Kitesurfing History

Early 70 are the beginnings of kitesurfing! Then it was already known that skis are not just for the snow but to examine them to take advantage of the fine in the water. So, go in the water and try! And really ... to pull skis trough the water with the openopens to us a new dimension in sport!
Then occurs the first kitesurf on the basis of a surfboard in 1977. Gijsbertus Panhuise had successful drive in the front of curious and eager adrenaline people.

In 80's kitesurfing was the first time on TV, the Swiss Andreas Kuhn use wakeboard, and 25 foot sailing wing. With jumping and running with a slight wind everybody left open mouth ...

In 1984 Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux patented the first kite and get into the air from water.

In early 1990, Laurent Ness, Raphael Salles and Antoine Carretero use whales for kitesurfing on the shores of southern France.

It also begins to happen in Hawaii. Don Montague, Manu Bertini and Mike Waltz, surfers and wake boarders present extreme of this sport and what it can be done with kite ... After this event, the sport becomes one of the most rapidly evolving in recent years.

In 1996, there is a kite boom, boom with the biggest media stars such as Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertini.

In 1997 F1 starts to produce and sell the first kitesurf boards, which are developed by Salles and Ness.

September 1998, Maui - the first kitesurf contest winning Flash Austin with Wipiko.
The following are the other firms Naish, Windtools, Devilskick...


Kite Surfing Kites