Kite Surfing in Chatham, Cape Cod

If you've been to any Chatham beach in the last couple of years no doubt you've wondered what the strange looking objects those surfers off the beach were attached to.  They weren't windsurfing and it wasn't parasailing.  It's a kite.... of sorts.

In the 1980's the waters off Chatham were known the world over by Olympic level windsurfers as a great place to train.  We're surrounded on three sides by many different types of ocean- Pleasant Bay, the open Atlantic, and Nantucket Sound, all offering varying levels of surf, wind, speed, and thrills.  Now, these same waters are attracting kite huge populations of kite surfers all the year round and just about everyone is curious, whether it's watching or getting out there yourself.

The new point off Lighthouse Beach is hugely popular in the sport as is the second parking lot of Hardings Beach.  Each place requires some caution however- the currents of Lighthouse Beach can quickly overpower those who swim too far from shore and the line of weir poles on Hardings Beach can obstruct some line-of-sight navigation between the months of February and August.

The line of weir poles at the top of this photo are something to watch out for in the spring and the summer.  The kite surfers off Hardings Beach clearly don't seem to mind.

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The Latest Extreme Sport - KITESURFING

by Ispas Marin

Have  you looked at many extreme sports but just can't find the right thrills? It's time to take a look at the ocean, you might just find some inspiration.   The latest craze in extreme sports is kitesurfing, it only started out in 1990 but there are tens of thousands of enthusiasts around the world. You can go to any ocean beach on a Sunday and you'll see that kitesurfing has a strong following and has expanded quickly.

The kitesurfing board is a surfboard but shorter and the kitesurfer is attached to it with foot straps or bindings. You have the board attached to a kite, that looks more like a parachute, by a series of lines of various lengths. The board is propelled by the kite across the water at quite great speeds.

The challenge in kitesurfing is that your body is the only connection between the kite and the board and mastering the control of both the kite in the air and the board on the water is a key point.

If you're asking yourself how it's possible for a kite to stay in the air while holding the weight of the board and your weight at the same time the explanation is this: while flying, a kite is creating it's own wind and the wind it creates is faster than the wind powering it producing more power than the actual wind.

The Kitesurfing Gear

You might think that kitesurfing is not an expensive sport but that's not entirely true, the board and kite aren't the only equipment you need. Other equipment components are a kite pump(inflatable kite), bar, lines, board harness, life jacket and helmet. If you'll add the starting lessons you'll get a good amount that you'll have to spend.

Taking Kitesurfing Lessons

The theory behind kitesurfing is simple enough, the practice is another story. Because of that you need a little while to master. Kitesurfing enthusiasts should take lessons from an experienced kitesurfing instructor before practicing this sport, no matter how much experience you have with surfing or windsurfing.

About the Author
For all the tips and tricks on kitesurfing visit our kitesurfing guide now. For great information on kitesurfing equipment visit our kite surfing equipment page.

 

Cape Cod Surf Reports

 

Big Air Equals Big Thrills With This New Extreme Sport

by Captain Jeff Hoxtell

Kiteboarding or kitesurfing, if you don't already know, is like snowboarding on water. This, behind a boat, is called wakeboarding. OK, now forget the boat and add a giant kite for the power source. The kite is controlled or steered using a control bar in the hands of the rider. The kite can be flown is specific patterns to generate greater power, or can be used to jump or fly through the air. We are not talking about little hops either; you can really get up and float for some serious air time. The power is directed to a harness by "hooking in"; this takes the load off the arms which helps reduce fatigue. Kiteboarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world, and for good reasons.

The freedom of jumping 10, 20, 30ft off the water, without the necessity of a wave for a ramp, means that people who live near lakes can still fly through the air. Snowboarders love it as a summer alternative to riding on snow, not to mention there's no lift ticket to buy. Windsurfers love it because you can kiteboard in less wind, and the gear fits in a economy car, instead of the truck, or trailer. Surfers can get out on the water when the surf is too low or blown out. Wake boarders are forced to rethink what big air really is, plus saving all the gas money they were putting into their boats every weekend. People who have never tried a board sport at all are getting into kiteboarding.

Ideal learning conditions include warm, flat and shallow water coupled with consistent wind. Being able to stand up after a gulp of water or a head first plunge is not only convenient but comforting. Having a boat right there where you need it saves time, as the beginner will end the kite surfing lesson far down wind from where he or she started.

Taking lessons with a qualified instructor is a must. The best thing to do first is to buy or rent a trainer kite, and watch an instructional video to get the basics down. Next, is the first three hour kiteboarding lesson, in which you will learn the safety issues and systems, setup of the kite, launching and landing, the wind window and power stokes, water re-launching and body dragging. From there you can continue with lessons or go practice on your own. The cost of equipment has come down over the years; a beginner setup will run $1000-$1500 for everything. Unlike many sports, such as snow Skiing, kiteboarding is not something you should expect to be able to learn in an afternoon. Once you get it, you'll be hooked.

The author owns Air Padre Kiteboarding 5709 A Padre Blvd. South Padre Island www.airpadrekiteboarding.com