Kitesurfing is one of the fastest-growing water sports of recent decades: a board, a kite and the wind as your engine. It lets you ride at high speed, launch jumps several meters high and enjoy the ocean even when there are no waves. In this guide we explain what kitesurfing is, where it came from, what gear you need, how long it takes to learn and how it compares with surfing and windsurfing.
What is kitesurfing?
Kitesurfing (or kiteboarding) is a sport where the rider, standing on a board, is pulled by a traction kite controlled with a bar connected by lines roughly 65 to 90 feet (20–27 m) long. The kite harnesses the wind to generate power, and by steering it across the sky the kiter controls speed, direction and jumps. It is, quite literally, surfing powered by the air.
Where kitesurfing came from
Traction kites have existed for centuries, but modern kitesurfing was born in the 1980s, when French brothers Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux patented an inflatable kite that could relaunch from the water. In the 1990s the sport took off in Hawaii and Europe, and it has kept evolving ever since. It reached a new milestone with its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, in the Formula Kite class.
Kitesurfing gear
- Kite: size (in m²) depends on rider weight and wind strength. The lighter the wind, the bigger the kite.
- Bar and lines: used to steer the kite and control its power, with a quick-release safety system.
- Harness: transfers the kite’s pull to your hips so you are not holding it with your arms.
- Board: most riders use a twin tip. There are also directional boards for waves and hydrofoils for light wind.
- Safety: an impact vest and helmet, especially while learning, plus a wetsuit depending on water temperature.
How much wind do you need?
With standard gear you can ride from about 12 knots, and the ideal learning range is 12 to 20 knots. Above 25–30 knots you need small kites and experience. Wind direction matters just as much: it should blow parallel to the shore or slightly onshore. Never kitesurf in offshore wind, because it pushes you out to sea.
Is kitesurfing hard to learn? How long does it take?
At first it is more technical than surfing, because you have to learn to fly the kite before getting on the board. A beginner course at a certified school (IKO, for example) usually takes 9 to 12 hours over several days, and by the end most students ride their first few meters. After that, it is all practice.
Typical learning stages:
- Theory: wind, the wind window and safety.
- Flying a small trainer kite on the beach.
- Body dragging: being pulled through the water without a board.
- Water start: getting up on the board.
- Riding in both directions and going upwind to return to your starting point.
Kitesurfing vs. surfing vs. windsurfing
- Surfing: the wave is the engine. You paddle, catch it and ride it.
- Windsurfing: the wind is the engine, caught by a sail attached to the board with a mast.
- Kitesurfing: the wind is the engine too, but through a kite flying high above, which allows bigger jumps and lighter gear.
Where to go kitesurfing
Some of the world’s most famous kitesurfing destinations include Tarifa and Fuerteventura in Spain, Cabarete in the Dominican Republic and the coast of Ceará in Brazil, all with steady, well-oriented thermal or trade winds.
What about Nicaragua? Along much of the Pacific coast, during the dry season the wind blows from land to sea: perfect for surfing, because it grooms and hollows out the waves, but not suitable for kitesurfing for safety reasons. That is why Nicaragua’s Pacific coast is, above all, a surf destination.
FAQ
Do you need to be very fit to kitesurf?
You do not need a lot of strength, since the harness absorbs the pull. Being a confident swimmer and having basic fitness helps.
Is kitesurfing dangerous?
Like any wind sport it has risks, but with a course at a certified school, the right gear and respect for conditions (never in offshore wind or storms) it is a safe sport.
Which is better to start with, kitesurfing or surfing?
Surfing needs less gear, and you can start riding whitewater on day one. Kitesurfing requires a course first, but progress is usually fast once you are riding.
Want to try surfing in Nicaragua?
If you are looking for a water-sports trip somewhere authentic, Las Dunas Resort on Playa Aposentillo offers 7-day surf camps, surf lessons for every level and activities like mangrove kayaking, horseback riding and motorcycle tours. Check out our Nicaragua surf spots guide too.