Craving Excitement? Give Kitesurfing A Shot

By John Knox

Kite surfing has become one of the rages in extreme sporting in recent years. This is a sport that can be carried out in any area where there are stable side onshore winds. Generally the seashores and the extensive stretches of the beach are excellent for this sport. Sometimes even big lakes, bays, and rivers are places where people practice this activity.

You require a surf board or a kite board to weave your way through the waters in this sport. The pilot is impelled through the waters with the help of the power which is created by a big controllable kite. You can strap yourself to the board with foot straps, but you will find many who do not use these straps.

You will require a surfing board or a kite board to position yourself on when you surf through the waters tugged along by a kite. The force of the wind on the kite creates the pull. Your feet can be harnessed to the board, but more experienced people do away with the straps.

The kites used for kitesurfing are of two main types. They are the Foil Kites and the Leading Edge Inflatable Kites. The Foil kites have either an open cell or closed cell pattern. In the open cell type, the permanent flow of air through the inlet valves ascertain that the kite stays inflated. But if these kites fall into the water they get deflated and re-launching is practically out of the question.

In the closed cell foil kite, the air is filled into the bladders that are fitted with inlet valves to inflate the kite. The closed cell Foil Kite can be re-launched without any difficulty by pulling at the kite line when they hit the water.

Leading edge inflatable kites is the other option which is much easier to handle and can be launched easily. But there lies the risk of the bladders tending to rupture in case the kite lands on land or is stuck in strong waves.

In the closed cell Foil Kite, the cells are inflated by filling air into the air bags. The benefit of this kite is that even if the kite falls into the water it can be re-launched all over again without any effort, by simply tugging on the kite lines.

You also need to adhere to some boating rules while surfing. If the kite surfer who has the wind or if the star board is in an accurate line up with a craft which is coming from the opposite side, he has the right to go first. You also need to follow some clearance zone rules also.

All Kite surfers are expected to follow certain kite surfing and boating safety rules. One of them is that if you are very close to the wind you have to ensure that your kite is really very high up in the air such that it will not obstruct or crash into a down wind surfer. In the same way if the kite surfer has the wind on the starboard and there is a boat that comes directly in straight line from the opposite direction, then he goes first. Other than this the kite surfer has to comply with come clearance zone rules as well.

Another major feature of used kite gear is kite tuning. You can tune your kite to either flight to higher altitudes or fly with greater speed. This can be manipulated according to climatic conditions and the experience of the surfer.

If you want to get more information about this extreme sport, you will have to join the closest kite surfer's training school and learn some lessons. - 31498

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