History of Kitesurfing

History of Kitesurfing –

Despite being one of the youngest sports, kitesurfing has roots that go back centuries. According to some sources, the kite was invented by the Chinese a thousand years before our era, while others claim it first appeared in Indonesia even earlier. We will not delve deeply into history, especially since those early kites bore little resemblance to modern ones, being single-line and with a rigid frame. It was impossible to move against the wind with their help. The Western world learned about them only in the thirteenth century, thanks to the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo, who brought the first kite from China in 1295 and described the idea and technology of its manufacture in detail.

As science and technology advanced, kite-making techniques also progressed. Kites began to take on incredible shapes, utilizing the most advanced technologies and materials available. However, until the nineteenth century, the concept changed little. It was not until 1826 that George received the first patent in kite-making. He utilized a kite to move sea vessels with a four-line control system, making it possible to move against the wind and control thrust.

The next breakthrough occurred in the 1950s when Francois  invented a “soft” kite that did not require a rigid frame. The design relied on the oncoming air flow to maintain its shape and rigidity. Rogallo, a NASA employee, was the first to study kite behavior in a wind tunnel, which significantly improved its flight characteristics. This technology also laid the foundation for the development of ultra-light aircraft such as paragliders. It was found that using a two or four-line control system instead of one allowed for easy control of the kite at high speeds.

Thus, the kite evolved from an ancient, poorly controlled single-line toy into a tool embraced by extreme sports enthusiasts. In 1964, the first kiting association was registered in the United States.

The pioneers of modern kites were American Bill and French brothers Dominique and Bruno.

Together with his son, Bill  developed the “KiteSki” system, which included water skis and a two-line delta-type kite. Eventually, the skis evolved into a one-way board.

To restart the kite, one had to reel in the winch on the bar, take the kite in hand, and give it momentum.

Father and son  patented their development, and in 1994, production was launched, enjoying great success.

The most revolutionary idea in kite construction came from the Leganu brothers, who invented the inflatable kite. In 1984, they received a patent for the “sea wing”—a kite with an inflatable front edge that could easily be relaunched from the water.

In 1993, the brothers produced and sold the first two hundred kites in France under the brand name “Wipicat.” Production later moved to China, where the kites were manufactured by the company they founded, “Wipika.” In 1999, the Leganu brothers began selling licenses for their patent to various companies, accelerating the growth of kitesurfing.

In 2000, they relocated to the Dominican Republic, a paradise for kitesurfing with ideal spots. Eventually, the brothers split—one continued with “Wipika,” while the other founded a new company, “Takoon.” Both brands remain popular to this day.

The first inflatable kites created by the Leganu brothers featured two lines and were controlled by a bar approximately one meter long, with lines extending fifteen meters. This control system had no depower capability; to reduce excess thrust, the only option was to move the kite closer to the edge of the wind window.

Later, they developed a four-line control system with depower functionality. This innovation allowed the angle of attack of the wing to be adjusted in relation to the oncoming airflow using the control bar. While this system did not reduce thrust to zero, it represented a significant breakthrough in kite design.

Another revolutionary advance came with the invention of flat-arched kites of the “boy” type. This new design offered 100% depower capability, allowing thrust to be reduced to nearly zero and making the process of restarting from the water even easier. The Leganu brothers were the first to patent the concept of such a kite. From that moment on, kitesurfing began to develop at an even faster pace, becoming a widely popular sport as safety increased dramatically.

George contributions remain relevant today. Kites are now employed on an industrial scale for towing large ocean container ships. The sizes of these kites range from 150 to 600 square meters, with line lengths of up to 300 meters. All operations are controlled by a computer system, which allows for fuel savings of up to 20% per flight.