Kiteboarding: the glossary of technical terms is knowledge

Kiteboarding is a relatively new sport with several wind terms and sailing concepts.

The kiteboarding glossary helps all levels of kitesurfer get a common language for the sport.

Discover the vocabulary of kiteboarding and learn new words:

Backing Wind - an anti-clockwise change in wind direction, i.e., North to West;

Balance Drag - a controlled downwind facing body drag, holding the kite at the 12 o'clock position;

Board Retrieval Body Drag - a controlled beam reach body drag, with the kite positioned between 10 and 12;

Board Start - the maneuver by which the pilot first rises out of the water on the board;

Body Dragging - generic term for using kite power to drag the body through the water without the board;

Boost - upward movement during a kiteboard jump;

Bow Kite - leading edge inflatable kite of shallow curvature flown with the aid of a bridle;

Bridle - lines used to support the leading edge of a kite;

C-Kite - leading edge inflatable kite with large curvature;

Carving Turn - turning within an arc performed at planning speed;

Chicken Loop - the connection point between the pilot's harness and the control bar;

Chop Hop - a small jump instigated by a wave rather than the power of the kite;

Control Bar - steering bar used to control the kite in flight;

Crosswind Body Dragging - powered body drag while flying the kite in a sine wave on one side of the wind window to produce power and direction from the kite;

Deep-Water Pack-Down - a method used to pack up the kiteboarding kit ready to be recovered from the water;

Directional Board - an asymmetric board with a nose and a tail ridden in one direction only and has to be kicked or gybed;

Diving - a term used to describe downward flight movement of the kite to generate power;

Downwind - traveling in the same direction as the wind;

Downwind Kite Down - action required by the downwind (give way) kiteboarder to avoid a collision with another kiteboarder approaching from the opposite direction;

Dump Valve - valve to release air from the kite;

Figure-of-Eight - flight pattern for the kite used to generate power in a downwind direction;

Goofy Direction - riding with your right foot forward;

Gust - momentary increase in wind speed;

Heelside Edge - edge of the board where your feet face inward;

Hybrid Lite - leading edge inflatable kite that combines the best attributes of the Bow and C-Kite designs;

Inflation - valve used to inflate the kite;

Intermediate Zone - the area of the wind window used to generate controlled power in a given direction;

Katabatic Wind - air stream that descends down a hill or mountain;

Kite Canopy - the material surface of the kite;

Landing Assistant - the person designated to help land a kite;

Larks Head Knot - attachment used to connect control lines to the kite bridle;

Launch Assistant - the person designated to help launch a kite;

Leading Edge - the front edge of the kite that meets the wind first;

Leash - bungee cord used to connect the pilot to the safety line of the kite;

Leeward - the term describing the downwind side of an object. Opposite to windward;

LEI - leading edge inflatable kite;

Lull - momentary drop in wind speed;

Neutral Zone - the area around the edge of the wind window;

Pilot - person flying a kite;

Pop - small jump created by increasing pressure on the surface of the board;

Port Tack - traveling to the left with the wind coming from behind;

Power Zone - the area within the wind window downwind of the pilot that generates the greatest force;

Pre-Flight Checks - final checks before putting the kite into the launch position;

Rail - leading and trailing longitudinal edges of the board;

Regular Direction - riding with your left foot forward;

Relaunch - a method of re-launching a LEI kite with a line attached to the center of its leading edge;

Rider - the person piloting the kiteboard;

Riding Upwind - traveling towards the wind source;

Rigging Up - assembling the equipment ready for a kiteboarding session;

Rocker - longitudinal curvature within the board;

Safety Pack Down - safe method to pack up the equipment while at sea;

Sitting Gybe - a basic turn using a twin tip board;

Starboard Tack - traveling to the right with the wind coming from behind;

Static Zone - the area within the wind window where the kite can remain still;

Toeside - edge of the board where your feet face outward. It also describes riding face-to to the wind;

Trailing Edge - back edge of the kite;

Training Gybe - basic standing turn using a twin tip board;

Training Kite - simple foil kite used to introduce basic flying skills;

Twin Tip Board - a common type of symmetrical kiteboard;

Upwind Kite Up - action required by the upwind (right of way) kiteboarder to avoid a collision;

V - a term used to describe the bottom contour shape of a board;

Veering Wind - wind changing direction in a clockwise direction, i.e., West to North;

Venturi Effect - increase in air speed caused when the wind funnels through a restricted space;

Wave Board - directional kiteboard used for riding waves;

Wind Compression - increase in air speed caused when the wind rises up over land or objects;

Wind Convergence - increase in air speed caused when the wind travels through a restricted space;

Wind Direction - the wind is described from its point of origin, i.e., a north wind comes from the North and heads South;

Wind Force - wind speed measured on the Beaufort scale;

Wind Window - the area in which a kite can fly in relation to the wind direction;

Windward - a term describing the upwind side of an object. Opposite to leeward;

The glossary of kiteboarding is available in the book "Beginners Guide to Kiteboarding," published by the International Sailing Federation Association (ISAF).

Have we missed a kiteboarding term? Send us a suggestion and exact description to editor [at] surfertoday.com.

Top Stories

After a four-year wait for the perfect storm, one of the fiercest kitesurfing events in the world has been contested once again in the Netherlands.

Kiteboarding will make its Olympic debut in Paris 2024. Here is everything you must know about the event and the qualified athletes.

Legendary British kiteboarding brand Flexifoil is for sale.

In an electrifying display of kiteboarding prowess, 19-year-old Italian Andrea Principi has been crowned the champion of the prestigious Red Bull King of the Air competition, held in Cape Town, South Africa.