Kite Surfing is All Kinds of Fun

This activity in the Gateway to the Good Vibes brings us to the inquiry, can you kite surf?

What is Kite Surfing?

Simple. Kite Surfing is a Good Vibe.

Take snowboarding, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding, sailing, wake boarding and windsurfing and roll it into one organized chaos and here we have it.

Kite surfing is all kinds of fun and one need only witness or engage in it to determine that this is a truth. This is a sport done in the magic element of water and propelled by the other magical element of this Earth, air. Wind to be precise. So now close your eyes and imagine the wind raising you into the air as you glide across the surface of the ocean. Hello to a very good vibe.

The Physical Benefits of Kite Surfing and How Kite Surfing Impacts your Body:

Engaging in the extreme sport of boarding on a kite provides a multitude of level ups in terms of the physical impact it has on your being. It definitely falls under the category of a cardiovascular activity so this is one heart healthy vibe. It is a combo of resistance training and aerobic exercise and really empowers the use of your arms and abdomen. Your legs get a great workout governing the board beneath you and your relationship to your centre of gravity and balance are leveled up considerably.

The boost of endorphins this high intensity sport provides causes a boost to your system of immunity. There is a fast moving energy and momentum that is apparent in this activity which really helps you dial in your skills of present moment awareness, quick decision-making, intuitive capacities and controlled reactivity.

It is invigorating, refreshing and instills you with a sense aliveness and presence that catapults you into a vibrant and empowered state. The harness you need to adorn takes the heavy off your back and shoulder girdle so it is strength training but not detrimental to your skeletal structure. This is a full on body workout and it connects you with the elements of this earth which is a very high vibe for your overall system.

The Mental Benefits of Kite Surfing:

The mental benefits of kite surfing are tremendous. This activity forces you to remaining present moment awareness – which translates into you being separated from any conditioned or habitual stress though patterns that may be evident in your life if you live a high paced rat race kind of existence. It really allows you to disconnect from your everyday life and connect with the Earth while putting your physical agility through its paces. It promotes mindfulness and mindfulness executed in its entirety almost always regulates the autonomic nervous system. What does that mean, reduced anxiety and a boost in mental health. Yay!

There is a sense of esteem and confidence that is developed in mastering a kite surfing session. It should be noted that there is difference between being a newbie to kitesurfing and being a failure at kitesurfing. Self talk and how you frame your capacities, in anything, but especially in extreme sports, will play a pivotal role in your yielding a desired and successful outcome.

Endorphins (peptides that activate the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect)

come out to play when you are all up in a kitesurfing holidays kind of vibe and these amazing peptides create a good feels natural high up in your brain.

How to Start Kitesurfing:

I recommend a lesson by a trained and seasoned kite surfer. This is a one on one tutorial to the introduction to the sport by someone who knows what they are doing and can guide you with tips and tricks and provide feedback in real time. It takes the guess work out if you are entirely new to it and it provides an opportunity for support, learning and guidance that will prove empowering to your learning how to navigate this sport.

There are many variations in terms of the gear that is required to dial in a sweet kitesurfing sesh and having a lesson with a guide also allows you to learn about the benefits and differences in using different types of styles of gear. Essentially, knowledge is power, so if you are new to kite surfing, investing in a good and solid lesson with a reputable instructor in an environment with preferable conditions (weather, crowds, location etc) is a surefire way to have a solid and successful start to kitesurfing. If anything is confusing or you aren’t understanding anything, it is of supreme value to ask any and all questions that arise to further understand and encompass the activity in its entirety.

Once you try it and you can dig it and it is your jam – there are plenty of resources for you to gear up with your own kitesurfing outfit of gear.

Safety and Responsibility:

It is very a good idea to be aware of the environment, the conditions of the environment and to have a full encompassing knowledge about the sport/activity you are to engage in. I have a section on overall safety and responsibility, (still in development) that can be found here: Safety and Responsibility in Outdoor Sports and Recreation

It is a good vibe to ensure that you understand the activity you are doing and the safety and responsibility that you need to understand and practice ensuring it lends itself to a vibe of success and empowerment rather than that of accident and injury.

Undertaking this activity alone, with no spotter or person that has knowledge of what you are doing opens you up to risk just in terms of accountability, so when going about this activity my recommendation is if you go alone with the gear, take a buddy with you and if you are all by your lonesome, then taking a lesson and be guided by a trained professional allows someone to see and support you should any factors such as wind, currents and unpredictable conditions arise while you are doing it.

There needs to be an expectation of success and problem free execution which can confidently and successfully be implemented if you are knowledgeable about your role in the activity and the factors affecting your success in that role. Make good decisions and you will be rewarded with good outcomes.

I hope this post has inspired in you the idea that trying out something as dynamic as kite surfing is something you can open yourself up to experiencing. The payoffs are huge and the possibilities endless! Can you dig it??