Check our introduction to one of the most adrenaline fuelled watersports to find out why you should give it a go.

Kite surfing is the fastest growing water sport in the world, with giant crescent-shaped kites seen soaring along coastlines all over the globe. As well as being an enjoyable, social sport, kite surfing can boost your levels of health and fitness.

The most extreme of water sports, kite surfing fuses three challenging disciplines: windsurfing, wakeboarding and power kite flying. It is considered as tougher, faster and more exhilarating than any other water activity.

History

There is much dispute about where kite surfing was invented, with some kite surf aficionados claiming it was France and others saying it was Hawaii. But, no matter where kite surfing originated from, there’s certainly no arguing that this sport has seriously taken off all over the world.

What it involves

The concept of kite surfing is relatively simple: kite surfers use a small surfboard with straps and are powered along the water by a large power kite. The kite is attached via 30m (98.5ft) long lines to a horizontal bar, which the rider uses to steer the kite. This type of wind-powered surfing allows you to cruise at vast speed, jump as high as a house in slow motion, as well as perform triple loops and spins — that is, once you’ve got to grips with the equipment, speed and power. Kite surfing is a sport for extreme thrill seekers who love water, waves, speed and a whole lot of power in their hands.

Health and fitness benefits of kite surfing

Kite surfing offers a number of benefits to its competitors. These include:

  • Develops arm and leg muscles to match the different disciplines required for successful, strong surfing.
  • Refreshes and energises the mind with open air combining with fast-paced water activity.
  • Boosts coordination skills, requiring a large degree of concentration to stay on course.
  • Improves hand-eye co-ordination.
  • Strengthens the hand muscles.

Remember, although kite surfing is an extreme sport, there’s nothing worse than bad sunburn, so slap on some sun protector before getting out on the waves.