Kite surfing
by AnnaJo Vahle
Title
Kite surfing
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Kiteboarding is sometimes called kite surfing. It is a surface water sport combining aspects of wake boarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. A kitesurfer or kiteboarder harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable power kite. This is propelled across the water on a kite board similar to a wakeboard or a small surfboard. This is with or without footstraps or bindings. The terms kiteboarding and kitesurfing are interchangeable. However, kiteboarding may also refer to kite land boarding or kite snowboarding. There are different styles of kiteboarding. These include freestyle, free ride, downwinders, speed, course racing, wake style, jumping and wave-riding. In 2012, the number of kite surfers has been estimated at 1.5 million persons worldwide.
I watched this kite surfer on the Banana River near the Merritt Island Causeway near Cocoa Beach. It was a lovely balmy day in Central Florida even though it is in November. There was quite a large number of surfers plying the waters and flying through the air with the help of their parasails. I was able to stand just a few yards away from them as they surfed right near the water's edge, where I stood.
Controlled flying is possible and is one of the biggest attractions of the sport. Before jumping, the surfer builds up tension in the lines by strongly edging the board. Then the kite is flown quickly to an overhead position, sometimes just as the surfer goes over a wave. As the kite begins to lift, the board edge is then released and the rider becomes airborne. The kite is then piloted from overhead to the direction of travel. A large variety of maneuvers and tricks can be performed while jumping. Jumping can be very risky. Riders must keep a clear buffer zone downwind when attempting to jump.
This seems to depict such joy!
Uploaded
November 4th, 2013
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Viewed 1,307 Times - Last Visitor from Cupertino, CA on 03/27/2024 at 5:24 AM
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Comments (35)
Gary F Richards
Outstanding Kite Surfing composition, lighting, shading, excellent color and artwork! F/L voted
Isaac Richter
Wow..I love it AnnaJo.. You caught a wonderful dynamic moment. ..makes me want to do it too...LOL The splash drops of water ..his feel him being hanged in such a wonderful angle and all that on top of the wavy water...This is such excellent work!!!!! Always a pleasure to see your work AnnaJo!!
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you very much for your visit and comment, Isaac. I totally agree with you that it looks like a lot of fun! It is great to hear from you.
Marcia Lee Jones
Never heard of this sport!
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Yes, I don't know much about it myself. It was across the street from the Cape Canaveral Hospital. I couldn't help but stop by the side of the road and watch the fun.