| Riding a wheeled board with a land kite providing | | | | out decreases the pull of the kite. For |
| the traction is a similar sport to kite surfing. All it | | | | emergencies, some land kites have a |
| really takes to get into kite boarding over land is | | | | quick-release mechanism to let you get rid of the |
| some open space, a traction kite and a landboard | | | | kite in a hurry. The people who sell the kites can |
| of just about any kind. Oh, and some basic power | | | | advise on how to get into the sport with the right |
| kite flying skills of course! The idea is to get the | | | | gear. |
| kite overhead first. Then, when you are on your | | | | The Boards |
| board and ready to roll, the kite is brought down | | | | Many kite boarders use 'mountain boards' which |
| to generate some sideways pull like a sail. With | | | | are basically over-sized skateboards. The wheels |
| the kite moving in the same direction as the | | | | are pump-up rather than hard as on traditional |
| board, you are on your way. | | | | roller skates or skate-boards. Since so many |
| Here's some reasons why newcomers to kite | | | | people are into these sports, there are many |
| sports might prefer boarding with a land kite over | | | | manufacturers all trying to get a piece of the |
| kite surfing out on the ocean waves... | | | | action. That means more different kite board |
| - it's a lot easier to learn | | | | designs than you can poke a stick at! |
| - most people get the hang of it in under 2 hours | | | | Even so, it's possible to make some very general |
| - the equipment is cheaper | | | | statements about all these boards. Here's a few |
| - you don't have to get wet! | | | | reasons to consider the most expensive boards, |
| - if necessary, power kiting skills can be picked up | | | | if you can afford them... |
| while you learn | | | | - these boards are easier to use since they allow |
| Landboarding has been around since the 90s, and | | | | turning while traveling at lower speeds |
| like snowkiting is making use of all the latest | | | | - most of them have 'active suspension', which is |
| traction kite technology. A close relation to the | | | | handy for doing jumps or going over rough |
| land board is the buggy. It's just a bit bigger and | | | | ground |
| encloses the driver, but the techniques are similar. | | | | - composite construction is more expensive, but |
| It's still 4 wheels and a kite. Here some of the | | | | results in much lighter boards - important for |
| names that are used to refer to either one of | | | | kiting |
| these variations on the sport: | | | | Other Kite Boarding Gear |
| - kiteboarding | | | | Did I say all you need is a land kite and a board or |
| - kite landboarding | | | | buggy? That's not quite true if you want a |
| - land kiteboarding | | | | painless experience! Here's all the other bits of |
| - fly boarding | | | | gear that complete the picture. |
| - parakarting | | | | - a ground-stake to keep the kite tethered when |
| - kite buggying | | | | you're not actually using it |
| - land surfing | | | | - a wind meter so you know exactly what wind |
| - kite sailing | | | | strength you are dealing with |
| The Kites | | | | - spare parts and repair tape |
| There are a lot of similarities here with snowkiting. | | | | - tools |
| The requirements are so similar. You want a | | | | - safety equipment such as helmet, kneepads and |
| steerable kite with decent pull, crash-proof in case | | | | elbow pads |
| it contacts the ground hard, and packable into a | | | | Conclusion - Where To Do Kite Boarding |
| small space for traveling convenience. Also | | | | The best place to do land kite boarding is any |
| desirable is the ability to re-launch off the ground | | | | large flat area with constant wind and no |
| without having to walk over to it, and the ability | | | | obstructions. However, with some care, any open |
| to 'depower' the kite during strong gusts of wind. | | | | space can be used. You just don't want yourself |
| All that adds up to one particular kind of kite. The | | | | or the kite to crash into anything. In particular, |
| parafoil, often abbreviated to just 'foil'. Foils are | | | | things to avoid include power cables, buildings and |
| flexible, with an upper and lower surface when | | | | other people. |
| inflated. Openings at the front edge allow air in | | | | Here's a summary of the types of areas kite |
| which pressurizes the kite and makes it behave | | | | boarders can be seen at. |
| like an aircraft wing. Most depowerable designs | | | | - parks |
| have 4 lines, which allow steering and also the | | | | - sports fields |
| 'angle of attack' to the wind which controls power. | | | | - farmers' fields |
| Like many modern kites of all types, rip-stop | | | | - large outdoor parking lots |
| nylon is the most commonly used material for the | | | | - hard-packed sandy beaches |
| sail. | | | | - school grounds |
| Pulling one end of the bar at a time steers the | | | | - dry lake beds |
| kite. Pulling both ends in towards your body | | | | Here in Australia you could probably add clay pans |
| increases the pull of the kite, while letting the bar | | | | and salt lakes as well! |