into it
Kitesurfing also know as kiteboarding is one of the most exciting water sports in the world, it incorporates aspects from windsurfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, paragliding and power kite flying.
Large kites are used to power a rider along the surface of the water on a board. The wind is used to power the kites and although the name suggests it, kitesurfing does not need waves, many riders prefer flat water. Kitesurfing has many different aspects whether it is chilling out and cruising up and down during your weekend off, going out and practicing your new freestyle trick for the next competition, going out in strong winds and doing huge jumps or riding the waves, there is something to suit all who enjoy it.
The sport originally started out when power kite flyers decided they would like to have some fun on the water with their kites amongst the wind surfers. At this stage there were no kitesurf specific boards so the early pioneers used either surfboards or wakeboards. Since then the sport has evolved and now specific kites and boards are manufactured.
The kites that are used now have inflatable sections to hold their shape as well as allowing them to float. Due to there being no rigid structure in the kites they can be packed up very small, even the largest kites at 16m+ can fit into a rucksack. The kites are different to power kites used on the land as they have just one skin on the canopy, the inflatable tubes provide the shape of the aerofoil similar to an aeroplane wing. The kites are steered around the sky using a bar which can also alter the power; the bar is attached to the kite using 4 or 5 very strong lines, made from dyneema and often with a breaking strain of over 500kg each! Two of the flying lines are attached to the ends of the bar and the others run through the centre of the bar to a harness worn by the rider. By moving the bar along these lines running through the bar the angle of attack of the kit is altered which then altered the kite’s power. The larger the angle of attack, the more of the canopy of the kite is shown to the wind and the more powerful it is, the smaller the angle of attack the less power the kite has. When the bar is pulled in close the kites power increases and when pushed away it decreases, this is one of the big changes with kites as the sport has evolved as originally there was not adjustment.
Since 2006 the kite design has change drastically the kites are far, far safer due to the ability to push the bar away and reduce their power, when the bar it totally let go the kite will fall out of the sky with no power at all waiting for you to re-launch it, which due to the change in the design of the newer kite is extremely easy. Having this ease of use has enabled the sport to become a lot more accessible in recent years and the popularity of the sport has rocketed. The shape of the boards has evolved with the new kites adding to the user friendliness and quick learning curve.
Kitesurfing organisations have grown all over the world with many countries now having their own governing body assisting with the club, competition, training and kitesurf schools network.
About the Author
This article was written by Thomas Cawte, the head instructor at The Kitesurf Centre. The Kitesurf Centre is based at Camber, a golden sandy beach in the South East of the UK. The school offers kitesurf lessons and courses at Camber from complete beginners to advanced competition coaching. For more information on kite surfing and how to get into the sport visit http://www.thekitesurfcentre.com
Snowboarding in Kent Part 2
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