Category: Kitesurfing

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Kitesurfing Board Accessories: Must-Haves for Your Next Ride

Kiteboarding is an exciting and challenging water sport that requires skill and gear to enjoy fully. While the kite and harness are essential equipment, the board is also crucial to the experience. A kiteboarding board allows riders to glide over the water, jump, and perform tricks. 

However, you need the right kitesurfing board accessories to get the most out of your ride. These must-haves will help you stay safe and enhance your performance, making your next kiteboarding session unforgettable.

  • Fins

First and foremost, every kiteboarder needs a good set of fins. Fins help to stabilize the board and provide more control while riding. They also make it easier to ride upwind, which is essential for staying in one place and making progress. 

Fins come in different shapes, sizes, and materials, so choose the ones that suit your riding style and preferences. For example, larger fins are better for riders riding fast and carving turns, while smaller fins are ideal for tricks and jumps.

  • Foot Strap

Another essential accessory for kitesurfing boards is a foot strap. Foot straps keep your feet securely on the board and give you more control over your movements. They also make it easier to jump and perform aerial tricks. 

Foot straps come in different styles, including adjustable and non-adjustable, so choose the ones that fit your feet comfortably and provide the right support.

  • Grab Handle

If you want to take your kiteboarding skills to the next level, consider adding a grab handle to your board. A grab handle makes picking up and carrying the board easier, which is essential for launching and landing.

It also allows you to perform more advanced tricks and maneuvers, such as grabs and spins. Grab handles come in different shapes and sizes, so choose the one that feels most comfortable and secure in your hand.

  • Leash

One accessory that many kiteboarders overlook but are essential for safety is a leash. A leash connects you to the board, so you won’t lose it if you fall off. It is especially important in high-wind conditions or areas with strong currents. 

A leash also makes it easier for rescuers to find you if you get into trouble. Different types of leashes are available, including ankle leashes and waist leashes. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with and ensure it is properly attached to your kitesurfing boards and body.

  • Wax

Wax is another important accessory for your kiteboarding board. Wax helps to increase the board’s grip on the water, making it easier to perform turns and jumps. It also protects the board from damage caused by UV rays and saltwater. 

Different types of wax are available, including warm water wax and cold water wax. Choose the one that matches the water temperature of the location you plan to kiteboard.

  • Others

In addition to the essential accessories mentioned above, several other kiteboarding board accessories can enhance your performance and enjoyment. 

For example, a board bag is an excellent investment for protecting your board during transportation and storage. Board bags come in different sizes and materials, so choose one that fits your board snugly and provides enough padding to prevent damage.

In conclusion, kitesurfing board accessories can greatly enhance your overall experience and performance on the water. Each accessory serves a specific purpose, from foot straps to fins, and can make a significant difference in how you ride. 

Investing in the right accessories for your kitesurfing board can take your riding to the next level and make each session even more smooth & enjoyable. So, don’t hesitate to try out these different and quality accessories Kiteline offers at great deals and find the ones that work best for you. Happy kitesurfing!

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Where Was Kitesurfing Invented?

Where Was Kitesurfing Invented?

The popularity of kitesurfing, which is basically a derivative of windsurfing, is growing steadily. The sport has become much more user-friendly as a result of more recent technological advancements in equipment like Naish kiteboarding and safety measures, which are mainly responsible for most of its expansion. 

The fundamentals of kite surfing, or kite sailing as it was once known, have been there for quite some time despite its current increase in popularity; in fact, they were traced back to 13th-century China. 

To boost the speed and stability of boats, kite sails were introduced at this time and used for transportation. This function remained the mode of transportation for about five centuries.

In the 1800s, British inventor George Pocock started experimenting with using kite power to pull loads.  He started with rocks, worked his way up to boards, then bigger weights. in 1826  Pocock invented the “Charvolant” buggy.  The carts are known as the originators of current kite buggying since they used two kites on a line that was almost 450 meters long. 

The buggies used to have a top speed of about 20 miles per hour, and according to reports, the “Charvolants” passed the Duke of Gloucester as well as a mail coach, which at the time was the fastest passenger vehicle. The buggy would have to stop and let the Duke pass by again. 

In later versions, a four-line control bar for steering was introduced, along with a T-bar for controlling the carriage and fast braking.  Surprise that the Charvolant was challenging to handle, yet it finally managed to successfully escape tolls that were enforced at the time against horse-drawn carriages.

Samuel Franklin Cody further improved the use of kites. In World War I, the military used Cody’s idea of “man-lifting kites,” or kites that could lift humans, in place of balloons for artillery spotting.

Furthermore, Cody built a functional canvas kite boat that sailed the English Channel successfully in 1903.

in the 1970s, development of Kevlar and later Spectra flying lines, kite control improved due to the material’s increased efficiency and durability. 

Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise, a Dutch inventor, was awarded a patent in 1977 for kitesurfing, which is currently known as the sport of being pulled along the water by a kite or parachute-like device while standing on a floating board. 

By the middle of the 1980s, Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux, two brothers from the French coast who later created Wipika, were in the early stages of developing inflatable kites.

Early versions of kiteboarding continued to advance during the 1990s. Corey Roesler racing his kite ski device in the Gorge (which was partly built by his father George Roesler, a Boeing aeronautical engineer), and Laird Hamilton lounging in the seas of Maui. 

 Both were basically sailing downwind, making the sport economical to the majority of people even though it was beginning to attract some commercial attention. 

Also Read: Why Should You Try Kiteboarding: Top Benefits

Then, in 1998, Lou Wainman made his debut in Hawaii, learning to perform stunts that would take the kiteboarding industry years to completely accept.  Although it was initially considered an extreme activity, kite surfing is now fairly safe and keeps expanding.

So that is how the spectacular water activity kitesurfing was invented. If you also want to try kitesurfing and looking for gear to perform kitesurfing, Naish kiteboarding will be the best investment to start.