47 kiteboarding terms explained, including depower, kitemare, megaloop, wind window and water start, each with a short definition.
Kiteboarding terminology borrows from three sports at once: sailing supplies the wind words, surfing supplies the stance words, and the kite itself brings the rest. The words related to kiteboarding that matter first are about safety and control, not tricks. Words associated with kiteboarding gear, from the bar and lines down to the chicken loop, come next, and the kiteboarding glossary below explains each one in a line.
Must-Know Kiteboarding Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Airtime
- Body drag
- Depower
- Downwind
- Edge
- Freestyle
- Goofy
- Handle pass
- Inflatable kite
- Jump
- Kite loop
- Launch
- Leash
- Overpowered
- Pop
- Power zone
- Quick release
- Re-launch
- Session
- Stance
- Toe side
- Upwind
- Wind window
- Wave riding
- Yank and crank
- Zenith
- Board-off
- Chicken loop
- Depower strap
- Kitemare
Kiteboarding Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Airtime | How long a rider stays in the air on a jump. The plain measure of how big the jump was. |
| Bar | The control bar held in both hands. Pulling it in powers the kite up, pushing it out lets the power out. |
| Board-off | A trick in which the rider takes the board off the feet in mid-air and puts it back on before landing. |
| Body drag | Being pulled through the water by the kite without the board. The first skill taught, and how a lost board is recovered. |
| Boost | To use the kite's pull to send yourself upward. Riders talk about boosting a jump. |
| Bridle | The system of short lines on the front of the kite that holds its shape and sets its angle to the wind. |
| Chicken loop | The loop on the control bar that hooks into the harness and carries the kite's pull. It holds the quick release. |
| Cross-shore | Wind blowing parallel to the beach. The safest and most usable direction for riding. |
| Depower | To reduce the kite's pull by changing its angle to the wind, either with the bar or the depower strap. |
| Depower strap | The adjustment above the bar that sets how much power the kite makes before the rider touches anything. |
| Directional board | A surfboard-style kiteboard ridden nose first, used mostly for waves. |
| Downwind | The direction the wind is blowing toward. Easy to travel, hard to come back from. |
| Downwinder | A session ridden from one beach to another with the wind behind, with transport arranged at the far end. |
| Edge | Tilting the board on its edge to hold a line, build tension in the lines and control speed. |
| Foot straps | The straps that hold the feet to the board, the alternative to boots. |
| Freestyle | The discipline built on tricks, jumps and handle passes rather than waves or speed. |
| Goofy | Riding with the right foot forward. Regular is left foot forward. |
| Handle pass | Passing the bar behind the back in mid-air, the move that defines advanced freestyle. |
| Harness | The waist or seat belt that takes the kite's pull off the arms and onto the body. |
| Hydrofoil | A wing on a mast under the board that lifts the whole board clear of the water at low speed. |
| Inflatable kite | A kite with air chambers along its leading edge and struts. The air keeps the shape and lets the kite be relaunched from the water. |
| Jump | Leaving the water using the kite's lift and the board's edge together. |
| Kite loop | Sending the kite through a full loop while airborne, which produces a hard pull and a long, low flight. |
| Kitemare | Slang for a session that goes badly wrong: tangled lines, a lost kite, or a rider dragged where they did not want to go. |
| Launch | Getting the kite into the air at the start of a session, usually with a second person holding it. |
| Leash | The safety line joining rider and kite so the kite cannot leave after a release. |
| Lines | The four or five flying lines between bar and kite, usually around twenty meters long. |
| Megaloop | A very large kite loop thrown from height in strong wind. Among the most committing moves in the sport. |
| Offshore wind | Wind blowing from the land out to sea. Gusty near the beach and dangerous, since a failure leaves the rider drifting away from shore. |
| Onshore wind | Wind blowing from the sea onto the beach. It brings a rider back but pushes them toward the sand. |
| Overpowered | More power in the kite than the rider can hold, usually because the wind rose or the kite is too big. |
| Pop | Loading the board's edge and releasing it to leave the water without help from a wave. |
| Power zone | The part of the wind window directly downwind of the rider, where the kite pulls hardest. |
| Quick release | The mechanism that separates the rider from the kite's pull in one movement. The single most important piece of safety gear. |
| Re-launch | Getting a crashed kite back into the air off the water surface. |
| Self-rescue | The procedure for getting back to shore under your own power after a failure, using the kite or lines to swim or sail in. |
| Session | One outing on the water, from rigging up to packing down. |
| Stance | Which foot leads. Regular is left foot forward, goofy is right. |
| Toe side | Riding with the weight on the toes and the toe edge of the board engaged, rather than the heels. |
| Twin tip | The standard kiteboard, symmetrical at both ends so it can be ridden in either direction. |
| Unhooked | Riding with the chicken loop released from the harness, holding all the pull in the arms. Required for most freestyle tricks. |
| Upwind | The direction the wind comes from. Riding upwind is what lets a rider finish where they started. |
| Water start | Getting up onto the board from floating in the water, using a controlled dive of the kite. |
| Wave riding | Using the kite to get into position and then surfing the wave itself, kite held light. |
| Wind window | The arc of sky downwind of the rider in which the kite can fly. Its edges are neutral, its middle is the power zone. |
| Yank and crank | An aggressive style built on hauling the bar and using raw kite power rather than board technique. |
| Zenith | The kite parked directly overhead. The neutral, resting position. |
#1 Airtime
The duration a kiteboarder remains in the air during a jump, often used to measure the impressiveness of aerial maneuvers. The longer the airtime, the more spectacular the trick can be.
#2 Body Drag
A kiteboarding technique where the rider is pulled through the water by the kite without standing on the board. It’s a fundamental skill for water starts and retrieving a lost board.
#3 Depower
The ability to reduce the kite’s power by adjusting the angle of attack or using the control system. Depower is crucial for managing strong winds and avoiding overpower situations.
#4 Downwind
The direction in which the wind is blowing towards; moving with the wind at your back. Kiteboarders use downwind body dragging to return to their starting point or retrieve their board.
#5 Edge
The act of tilting the kiteboard on its edge to cut through the water, allowing for upwind travel and control of speed. Edging is essential for managing the kite’s power and changing direction.
#6 Freestyle
A style of kiteboarding characterized by performing tricks and jumps, often incorporating handle passes and board-offs. Freestyle is a popular discipline in kiteboarding competitions.
#7 Goofy
A stance where the rider’s right foot is positioned forward on the board, as opposed to the regular stance where the left foot is forward. Goofy stance is a personal preference and not indicative of skill level.
#8 Handle pass
A trick in kiteboarding where the rider passes the control bar behind their back while airborne. This advanced maneuver requires precise timing and control, often used in freestyle to add flair to jumps and tricks.
#9 Inflatable Kite
A type of kite that has separate air chambers which can be inflated to provide structure and buoyancy. Inflatable kites help with flotation and relaunching when falling into the water during kiteboarding.
#10 Jump
A maneuver where the kiteboarder propels off the water and into the air, often using the kite’s lift and the board’s pop. Jumps showcase a rider’s ability to harness wind power for aerial tricks.
#11 Kite Loop
An advanced trick where the rider makes the kite perform a full loop in the sky, generating a significant pull. This leads to a dynamic and high-energy maneuver that tests the kiteboarder’s control and skill.
#12 Launch
The process of getting the kite into the air, requiring proper technique to ensure it catches the wind correctly. Launching is a critical skill that can dictate the success of the kiteboarding session.
#13 Leash
A safety device that attaches the rider to the kite, ensuring the kite doesn’t get lost if the rider loses control. Leashes serve an important role in preventing accidents and injuries.
#14 Overpowered
A situation where the kite has more power than the rider can comfortably manage, often due to strong winds. It can make handling the kite challenging and may increase the risk of losing control.
#15 Pop
Refers to the action of using the board and the tension in the kite lines to launch off the water without the aid of a wave. Pop is a fundamental technique in kiteboarding that enables riders to perform various aerial tricks.
#16 Power zone
The area in the kite’s wind window where the kite generates the most pull and speed. This zone is directly downwind of the kiteboarder and is crucial for executing high-speed maneuvers and jumps.
#17 Quick Release
The mechanism on a kite’s control bar that allows riders to immediately detach themselves from the kite in case of emergency, ensuring safety. Essential in preventing accidents when overpowered or in trouble.
#18 Re-launch
The process of getting the kite back into the air after it has crashed into the water or ground. Skilled kiteboarders can perform a re-launch quickly to minimize downtime during a session.
#19 Session
Refers to the time spent kiteboarding from starting to pack up. A “good session” implies favorable wind conditions, impressive tricks, or simply having a great time on the water.
#20 Stance
The position in which a kiteboarder stands on the board; there are different stances like regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward). Stance affects balance and control on the water.
#21 Toe side
Riding with the toes of both feet facing towards the edge of the board that’s nearest to the kite, making it a more challenging but maneuverable position. Often used for sharper turns and tricks.
#22 Upwind
The direction from which the wind is blowing; sailing upwind means moving towards the wind. Kiteboarders must master riding upwind to return to their starting point and make efficient progress.
#23 Wind Window
The 180-degree arc in front of the kiteboarder where the kite can fly, relative to the wind direction. The wind window is essential for understanding and controlling the kite’s movement, power, and position during riding.
#24 Wave Riding
Wave riding is a kiteboarding style focusing on surfing waves with a kite, where the rider uses the kite to get into position and ride the wave like a surfer. It combines elements of kiteboarding and surfing for a unique experience on the water.
#25 Yank and Crank
A term used to describe an aggressive style of kiteboarding where the rider uses the kite’s power to yank themselves off the water and performs dynamic, powerful movements or tricks. This style is all about high energy and making bold moves.
#26 Zenith
The zenith is the position directly above the kiteboarder’s head where the kite can be flown. It’s considered a neutral position, offering stability and a point of rest before maneuvers, or as a starting point when launching the kite.
#27 Board-off
A trick in which the kiteboarder literally takes their feet out of the board’s foot straps and removes the board from their feet during a jump. This advanced maneuver adds flair and demonstrates the rider’s control and skill in the air.
#28 Chicken Loop
The chicken loop is part of the kite’s control bar, a loop attached to the harness’s hook, allowing the rider to connect to the bar and control the kite. It also often features a quick-release mechanism for safety.
#29 Depower Strap
A control mechanism on the kite’s bar that allows the rider to adjust the kite’s angle relative to the wind, effectively increasing or decreasing its power. Depowering the kite is crucial for managing control in varying wind conditions.
#30 Kitemare
Slang in kiteboarding for a dangerous or scary incident, such as tangled lines, crashes, or loss of control due to strong winds. Kitemares often highlight the importance of safety measures and proper training in the sport.
FAQ
What do you call someone who kiteboards?
A kiteboarder or a kitesurfer, and on the water simply a rider. There is no separate slang term in wide use for the person, though a beginner out of their depth gets called a kook, as in surfing.
What is it called when a kiteboarder is pulled through the water without the board?
Body dragging. It is the first skill taught after kite control, and it is how riders retrieve a board they have lost, by dragging upwind toward it.
What is the difference between kiteboarding and kitesurfing?
In everyday use they mean the same sport. Where riders separate the two, kiteboarding refers to riding a twin tip with foot straps and kitesurfing to riding waves on a directional board.
What is it called when a kiteboarding session goes wrong?
A kitemare. It covers everything from tangled lines and a kite lost downwind to a rider dragged across a beach, and it is the reason quick releases and self-rescue are taught early.
What is the power zone in kiteboarding?
The part of the wind window directly downwind of the rider, where the kite generates its strongest pull. Sending the kite through it produces acceleration, and doing so accidentally is how riders get yanked.
They fall into gear (bar, lines, harness, chicken loop, twin tip), wind (wind window, power zone, upwind, offshore) and riding (pop, boost, kite loop, toe side, handle pass). The kiteboarding glossary above covers all three.
What are some Kiteboarding terms for beginners?
“Airtime,” “Body drag,” and “Upwind” are some Kiteboarding terms beginners should start with. Understanding these concepts is crucial for controlling the kite and maneuvering on the water.
What are some funny Kiteboarding terms?
“Chicken loop,” “Goofy,” and “Kitemare” are some funny Kiteboarding terms that add a light-hearted element to the sport, with comical names for gear parts, stance, and mishaps.
What is a famous Kiteboarding phrase?
“Yank and crank,” is a famous Kiteboarding phrase, often used to describe the aggressive yet dynamic action of pulling on the bar and carving through the water.
