KITESURFING

• kite surfing
• Sécurity
• Vocabulary

A - D | E - H| I - L| M - P | Q - T | U - Z

Anemometer : tool meant to measure the wind strength. It can be useful to help you choose your kite size.

Aspect ratio : Measurement of the wingspan divided by the width of the wing. A high aspect ratio looks like a banana and a low aspect ratio looks like an egg... Unfortunately, kite manufacture use different formulas ! On this web site we use the simplified one: ratio=wingspan/ maximum width

Back loop : 360 back way

Bar (control bar) : this is the equivalent of the wheel of a car. It enables you to control your kite from left to right and to depower it as well.

Beach start : departure from a standing position. It is possible thanks to the very low water depth.

Beaufort : wind measurement unit. One of the first scales to estimate wind speeds and the effects was created by Britain's Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857). He
developed the scale in 1805 to help sailors estimate the winds via
visual observations. The scale starts with 0 and goes to a force of 12.
The Beaufort scale is still used today to estimate wind strengths.

Board : this is what you will be on while practicing kitesurfing. Several types can be used. The most usually used board is the twin-tip, which can go in both direction.
Board leash : it is an elastic rope attached between the rider and its board. If you fall, the board will remain close to you, thanks to your leash.

Board rail : This is the side of the board, its edge.

Body-drag : get pulled by your kite in the water, without a board. This is a necessary step in the kitesurf learning process, which makes you familiar with being in the water with a kite in the air, but without the technical difficulty of the board.
Brake-lines : Lines attached to the trailing edge of a handle controlled 4 lines foil kite.

Bridles : The inflatable 2 lines kites as well as the foil kites are equipped with bridles which enable them to fly properly.

Chops : tiny waves.

Custom board : a custom board hasn't been made in a factory. A shaper can build you a board according to your weight, the conditions you will ride in, and your expectations. This is a very personal board. Always great, but usually more expensive than others.

Depower : Depower your kite by pushing your bar. That will make your rear lines longer and change the flight angle of your kite. All 4 lines kites are also equipped with a power adjustment strap you will use if overpowered.

Directional board : They are the first boards used with a kite, and look like a surfboard, or a windsurf board. It can go in only one direction, which makes it a bit more technical, but its glide abilities are the best!!

FFVL : Federation Française de Vol Libre. It is the Free Flight French Federation, which takes care of kiteboarding.

Fins : attached under your board, they will enable you to edge on the water, to turn, to go upwind and to ride straight in the desired direction.

Foot-strap : this is the strap that keeps your feet attached to the board.

Free ride : Just ride for pleasure, no contest and no judgment, only 100% pleasure.

Goofy : You are goofy if the foot you feel most comfortable with when in the front direction is the right foot. Regular is the opposite, left foot in the front direction. This comes from other sports like skateboarding, snowboarding or surfing, in which we usually ride in a favorite position. No favorite position in kitesurfing because you go in both directions, once goofy and then regular.

Grab (to) : Hold your board while you are in the air. That gives you more style, and more balance as well! There are many grabs to do. The easiest is the tail grab.

Handle : on the middle of your board, the handle is great to carry your board, as well as to do some technical no-foot tricks.

Harness : In order to get enough power, a kite has to pull like hell! And it is not possible to practice kiteboarding only with the strength of your arms. So we use a harness, which is an accessory between you and the bar, a kind of seat which will distribute the power on your body rather than on your arms. There are 2 types of harnesses : seat and waist.

Jibe (to) : It is a U-turn. The jibe comes from windsurfing and is only necessary when using a directional board.
Jump : Pretty explicit, don't you think?
Kite : this is your engine! It is specific to kitesurfing, built in order not to sink. 2 kite types which are inflated or foil kites.

Knot : Wind measure unit.

Leading edge : This is the front edge of the kite. This edge is in opposition to the trailing edge.

Nose : The board nose is the front part of it. We do not need that name a lot in kiteboarding as 95% of the boards used in the world are twin-tips, with no nose or tail.

Off shore wind : That wind comes from the earth and will take you away if you have any trouble on the water. Do not ride in off shore winds if you have no safety boat.

On shore wind : Opposite of the off shore wind. Coming from the sea, that wind will push you on the beach. Appropriate for kiteboarding, but be careful, if you have troubles, you can be projected on obstacles! Not the best wind to ride with.

Pad : The pad is between your feet and the board. It prevents from sliding on the board, and makes the ride more comfortable, as well as the receptions.

Rider : the rider is you, me, and all the guys that practice a sport in which they slide, like snowboarding, surfing and others. To slide is to ride.

Side shore wind : The best wind for kiteboarding! That wind is parallel to the beach.

Spi : The cloth of the kite. The spinaker is light and water proof.

Spot : Beach on which you practice kiteboarding. Your home spot is your usual kiteboard beach.

Tack the wind (to) : To go upwind. The ride angle is under 90° compared to the wind direction.

Wind window : The flight zone of your kite. There are several zones in the window. The zenith (top, over your head), the edges (sides), and the power zone (in front of you).

Zenith : top of the wind window.