Kiteboarding becoming more popular along Gulf Coast
Julie B. Connerley
News Journal Correspondent
Pensacolaís Bob Wetherington, 40, gets in some kiteboarding Saturday at the Santa Rosa SoundJulie B. Connerley
One of the newer "extreme" sports, kiteboarding, claims Maui, Hawaii, as its birth place.
The year was 1999, more than a decade after two French brothers, Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux, had begun working on a crescent-shaped inflatable kite.
Their efforts, along with that of Oregonian Cory Roesler, who developed a kite-ski apparatus, became the impetus for the sport alternately called kiteboarding or kitesurfing. (Though, most enthusiasts have dropped the use of Kitesurfing because surf is not necessary for one to enjoy the sport.)
However, the concept isn't really that new. History tells us that the Chinese used kites as an aid to transportation in harnessing the wind while paddling canoes. The earliest recorded history of Kitesailing, as it was called then, dates back to the 12 Century.
The sport has taken many forms, though all involve a kite. One can kite on land, water or snow (the newest rage). What makes kiteboarding an extreme sport is that the conditions "can be as dangerous as you make it," explained certified instructor Larry Couch, who is the owner of Hydrotherapy Kiteboard and Windsurfing in Panama City Beach. "Jumps upwards of 20-30 feet into the air are not uncommon. (But) if you attempt kiteboarding without guidance from a certified instructor, it can be one of the most frightening and deadly activities."
Couch, 38, should know. He has been kiteboarding since 2002 and realized early on the importance of understanding how the rigging works, reading the wind and water, disengaging from tangled lines, and relaunching a kite from the water.
"Kiting gear is much safer since the sport's inception, but even that aspect is limited to the rider's knowledge of one's setup," Couch said. "Attach yourself to a huge traction kite and steer the kite incorrectly, or get hit by an unexpected gust of wind, and you can find yourself dangling from a tree, or worse."
The kite and gear, which can be compressed into an oversized backpack, along with a board, can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. At Hydrotherapy, kiteboarding lessons run from $175 to $350 with a rebate applied to the purchase of Kiteboarding equipment.
Kiteboarding on Pensacola Beach hasn't really taken off the way Kip Lee, 45, had hoped it would. A few years ago, he opened a kiteboarding shop in Gulf Breeze. Hurricanes and economic downturns forced Lee to close the business and an unrelated knee injury put him on the sidelines for more than a year but these days he is reestablishing himself in the kiteboarding community.
"Although we're a small group," Lee said, "we look out for each other. Safety is paramount in our sport, and the technology and equipment is constantly changing as the sport evolves."
To learn more about Kiteboarding, call Larry Couch at (888) 745-7873 or visit www.hydrotherapykiteboarding.com.
Article Comments
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Reader Comment Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:20 am
Kiteboarding might be great in the uninhabited portions of Santa Rosa Island, but in the populated beach areas it's just too dangerous, and should be banned by ordinance if it isn't already. Even as infrequently as the sport is currently being practiced on Pensacola Beach, I've already witnessed several near misses, where the kites are forced downward (whether by strong downdrafts or inexperienced boarders, I don't know which), to nearly strike swimmers, children playing at the surfline, and even sunbathers higher up on the beach. These are not insubstantial kites and it would seem they might cause significant injury at some velocity.
It makes me nervous to watch, and even a little angry because the operators don't seem to realize the danger they're putting people in, or how jittery people feel when they're nearby -- which ruins the beach experience for those folks.
This looks like a really fun and challenging sport, and it's tough for kiteboarders right now because of limited vehicle access to the National Seashore areas pending road repairs, but that's where this sport belongs -- far from the populated beaches.
I'd be interested to know how others feel about this.
Posted by: Linda L.
I agree on safety concerns Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:55 am
I used to work at a water sports place on the beach some twenty years ago and the focus was always on safety. You can tell people over and over what to do and more about what not to do, but it gets pretty crowded out there pretty quick.
It only take one idiot to create a disaster that will permanently damage themselves or someone else.
Motorized vessels vs sail boats or other wind powered vs swimmers.
I like your solution, Linda, of moving it down to unpopulated part of the beach, but from a business standpoint it wouldn't be fair to tell someone renting wind power fun they can't be there but it is ok for jet ski's.
The experienced wind boarders and sailboats won't be in the populated area very much because of all the traffic. It will be the novices and renters in the populated areas.
So like every other concern in our area that involves money a few folks will probably have to get maimed or die before any rules are in place.
Posted by: WeatherOrNot
Reader Comment Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:49 am
Why don't we ban cars too while we are at it? Right? I mean look at all of the near misses and such each day, right? Good grief!!!
At least the kiteboarders aren't getting all liquored up and then jumping on their kite/surfboards like most of the drivers who are out imbibing at the local waterholes on Pcola Beach....give me a kiteboarder anyday compared to some local or tourist who popped in to Flounders, Capt Funs etc and had four or five cocktails with dinner and is now trying to drive home back across the bridges and Pensacola.
Posted by: Pacedog
Reader Comment Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:40 am
Kiteboarders are a civic and environmentally conscious group. We appreciate our access to area beaches and respect other beachgoers and wildlife. We are responsible and do everything we can to maintain the highest level of safety.
During the summer months we travel to the more unpopulated beaches and monitor other kiters to guarantee safe practices.
Kiteboarding is a fun and exciting sport which provides a great spectacle for those who witness it.
Posted by: flkytesrfr
Reader Comment Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:18 pm
Thanks for the comments everybody. I was thrilled to help with this article and try to shed some light on a somewhat new sport. I was, however, deeply disturbed by the first couple of comments in this thread.
I will agree that there have been instances where folks have been kiting in areas that were too crowded for the sport. More times than not, these were people that had bought their gear off the internet or from a careless dealer and had no idea what they were doing. Believe me, if there are any experienced kiters around, they WILL say something to set them right. BTW, nobody rents kite gear. Not yet anyway. Like flkytesrfr said, we always try to find the less crowded beaches to ride. If you find yourself being threatened by a kiter, SAY SOMETHING TO THE KITER. You'll be doing everybody a favor. Relying on the local gov to do anything wise always ends badly for everyone.
I like pacedog's comment. I lost a close friend on the 3 mile bridge because of a drunk driver. But neither driving or drinking has been banned. More closely related, folks are killed (or kill somebody else) on jetskiis every year. There's even been windsurfers killed by jetskiers. I tell all of my students to stay clear of them! Do we ban them? No. I don't think we should. A better idea is to EDUCATE. A bigger community of riders and a more informed public will make everyone safer.
One last comment. Like some say about skateboarding, kiteboarding is not a crime. The youth that WILL become more involved in this sport are going to be setting a good example for their friends. I would much rather have my son kiting, skating, or sailing than playing Xbox and typing into a forum all day long ; ) Ban kiting and your going to give kids one less reason to get out of the house and involved with something REAL.
Posted by: hydrowindsurf