Kiteboating

 by: Jakob Jelling

Just when you think that kiting can be for only a board, think again. With the inception of bigger and more powerful kites, the ability to speed up or move larger objects became a reality. Enter a new extreme sport Kiteboating. Imagine paddling along in a one – three man craft with kite harnessing the wind and speeding you along and over huge waves. It can happen with kiteboating.

There are many different models of wave riders that provide the exact same functionality. The fact of the matter is that they all rely solely on the wind. Some creative kiteboaters have crafted single and multiple kiteboats. These boats resemble canoes, kayaks, and even an outrigger. There are professional races that are run from time-to-time.

As with any extreme boating sport you must exercise the utmost caution and understand how close people are to your boat and wires. You will need to know weather conditions and safety procedures should you run into trouble along the way.

Most individual kiteboats start in the $1500 area and go up exponentially. Companies like Naish and Ronstan provide quality equipment and hardware should you have the urge to go kiteboating. Although this sport is picking up in popularity, there are various places around the globe you can kiteboat on vacation.

If you are just starting out in the paraboating realm, you may wish to get trained by a certified instructor who will teach you how to harness your kite and how to get it air bound should it fall from the sky. You also should take a water safety course should you need the proper training later on. All kiteboaters should wear a floatation device should their boat sink or their kite get away from them. They never know how far from shore they may be.

As with any sport learning to fly your kite first will help later on when deciding which type to purchase. You may wish to purchase a 2 or 4 line harness. It is strongly suggested that you do not attempt to kiteboat without lessons. Make sure to observe all activity around you should you have more than one kiteboater in your area.