Kitesurfing styles

Page at a glance

Information about the various kitesurfing and kiteboarding styles and how they compare.

Kitesurfing has a variety of styles which utilise different equipment at a range of different locations.

Wave riding	Riding big surf with a directional board
Freestyle	Anything goes. This style also used for competitive events and is free-format and "go anywhere". Involves technically using the board and the kite to get height enabling the kiter to do big jumps, rotations, board offs and other tricks.
Freeride	Freeride is anything that you want it to be and the most popular aspect of the sport. Most boards sold today are designed for freeride. It’s about having fun and learning new techniques.
Wakestyle	Tricks and aerials, using a wake-style board with bindings. May also include tricks and jumps involving ramps.
Course racing	Events - like a yacht race along a course, involving both speed and tactics.
Speed	Speed events and records, often at special locations. A special directional board is used that longer that a twin-tip and has much bigger fins.
Downwinders	Going long distances downwind; less edging required. A subset of Freeride.
Jumping	Getting air; or with kiteloops, big air. Also includes various aerial tricks. A subset of Freestyle riding.
Airstyle	Also called "Oldschool". Big jumps with long hangtime and tricks such as board offs, sliding, flying. Done hooked in.
Wakeskate	Similar to wakestyle but with a wakeskate board
Kite Cross	Racing style that is a crossover discipline between the various kiteboarding styles. It is designed to bring the action close to the beach and right in front of the crowds and media with an easy to understand KO elimination system. Courses are generally based around downwind or figure-eight slalom courses.