Recreation

Why You Should Try Fort Lauderdale Kitesurfing

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If you’re in the mood for an adventure, then Fort Lauderdale, Florida is the place to go. Here you can experience nature’s best through activities like hiking, biking and horseback riding. Set on the Atlantic coast, it is the home to most water sports. Here you may do such activities as snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking and scuba diving. Aside from these sports, you may also do some Fort Lauderdale kitesurfing.

Kitesurfing may seem like a new sport to most of us, but it has been around for many years now. While the first kites used were rather simple and plain-looking, today’s kites are both powerful and colorful, making the sport seem fun and exciting. Clearly it has gone a long way since its invention centuries ago. Back then it was called kitesailing, where canoes transporting goods and people were pulled by kites to make travel faster.

But why in Fort Lauderdale, you might ask. The answer is simple. Kitesurfing is among the most popular water sports in the area. Because it is popular, there are quite a lot of  kitesurfing schools and kitesurfing locations that you can choose from. This means more choices for you.

If there are many schools within an area, this also means that kitesurfing lessons are relatively cheaper. This is good news for everyone who might not have that much money to spare.

This also allows you to get the feel of the sport without having to spend money for the equipment. By taking these lessons, you are able to use the equipment provided by the school. This will help you in your choice of equipment in the future. Since there are different boards and kites to choose from, you are able to use some of them, giving you an idea of what equipment to buy.

Some of these schools sell equipment at discounted prices. Also, they may offer used equipment, so you have a less expensive alternative.

Remember though that not all schools or instructors are the same. Look for instructors who are certified by the Professional Air Sports Association or International Kiteboarding Association as well as the Florida Kiteboarding Association.

But what makes Fort Lauderdale different from other areas in Florida or other states? The wind and the weather are two reasons why. The place is warm and sunny all year round. Imagine having to ride with cold winds blowing against you.

Also, the winds are consistent but not overpowering. The steady winds help keep your kite up without dragging you too far. This allows you to practice on some stunts or moves that you want to do. That is why older and more seasoned kitesurfers enjoy the place as well. Spectators also like the place because most locations have viewing decks where they can stay and watch.

Also, there are many kitesurfing locations for you to choose from. But before launching your kites, be sure to check if the location allows it. There are some spots which are considered as “on probation.” These are usually crowded beaches or those which do not fit the standards set by law.

Make kitesurfing in Fort Lauderdale a new memorable experience. The best thing about the place is, if you don’t feel like kitesurfing anymore, there are many other alternative activities that you can do.

Mastering Various Kitesurfing Techniques

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Sky’s the limit when it comes to kitesurfing. With knowledge on the fundamental steps and techniques, it would be easy for the kitesurfer to modify the basics and suit them to his style. Here are the essential things that one should learn, from here on try to make your own styles.

If you are novice in kitesurfing, it is advisable that you get a trainer’s kite first before moving into different types of kites. This would give you the feel of the kite and since it is equipped with basic controls, you could readily practice with the basic directions, the functions of the control bars and the control of the wind and the flight of the kite.

Mastering the use of the dead-man release system- If you are just starting with kitesurfing you should first master the techniques on using the dead-man release system. This technique along with other procedures that are directly associated with it should help maintain your safety. To learn more of this release system, you should try to study the manufacturer’s manual.

Kite Control Devices – The control system should be carefully studied first without deploying the kite. You should be able to control the device using your left or right hand alone.

Launching – All types of kites have various capacities for launching and relaunching. Launching basically begins with putting the kite on the direction of the wind and the board on the sand. The same is true with land or snow kitesurfing. The board should be on the ground while the vertical kite with its leading side should face the wind. The push of the wind shall give the kite its speed.

Piloting – Piloting requires the mastery of the kite system, the power and the limitations of the kite and everything that is related to the use of the kite since it will help you to maneuver easily once it is launched.

Piloting involves the mastery of movements such as turning to the right or the left, practicing with number 8 figures for several times to the left and the right, and hovering and lying on both sides. Do these techniques until you are comfortable performing them without looking at your kite or the kite’s manual. Once you are over this, you should be able to practice tricks only by feeling the kite.

For starters, it is advisable to practice with the trainer’s kite on piloting during light wind as this speed would give you better control and lesser chances of piloting errors.

Maintaining the Surf – Once you launched the kite, you should be able to maintain its stability. To do these you need knowledge on the power of the wind, steering the kite board and maintaining your balance on the board.

Kite Power Controlling – This entails the command on the power used by the kite to maintain, increase or lessen its speed. There are two types of power controlling: the projected surface controlling which is normally used among traditional kites and the speed controlling. The former use techniques like tilting, sheeting and reefing. The latter is parallel to controlling the kite itself. It involves the principle of increasing or decreasing the speed of the kite.

Apart from these basic skills, there are more advanced techniques that should follow after mastering them. The advanced skills include jibing, jumping, looping, wave riding, different kinds of rides and performing tricks.

Great Kitesurfing Videos Today

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Kitesurfing is a spectacular sport. Riders and audiences alike enjoy watching the players as they ride and jump. But while kitesurfing videos continue to impress those who watch it, there are also some kitesurfing videos which show the dark side – the fall, break and accidents that sometimes happen along the way.

Kitesurfing is not as easy as it appears on video. Every ride requires hard work and determination. How he was able to perfect his move depends on the rider, and the amount and degree of training that he received.

There are two ways to train for the sport. One is by taking kitesurfing courses. Here you have limitless choices. If you live in some coastal area, or if there are large lagoons and lakes in your place, with winds blowing steadily against it, then you’re in luck. Chances are, there’s a kitesurfing school or spot in your area.

To know details of any school, you can check the location over the internet. You’ll be surprised at the number of schools in your area. If you can’t find one in your area, you can be on vacation in some tropical island, where kitesurfing schools also abound. This indicates how popular the sport has become not only in the US but in most parts of the world.

Another way of learning is through self-help. Because of its gaining popularity, more and more people are learning the sport on their own. While this method seems difficult, since there is no one to personally teach you, there are many sources of information that a budding rider can read. One of these is through instructional videos.

Like websites, there are tons of instructional videos available in the market today. Which video to buy would have to depend on you. Some DVDs give step by step instructions while others present the topic in a travelogue manner, to make it more interesting.

These are two sources of kitesurfing videos – internet and sports shops. Try keying in the word kitesurfing in your search engine, and you will find hundreds of websites dedicated to the sport the world over. As you browse through these sites, you will see the different features that they post.

Each of these websites contains videos of some sort – exhibitions, instructions, and on some instances, accidents. While these may encourage others to try the sport, there are some who find it discouraging. But I guess the purpose is not to discourage. It is only to make people aware of the dangers that this sport may bring, and that everyone must observe the safety rules that this sport entails.

As years passed, and as the popularity of the sport spread, producers and kitesurfers are releasing better, more dynamic and glossy videos. With new technology, video cameras take better, more precise shots. Worth mentioning is the editing aspect of these videos. Advances in technology allow better editing and dubbing. So aside from just the graphic parts of the video, music is sometimes included to make it more interesting.

There are many kitesurfing videos that you can watch. Whether wave riding or freestyle, there is one to inspire you and teach you as you learn this new sport. Here’s a word of caution though.

Don’t try to do freestyling or other more difficult stunts for the first time without the help of an expert.

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