What is Kite surfing?
[[File:KiteBoardingCRGorge.jpg|thumb|[[Kite]] surfing on [[Columbia River]], [[Oregon]].]] '''Kite surfing''' or '''Kite boarding''' is a kind of water [[sport]]s that uses the wind to pull a rider on the water surface on a small [[surfboard]] or a kiteboard. There are a number of different styles of kiteboarding. A ''kitesurfer'' or ''kiteboarder'' 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. In 2006, the number of kitesurfers has been estimated at around 150,000 to 210,000, with 114,465 inflatable [[kite]]s sold that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sbckiteboard.com/News?news_id=418&uniqid=1015 |title=SBC Kiteboard Magazine 2006 industry survey |access-date=2011-04-02 |archive-date=2008-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622144431/http://www.sbckiteboard.com/News?news_id=418&uniqid=1015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Various surfing styles have appeared to suit both kitesurfers and conditions, such as ''waveriding'', ''freestyle'', ''freeride'', ''jumping'', and ''cruising''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sbckiteboard.com/video_display/video:2981/Sessions-with-Susi--Episode-10-Susi-visits-Maui-to |title=Sessions with Susi- Episode 10 Susi visits Maui to meet up with Jason, Alby, Reo & Pete |access-date=2011-04-02 |archive-date=2011-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404100500/http://www.sbckiteboard.com/video_display/video:2981/Sessions-with-Susi--Episode-10-Susi-visits-Maui-to |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{commonscat|Kitesurfing}} ==Notes== {{reflist}} {{Wind power}} [[Category:Surfing]] [[Category:Wind energy]]