Kite boarding, known more commonly as Kitesurfing is a popular activity on beaches in New Zealand, such as the one in Orewa, which is north of Auckland on the North Island of the country. This sport is a surface water sport so it requires a lot of good wind and the ability to stay suspended for long periods of time. This coastline of New Zealand is perfect for that as the water is vast and the wind is strong.
Kitesurfing is when the wind is used to pull a surfer along the surface of the water on a small surfboard while they hang on to a rope that is attached to a kite; the rider can be strapped to the board, depending on the level of expertise. There are different versions of the sport and those require different equipment but the premise is the same.
This sport has seen a surge of popularity over the last few years as it becomes more mainstream and people start competing in it professionally. ... continue below the picture...
... It is still considered quite a difficult sport however and one that takes a lot of upper body strength to hold on to the kite as the wind pulls it.
The idea of using a kite to propel yourself is one that was first thought of by the Chinese in the 13th century. There were numerous attempts over the centuries that followed to use kites as a means of transportation, but it wasn't until the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the Germans invented parachute-skiing, that the idea of kitesurfing really became a reality. It is recommended however, that potential riders take professional lessons before attempting this sport for the first few times.
Kitesurfing along the beach in Orewa, north of Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.
Technical Information:
I photographed this photo with the digital SLR camera model Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, aperture of f/6.3, exposure time of 1/400 sec. on ISO 100, as always I used a original Canon Lens, the focus lenght for this picture was 100mm.