Kiteboarding involves strapping your legs to a board and unfurling a kite. The kite catches wind and creates lift power, which you then harness to propel yourself forward. Kiteboarding works on both land and sea -- especially over waves and on snowy downslopes.
Basic Propulsion
Kitesurfing occurs when a kitesurfer straps his feet to a board and moves along the water by controlling and directing the power of a kite. The key to kite surfing is managing a kite's lift and harnessing that power to create propulsion on water. As the kite flies across the sky, flown by someone on a surf board, it creates its own wind and generates its own power. New technologies have been developed to enhance the control and power of these kites, and now the sport has many levels of difficulty and participation.
Control
Kitesurfers not only have to control the kite to harness the wind's power, they must also control their board and navigate waves on the water. For this reason, kitesurfing requires outstanding balance and coordination. The level of control of both the board and the kite can vary depending on the technology of the board and kite as well as the proficiency and experience of the kitesurfer.
Snow and Water
As long as there is light wind -- only 4 knots are necessary -- you can kiteboard anywhere, not just on water. Some kiteboarders take their sport to snow, using the power of the lift generated by their kite to propel themselves across snowy landscapes while strapped to a board similar to the kind they would use on water.
Kite Skiing
As long as you are able to control the power of the kite's wind to propel yourself, you can even kite ski, strapping your legs to skis instead of a board. Some kite sport enthusiasts feel that short skis provide the best platform on which to do tricks. Short skis are lightweight and have the advantage of allowing your legs to separate so you can develop a separate set of tricks that are impossible when both feet are strapped to a board.
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