Kiteboarding is most popular in Brazil, Spain and France, followed by the US and Australia. All 9 countries ranked by spots, riders and results.
Kiteboarding grew out of experiments in France and the United States, where Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux patented an inflatable kite design in the 1980s. It is now an Olympic sport: Formula Kite made its debut at Paris 2024, with gold going to Austria and Great Britain.
Below you will find the full ranking, a table of the Paris 2024 medals, a profile of each country and a short list of other nations worth watching. Global participation numbers are old estimates, so the ranking leans on spots, scenes and results.
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Countries where kiteboarding is most popular:
Kiteboarding Popularity by Country at a Glance
| Rank | Country | Paris 2024 kite medals | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Brazil | 0 | Cumbuco, Jericoacoara and Taíba downwinders |
| #2 | Spain | 0 | Tarifa, Europe’s kite capital |
| #3 | France | 1 | Birthplace of the inflatable kite |
| #4 | United States | 0 | Daniela Moroz, Hood River |
| #5 | Australia | 0 | Kiteboarding Australia, five state bodies |
| #6 | South Africa | 0 | Red Bull King of the Air, Cape Town |
| #7 | Germany | 0 | Sylt and Fehmarn, Big Air World Cup |
| #8 | Dominican Republic | 0 | Cabarete, the Caribbean’s wind capital |
| #9 | Philippines | 0 | Bulabog Beach, Boracay |
How We Ranked the Countries
We weighed the quality and fame of the spots, the size of the local scene (schools, clubs, national associations), results at the Olympics, the Formula Kite and GKA world tours and Red Bull King of the Air, and how long the sport has been established. Reliable per-country participation counts do not exist, so we do not rank by them.
For scale, older industry estimates put the number of kitesurfers worldwide at around 1.5 million, and the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) claims an active community of more than 600,000 kiters. Both are self-reported or dated numbers, so we only use them as background.
#1 Brazil
- 🪁 Hotspots: Cumbuco, 30 km from Fortaleza; Jericoacoara, about 300 km west
- 🌬️ Season: trade winds blow reliably from about July to January
- 🏆 GKA 2025: Pedro Matos crowned kite-surf world champion at Taíba
- 🏖️ Signature: long coastal downwinders, e.g. Barra Grande to Atins
Brazil’s northeast coast, especially the state of Ceará, is one of the most reliable kitesurfing regions in the world. Cumbuco lies just 30 km from Fortaleza, and Jericoacoara is a small town about 300 km to the west. The trade winds blow steadily from roughly July to January.
The coast is famous for downwind trips such as Cumbuco or Taíba to Jericoacoara and Barra Grande to Atins. In 2025 the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup finished in Taíba, where Brazil’s Pedro Matos was crowned world champion.
#2 Spain
- 🪁 Hotspot: Tarifa, widely called the kite capital of Europe
- 🌬️ Wind: more than 300 windy days a year (commonly cited)
- 💨 Winds: Levante from the east, Poniente from the west
- 🏘️ Scene: dense cluster of kite schools and events
Tarifa, on the southern tip of Spain, is widely described as the kite capital of Europe. Sources commonly cite more than 300 windy days a year, shaped by two main winds: the Levante from the east, which can blow for weeks, and the Poniente from the west, which is considered friendlier for learning.
The town hosts a dense cluster of kite schools and events, and the long beaches of Los Lances and Valdevaqueros are the main launch areas.
#3 France
- 🥈 Olympics: Lauriane Nolot, silver in women’s Formula Kite, Paris 2024
- 🪁 Invention: Legaignoux brothers patented an inflatable kite in 1984
- 🏆 GKA 2025: Capucine Delannoy kite-surf world champion
- 🏭 Brand: Wipika, launched in 1997
France is where the modern kite was born. Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux, two French windsurfers, patented an inflatable kite design in 1984, and in 1997 they launched the breakthrough Wipika kite. Naish licensed the design for its first inflatable kite in the late 1990s.
French riders remain at the top of the sport. Lauriane Nolot won silver in the women’s Formula Kite at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and Capucine Delannoy was crowned GKA Kite-Surf world champion in 2025.
#4 United States
- 🏆 World titles: Daniela Moroz, six Formula Kite world titles between 2016 and 2022
- 🥇 Pan Am Games: Moroz won gold in 2023
- 🪁 Hotspot: Hood River, Oregon; season about May to September, 15 to 30 knots
- 🚫 Paris 2024: Moroz missed the bronze after a late penalty
The United States has one of the sport’s biggest stars in Daniela Moroz, who won six women’s Formula Kite world titles between 2016 and 2022 and the Pan American Games gold in 2023. At Paris 2024 she reached the final but a scoring penalty in the last race cost her the bronze.
Hood River, Oregon, is the best-known American spot. The Columbia River Gorge acts as a wind tunnel, with thermal winds averaging 15 to 30 knots in a season that runs roughly from May to September.
#5 Australia
- 🏛️ Federation: Kiteboarding Australia, recognised by the Australian Sports Commission
- 📅 History: Australian Kite Surfing Association founded 2001
- 🗺️ Structure: five state and territory associations
Australia has a well-organised national body. The Australian Kite Surfing Association was formed in 2001 after coastal councils raised liability concerns, and it is now Kiteboarding Australia, recognised by the Australian Sports Commission and affiliated with the International Kiteboarding Association and Australian Sailing.
The organisation is made up of five state and territory associations. Lancelin, north of Perth, is one of the country’s best-known wind spots.
#6 South Africa
- 🏆 Event: Red Bull King of the Air, Cape Town
- 🥇 2025 winners: Lorenzo Casati (Italy) in the open final; Nathalie Lambrecht (Sweden) in the women’s
- 🏁 Scale: one of the biggest big-air events
Cape Town hosts the Red Bull King of the Air, the sport’s most famous big-air event. In 2025 Italy’s Lorenzo Casati won the open division with 34.02 points, beating his brother Leonardo in the final, and Sweden’s Nathalie Lambrecht became the first Swede to win the women’s title.
The event gives South Africa a place in the sport’s calendar well beyond the size of the local scene.
#7 Germany
- 🪁 Spots: Sylt on the North Sea, Fehmarn on the Baltic
- 🏆 Events: Kitesurf World Cup on Fehmarn 2016 to 2018, Sylt from 2019
- 🥇 GKA 2025: Big Air World Cup in Sylt won by Theo Demanez
Germany has a large domestic scene on its two coasts. Sylt is the best-known North Sea spot, while Fehmarn is a leading Baltic one.
The Kitesurf World Cup ran on Fehmarn from 2016 to 2018 and moved to Westerland on Sylt in 2019. The 2025 GKA Big Air World Cup in Sylt was won by Theo Demanez.
#8 Dominican Republic
- 🪁 Hotspot: Cabarete, with Kite Beach and Encuentro Bay
- 📅 History: first kiteboarding school in 1999 (local history page)
- 🏆 Events: hosted professional contests including PKRA and world cups
Cabarete on the north coast was a windsurfing town before it became a kite town. Local histories date the first kiteboarding school to 1999, and Wikipedia notes that Cabarete Bay has hosted professional competitions including the World Cup, Master of the Ocean, PKRA and WKL.
The bay is divided into zones, with kitesurfing to the west at Kite Beach and waves at Encuentro Bay.
#9 Philippines
- 🪁 Hotspot: Bulabog Beach, Boracay; Pagudpud in the north of Luzon
- 🌬️ Season: Amihan wind, roughly November to April
- 🏖️ Conditions: reef-protected flat water at Bulabog, suited to beginners
Bulabog Beach on Boracay is widely seen as the best-known kitesurfing spot in the Philippines and one of the best known in Southeast Asia. A reef holds back the swell, so the water inside stays flat and chest-deep, which suits beginners. The kite season follows the Amihan wind, from about November to April.
Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, at the northern tip of Luzon, is the main alternative. The Kingfisher spot there is considered more demanding and better for intermediate and advanced riders.
Which Countries Are Best at Kiteboarding?
Kiteboarding has been an Olympic sport only since Paris 2024, where Formula Kite medals were decided in the men’s and women’s events. This table shows every medal won there.
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Great Britain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Slovenia | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| France | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Singapore | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Other Countries Where Kiteboarding Is Growing
These countries sit outside the ranking but have produced top riders.
| Country | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Italy | Lorenzo Casati won the Red Bull King of the Air in 2025. |
| Austria | Valentin Bontus won the first men’s Formula Kite Olympic gold at Paris 2024. |
| Slovenia | Toni Vodišek won silver in the men’s Formula Kite at Paris 2024. |
| Netherlands | Annelous Lammerts took women’s Formula Kite bronze at Paris 2024, and Cohan Van Dijk was third at King of the Air 2025. |
More About Kiteboarding
FAQ
Which country is kiteboarding most popular in?
There is no reliable census, but Brazil, Spain, France, the United States and Australia have the biggest scenes. Brazil and Spain are the two best-known destinations, thanks to the Ceará coast and Tarifa.
Where was kiteboarding invented?
The modern inflatable kite came from France, where Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux patented a design in the 1980s. Cory Roeseler developed a kite-ski in the United States at the same time, and it was commercially available in 1994.
Is kiteboarding an Olympic sport?
Yes. Formula Kite made its Olympic debut at Paris 2024. Valentin Bontus of Austria and Ellie Aldridge of Great Britain won the first gold medals.
Who won kiteboarding at the 2024 Olympics?
Valentin Bontus (Austria) won the men’s event ahead of Toni Vodišek (Slovenia) and Maximilian Maeder (Singapore). Ellie Aldridge (Great Britain) won the women’s event ahead of Lauriane Nolot (France) and Annelous Lammerts (Netherlands).
Which country has the best kitesurfing spots?
Brazil, Spain and the Dominican Republic are among the most famous. Tarifa is often called the kite capital of Europe, with more than 300 windy days a year, and Cabarete is known as the Caribbean’s kite hub.
How many people kiteboard worldwide?
A World Sailing report estimated 1.5 million kitesurfers around 2011 to 2012. The International Kiteboarding Organization says it has an active community of more than 600,000 kiters, but both are dated or self-reported numbers.
Who won the 2025 Red Bull King of the Air?
Lorenzo Casati of Italy won the open division in Cape Town with 34.02 points, ahead of his brother Leonardo. Nathalie Lambrecht of Sweden won the women’s division.
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