If you're considering the adrenaline infused sport of kiteboarding (aka kitesurfing), you're in for the ride of your life. Chances are you're no stranger to other water sport variations and you know that choosing the proper kiteboard & equipment at the beginning stages is crucial for your skill development. If, however, you stumbled upon this while browsing ideas for a lower impact beach activity, then this is the wrong spot, and I'll kindly direct you to bocce ball.

Kiteboarding is an extreme watersport that combines the traits of windsurfing and wakeboarding. It has a very short history, but the evolution of the equipment during that time has given the kiteboarder potential to maximize their performance capabilities to a greater level. The concept & designs of the kiteboard allows room for different riders to implement their own styles. Because of this, the sport is constantly evolving & becoming more popular, even spreading it's influence into snow-kiteboarding and land-boarding. Here, I'll go over some differences and things to look for when choosing your kiteboard.

The Legaignoux inflatable kite, after 15 years of development, became commercially available as the Wipika kite and was released around 1997.  The Legaignoux brothers, Bruno and Dominique, understood that no water relaunchable kite existed, so they embarked upon its development.  They used windsurf boards at first, because that was familiar and they built several boards for that purpose.  Kites were unstable at the time, so they also used waterskis because the waterstart was easier.  In 1985 the Legaignoux brothers made a 17M , double-skin kite.  During the 1986 International Brest Speed Week, they were clocked at 14.5 knots (average speed during a 500m run) while the best world class windsurfers reached 10 knots. 

When shopping for a kiteboard, you will find that there are three main different models: directional surf style, twin-tip, and mutant. For wave riding with a smaller kite on smooth waves, a surf style board works well. The twin-tip style is the most common and user friendly style of kiteboard and is by far the best for beginners to learn on. Riding on a twin tip is identical to riding a wake board or snowboard, and they cover all types of conditions. A mutant is, as you would imagine, a cross between the two. These are the most common, but there are several variations to each model.

Length:
Probably the kiteboard's most important aspect. You should choose the length based on weight, style of riding, and wind and water conditions. Average size is between 140cm and 150cm long. The longer boards are for the heavier rider, beginners, and light winds because it requires less speed to plane on the water.

Width:
The width of modern boards are increasing as the length of newer designs gets shorter and shorter. This makes up for the loss of surface area and allows the rider to plane easier. If you're a beginner or heavier rider, you'll probably want to start out on a wider board.

Rails:
The kiteboard's side edges are known as rails. The sharper the rail, the more aggresively the board will "bite" into the water. While sharper rails tend bite harder and be less forgiving, the twin-tip and wake-style boards actually rely more on them than the fins to hold an edge and keep from drifting downwind.

Tip or Tail:
If you want more air, go for the squared tails. This gives the more more pop off of the surf. Rounded tails will provide more of a "surfboard" feel, and grooved tails will sink the rails deeper into the water for increased grip, but sacrifice the lift out of the water for jumps and tricks.

Rocker:
The "rocker" refers to the curve, or banana shape of the board from end to end. A high rocker means a steeper curve, and ultimately has a "loose" feel. A board with a lower rocker will be straighter from end to end, and tends to be more stable with quicker acceleration.

Fins:
Most of your common twin-tip kiteboards will come with 4 fins (2 at each end), while some will allow for additional fins to be placed on the heel edge side for added tracking. Keep in mind the fins greatly affect your riding experience. Wider style fins create more suction between your board and the water, while smaller and thinner fins will be more maneuverable and are best in smoother water. Fiberglass fins tend to have less vibration at higher speeds than plastic fins.

Bindings:
Kiteboarding bindings for your kiteboard are a critical transfer between your body and your board. The proper bindings can make a huge difference in your ability to ride. You can choose from foot straps, plates, and boots. When starting out, you may opt for foot straps since they are the simplest and most cost-effective. Plates are foot straps and pads that are integrated onto a metal plate. Changes to the foot position can be made quickly just by moving the entire plate. Boots provide maximum board control and are preferred by wake style riders, but they are more difficult to get on and off.

As with anything, once you become more acquainted, you will develop your own style and flavor and decide what fits best with you. With any luck and dedication, you'll be at competing internationally in no time!