Kites:

The Power of Kiting

When you were young, you probably had a kite at some time. The joy of seeing something flying that we can control never leaves us.

As we get older, though, kiting can move from a gentle summer's day activity, to a full sport. Power kiting - that is using the power of the wind to drag you along - is now one of the world's fastest-growing sports.

The power of the wind can be immense - especially when you combine it with kites that can be larger than 7m in width. They can be so powerful, in fact, that many people are injured. When the wind is strong, this is an extreme sport.

There are four main types of power kiting:

Kitesurfing: Like windsurfing, but with a kite instead of a sail. Effectively, you are standing on a surfboard with a kite attached.

Kite boarding: A beefed-up skateboard allows you to fly across the ground at high speeds.

Kite buggying: You sit in a three-wheeled buggy, and are pulled along.

Power kiting: You don't have any wheels of boards - and just let the kite pull and lift you.

Beginners are always advised to start with a smaller kite (e.g. 2metres) in order to learn control. Even these can generate a lot of pull in stronger winds. It won't take long, however, until you can move onto kites that give you the lift you are after.

So, if you are looking for a new sport without needing anyone else to compete, power kiting should be top on your list.

About the Author:

John Anderson is a frequent power kiter, and contributor to http://www.power-kiting.com