Passion for the brave: kitesurfing

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Imagine a picture: dazzling sun, fresh wind, salty sea air, and you are rushing on a board through the water. And at the same time, a giant kite flies above you, which is rapidly pulling you forward. Tempting? Then maybe a fun and extreme sport, kitesurfing, is what you need?

Kitesurfing is a special type of surfing in which you glide through the water on a board, and at the same time a small parachute is attached to your waist, or, as professionals call it, a kite. The very word "kite" just means "kite". It is with the kite during the ride that you will catch the wind in order to quickly rush along the waves. Advanced surfers are not only easy to fly with this parachute, but they can also do real tricks in the air, taking off from the board and performing incredible somersaults and jumps.

You don't have to know how to ride a board or be a windsurfer to master the intricacies of kitesurfing. You can learn how to control the kite from scratch, you just have to devote enough time to it.

You can learn the art of kitesurfing where it is warm enough not to freeze in the water during training, as well as in places where an even and strong enough wind blows along the coast. The main Mecca of kitesurfers is traditionally considered the Egyptian resorts of El Gouna and Dahab, but apart from them there are enough places where you can practice riding the waves with a kite. Greek Rhodes, Spanish Andalusia, Vietnam, Hawaii, Venezuela, some resorts in Thailand, lakes in northern Italy (Garda) and southern Germany (Ammersee) are popular among kitesurfers. In the Moscow region, surfers have chosen Lake Pleshcheyevo for kite training, not far from Pereslavl-Zalessky.

To master the technique of kitesurfing, you will have to stock up on a fair amount of patience and courage. Good sports training will not hurt either. The simplest kite surfing courses take place over the weekend, where you will be taught how to choose the right kite for you, how to assemble and disassemble it, and how to control and catch the wind on land and in the water. Provided that you are in good shape and are friendly with water sports, already during such a course you can try to master the technique of getting up on a board from the water with a kite fastened to your belt.

If you are determined, plan your vacation in a place where you can study in a group or individually for a week or two every day.

In other cases, you will have to apply all your perseverance and spend more than one day off to confidently and firmly cut the water surface, standing on the board. That is why, if you are determined, plan a vacation in a place where you can practice for a week or two daily in a group or individually under the guidance of an experienced coach.

Before diving into the delights of kitesurfing, keep in mind that, like any extreme sport, kitesurfing is traumatic enough. Therefore, being fond of this sport, it is especially important to carefully observe safety precautions. That is why, by the way, professionals advise the kitesurfing school and instructor to choose meticulously and with great attention. Teaching in the native language is preferred to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to injury.

When choosing a school, be sure to study its program. After a standard basic kite surfing course, you should gain the following knowledge:

• Kite settings management;
• Acquaintance with the safety system when riding;
• Ability to take into account weather conditions and choose a place to launch the kite;
• Ability to glide on water without a board with a kite;
• The skill of landing and launching the kite, including emergency landing and upwind movement.

It would be optimal to go to kitesurfing courses with a friend or a loved one. After all The basic rule of the kitesurfer is: never ride alone. This is required, among other things, by safety regulations, so the company will never be in the way here.

Be prepared for the fact that at first you may not succeed, and give yourself enough time to get used to a new sport for yourself and learn its technique. To avoid hypothermia while in the water, make sure you are wearing a suitable neoprene suit. And in order to protect yourself from injury, buy or rent a helmet.

Kitesurfing today is one of the most popular hobbies in Europe, and on the eve of the New Year, such a course, planned for the next vacation, can be an excellent gift for your other half.

If you are unbearable to wait for the onset of summer, and you are not going to tropical countries yet, there is no need to postpone the development of this sport until later. After all, kitesurfing also has a winter variation called snowkiting. So if you're heading to a ski resort and looking for new experiences, try winter kiting. The kite will give you high speed on the track and feel the excitement and energy of a real race. For such skiing, as a rule, long alpine skis with a large turning radius and, occasionally, snowboard are used.

In a word, if at heart you are an extreme and want to start the new year with new bright impressions, then try kite riding in its summer or winter variation. Regardless of whether the kite pulls you along snow-covered tracks or water spaces, the feeling of flight and the thrill of new sensations are guaranteed to you.