Kiteboarding in Pattaya, Thailand

Imagine how it feels to speed across the water powered by a sail in the sky; you're standing on a board, watching the kite above you, the waves ahead of you, you jump right in the air, not just a foot or two, but up to 30 feet. You hang in the air for a long moment and then you're down on the water again rushing across the sea. This is Kiteboarding an action sport at its best: challenging, fun and simply unforgettable!

Kiteboarding is taking the world by storm. A cross between windsurfing, wakeboarding and paragliding, riders harness the power of the wind with a large flying kite and use it to pull them across the water with their feet strapped to a small board.

If you are a confident swimmer with an average fitness level you can learn this sport, but be warned, once you learn, you will gradually spend less time at work and more time chasing the wind and waves. Its qualities include the need for only light wind (10-12km/h) to ride, compact equipment that is easy to travel with, and the addictive nature of being free to go where you want using the power of the wind.

The sport is easier to learn than it looks, as 90% of kiteboarding involves flying the kite competently. You don’t have to be a muscle builder to learn this sport. While strength helps, once you have mastered flying the kite, it becomes easier. It is technique not strength that makes a good kiteboarder.

It also explains why women tend to learn the sport better than men. Women tend to work with the kite rather than trying to overpower it and beat it into submission. Like many sports, kiteboarding can be dangerous, and thus it is highly recommended to learn the sport at a kiteboarding center where they teach you to become a safe and independent kiteboarder.

A kiteboarder stands on a board, similar to a surfboard, with foot straps and uses the power generated by a large controllable kite to propel him or her and the board across the water. It is also possible to use the upward motion of the kite to jump in the air as high as 10m.

The most important skill to getting going and on the board is learning how to control the kite. This is 80-90% of the skill required, learn to fly the kite confidently (with your eyes closed) as if it was a part of your body and you are well on your way to kiteboarding.

The sport began in the mid ‘80’s when Frenchman Bruno Legaignoux developed a kite which could be re-launched from the water after crashing. His patented idea was a inflatable kite, with struts which were filled with air to allow the kite to float and give the kite rigidity. Today these kites are the main stay of Kiteboarding, ranging many types of designs and sizes.

With competitions being held being in locations all over the world including Hawaii, South Africa, California, and a world tour operating for the last 3 years, kiteboarding’s popularity has taken off.

Kites originated in China thousands of years ago and have remained virtually the same until modern times when George Pocock, invented the 2 line kite which was controllable in 1826. so instead of letting the wind fly the kite, you pilot the kite in the sky.

KiteBoardingAsia (KBA) has 5 IKO certified kiteboarding centers and are the biggest kite centers in asia, one located in Hua Hin, one in chompon, one in phuket the one in Koh Samui and the newest center in Pattaya. They have searched all over Thailand to find the best locations for the beginner and intermediate rider, and believe they have found 5 of the best spots in Asia for learning to kiteboard. They offer courses for the beginner up to advanced riders and stock the largest range of kiteboarding equipment in Asia .

Mike the school manager has found the perfect place to learn, with a good size beach (for launching and landing the kites.“We receive Northeasterly to Easterly winds ranging from 8 to 20 knot range, perfect for beginners and intermediates.”

Situated right on the beach Kiteboarding Asia is run out of an office and training center, which includes a shop equipment show room, equipment to test before you buy, rental, second hand equipment sales and sales of all the latest 2008 Cabrinha and Airush kites and boards with the best prices in the world.

Kiteboarding Asia is located in the Blue Lagoon Water Sports Club (www.bluelagoonpattaya.com) on Jomtien beach near the Ambassador hotel, the larges in pattaya. The official website is at www.kiteboardingasia.com.

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