Ride a Kite

Kiteboarding is a fun and challenging activity that offers strenuous exercise and unparalleled thrills. “Kiteboarding is the fusion of multiple other sports, such as kite flying, wakeboarding, and windsurfing,” says Gael Pasquet, an instructor at Kiteboarding Palm Beach. “This fascinating combination realizes man’s eternal dream of flying. With kiteboarding, it is possible to get insane air. Experienced pilots are getting 20 to 40 feet of air and performing amazing aerials.” For beginners looking to try the practice, Gael dishes on the basics and benefits of kiteboarding.

PBI.com: What makes kiteboarding a good form of exercise?

Pasquet: Kiteboarding combines aerobic and resistance exercises, and this combination is perfect for keeping a balanced weight, molding your figure, and gaining physical strength.

What areas of the body does it engage?

It tones your body, especially the upper area [including] arms and abdomen. It strengthens your abdominals, resulting in a physical improvement of the abductors and legs, too. You increase the strength in your arms by holding the kite, your legs by bending over the table to ride, and the muscles of your hands by grabbing the bar.

What are other physical and mental benefits of the practice?

Riding on the board is a great way to improve your balance. … As you have to keep the kite in the air with one hand while you enter the water, grabbing the board with the other hand, you are focused on several tasks at once [so] your coordination and your concentration improve.

How do wind conditions affect kiteboarding?

You can only do kiteboarding on inshore or side-shore wind—any offshore wind is not good. Beginners can ride from 12- to 25-miles-per-hour winds.

What does an initial, beginner’s kiteboarding lesson look like?

Any beginner lessons starts with ground class, which includes kite set up, trainer practice, kite piloting in water, body drags, and safety procedures.

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