Power kiting is an explosion of life into one indescribable element: adrenaline. The interesting part is that kiting can be practiced on any surface whether it is water, snow, ice or sand. That is why, in the following photos and texts we will try to get you familiar with some of the extreme sides of kiting: snow-kiting, ice-kiting, kite-surfing, land-kiting and buggy kiting.
Snow kiting and Ice kiting are very similar winter sports; people use kite power to glide on snow or ice. The rider usually has the similar footwear used in snowboarding or skiing, but the difference from other alpine sports is that it is possible for the snow kiter to travel uphill and downhill with any wind direction. This great sport is becoming more diverse as adventurers use kites to travel great distances and sports enthusiasts push the boundaries of freestyle, big air and back country exploration. But remember that snow kiting can be very hazardous and should be learned and practiced with care.
Kite surfing is a surface water sport that uses the wind to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard. A kite surfer uses a board with or without foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel the rider and the board across the water. Kite surfing has become more popular than windsurfing and is becoming safer due to innovations in kite design, safety release systems, and instructions. Also, riding styles have evolved to suit riders and conditions, such as wake-style, wave-riding, freestyle, free-ride, jumping, and cruising.
Land-kiting or Kite land-boarding involve the use of a mountain board or land board, which is essentially an over-sized skateboard with large pneumatic wheels and foot-straps. Usually, land kiting is done in large areas like sandy beaches with favorable wind conditions and where there are no obstacles. Usually, a land-kiter starts off by getting the kite into the neutral position overhead and once he is strapped onto the board, he can get the kite to pull him across the ground by moving the kite in either direction, generating a pull. The experienced riders are able to “get some air” which is essentially maneuvering the kite to pull the rider into the air and giving them excellent chances to do grabs, rotations and flips.
A special category of kiting or power kiting is the buggy kiting, which consists in a buggy, in most of the cases handmade, pulled by a more resistant kite. Although this is an interesting ride, this experience cannot compare with the other kiting versions.
Pictures via 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24
