The Kiteboarding Manual 2nd edition

Your complete practical guide to this fast-paced and addictive sport. Kiteboarding has gone from strength to strength over the last few years, and interest is only set to increase with its inclusion in the 2024 Paris Olympics. In this book, Andy Gratwick (Head of Training for British Kitesports) gets you started with the kite and takes you through to flying it on the water, jumping, tricks and racing, as well as covering weather, wind and tide theory, and helping you select the right kit. Sections cover: - The origins of kiteboarding and massive rise in popularity in recent years - How a kite flies and basic weather principles as well as background on tides and currents, waves, and wind vs tide - Getting started on land - LEI rigging, assembly, launching and flying, body-dragging - How to master your board skills - turns, stopping, rules of the road - Going upwind, riding toeside, turning and transition - Moving fast and riding waves; learning to tack and gybe - Details on all kiteboarding disciplines from speed kiting to kiting on land - How to improve your performance and enjoy incredible airtime! For this second edition there's a new chapter devoted to all things foiling, as well as new text on latest kit, more effective techniques, tips on higher jumps, and new photography throughout. Packed with step-by-step photo sequences explaining the basic moves all the way through to more advanced tricks, and including information on competitions and becoming an instructor, this is a book no kiter will want to be without.

Andy Gratwick is Head of Training for British Kitesports Association and the first ISAF technical expert for kiteboarding in the world. He has written the training and exam syllabus for national kiteboarding authorities in the UK and Australia, as well as working with ISAF on the standards and rules for the 2024 Olympics. He is also an RYA Yachtmaster; trainer and examiner for kitesurfing, snow and land kiting; and BSUPA Head Coach for SUP in the UK. Easyriders, his kiteboarding and stand up paddle school, is based in Sandbanks, Poole.

INTRODUCTION PART 1 Need To Know 01 The sport: a brief history 02 Air 03 Water PART 2 The Journey: Becoming A Kiteboarder 04 Getting started 05 The kite 06 The board 07 Safety, breakages and self-rescues 08 Advanced techniques 09 Points of sailing 10 Going upwind 11 Airtime 12 Equipment PART 3 The Future 13 Kiteboarding disciplines 14 Competitions 15 Governance 16 Taking it to a new level INDEX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PICTURE CREDITS