Video · Kiteboarding basics
What Is Kiteboarding? The Family and Friends Explanation
From The OK Kiteboarder · January 3, 2019 · 4 min 16 sec
If you are a kiter there is a good chance that you have been responsible for a conversation stopper when asked, well what activities do you enjoy? Send them this. The OK Kiteboarder defines the sport, shows twin tip and hydrofoil riding, and answers what non-kiters ask most: how the kite gets out on the water, whether your arms get tired, and whether a jump can carry you away.
Thinking about trying it? Our guide covers how hard it is to learn, whether it's dangerous, and what you need to get started: What Is Kiteboarding in 2026?
What you'll see
- What kiteboarding is, and the boat and parachute mix-up
- Riding a twin tip, a board you can ride in either direction
- Riding a hydrofoil with a kite, and why it works in less wind
- How the kite gets out on the water
- Why the harness keeps your arms from getting tired
- What happens when you jump
- Why to start with professional instruction
Featured products
Key takeaways
- Kiteboarding isn't just about extreme aerial tricks. It's a sport for all levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.
- You can glide across the water on a twin-tip board or ride above it on a hydrofoil.
- Safety first. Get professional instruction before you start.
Transcript
Read the full transcript
What kiteboarding is
The OK Kiteboarder: Let's go back, back, back.
If you're a kiteboarder, then there's a good chance that you've been responsible for being a conversation stopper when someone asks, “What kind of activities do you enjoy doing?” “Reading. I enjoy reading.”
When you tell someone that you enjoy kiteboarding, they may say, “Oh, isn't that that sport where that boat pulls you with a long rope and you're underneath a large parachute as you're going across the water? That looks so fun.” But that activity just won't suffice for comments like, “And you were getting so close to pulling off that trick,” or “Great session on the water today,” or “Man, you were getting some serious air.” Maybe.
By definition, kiteboarding is a sport where you're propelled across the water on a board by power of a kite, through which you are harnessed.
Twin tips and hydrofoils
Now, there are many aspects and levels of kiteboarding. I'm just the OK kiteboarder, so I ride a twin tip board, a board that you can ride in either direction, and I can do some basic to intermediate level stuff, which is extremely enjoyable to me. But I can't do anything like this, nor will I probably ever be able to. But even just mowing the lawn is a really enjoyable experience, especially for the beginning kiter.
I also am learning to ride a hydrofoil with the kite. This sport allows you to get out on the water in less wind due to less resistance from being off of the surface of the water. This sport has you elevated out of the water through a mast, and the only thing under the surface of the water is a front wing and a stabilizer wing. But again, there are all kinds of levels of ability for this as well.
The most common questions
Some of the most common questions that I get are: How do you get the kite out on the water? The kite is launched from land, and most kites have an inflatable bladder, which will also float on the water. Many riders now also use foil kites, which are not inflatable, but they are very efficient.
Don't your arms get tired? You must have to be so strong. No. Many sessions on the water last for hours, and the key is in the harness. There are waist harnesses and seat harnesses. The pull of the kite is actually through your harness. The chicken loop attaches to your harness hook, and it gives you the ability to steer the kite and increase and decrease power in the kite without it pulling through your arms.
When you jump, are you afraid that you won't come back down? No. When you jump, you will come back down. There are freak events on YouTube that you can look up of updrafts taking a kiter a few hundred feet in the air, but this is far from a common occurrence. The kites are not designed to fly you up, up and away.
If you want to try it
So now hopefully you can see why the kiter is really about the only person who gets really giddy about a high wind forecast or very windy days, or why their phones are filled with a ton of apps like this, or why you were sent this YouTube episode to watch.
If you have any potential interest in joining this epidemic, first of all, get professional instruction. This sport is safe if proper steps are taken, but can be deadly if the mindset is, “OK, I have an afternoon off. I think I'll come out and kiteboard with you. It really doesn't look that difficult.”
If you do get the kite bug, check out Green Hat Kiteboarding or their link in my description below for all your kiteboarding needs.
Please comment, like and subscribe to my channel. We cover the spectrum from the water start to the foil jump and everything in between. I hope to see you in the future on the water, and next time on The OK Kiteboarder, go back, back, back, back.
FAQ
What is kiteboarding?
Kiteboarding by definition is the sport of riding on a board that is propelled across water by a kite to which the rider is harnessed.
How do you get the kite on the water?
The kite is launched from land, most kites have an inflatable bladder which will also float on the water, many riders now also use foil kites, which are not inflatable, but are very efficient.
Don't your arms get tired, you must have to be so strong?
No, many sessions on the water last for hours and the key is in the harness. There are waist harnesses and seat harnesses. The pull of the kite is actually through your harness. The chicken loop attaches to your harness hook and it gives you the ability to steer the kite and increase and decrease power on the kite without it pulling through your arms.
When you jump are you afraid you won't come back down?
No, when you jump, you will come back down. There are freak events on YouTube of updrafts taking kiters a few hundred feet in the air, but this is far from a common occurrence. The kites are not designed to fly you up, up, and away.
Why can you ride a hydrofoil in less wind?
You're off the surface of the water, so there's less resistance. A mast lifts you up, and only a front wing and a stabilizer wing stay under the surface.
What's a twin tip board?
It's a board you can ride in either direction. The OK Kiteboarder rides one for basic to intermediate riding.
Thinking about trying it?
The video's first piece of advice is to get professional instruction. Tell the shop where you're starting from and we'll point you the right way.
Talk to the Green Hat team
