US Airways - May 2014 - (Page 27)

explore Adventure Time to Play With Flying Colors Kiteboarding is the fastest-growing watersport in the world. And for good reason- you can get the thrills in no time. By Jeff Book ★ PHOTO BY IMAGE SOURCE/GETTY I'm standing in Choctawatchee Bay, playing tug-of-war with a 19-meter kite as it swoops high overhead like some enormous bird of prey. The surging power of the wind thrums through taut lines attached to my control bar and waist harness. The water is shallow, so why do I feel like I'm in over my head? I'm awestruck at the coiled energy of this airborne slingshot, poised to loft me over Okaloosa Island into the Gulf of Mexico. Eyeing my white-knuckle grip on the control bar, instructor Curt Palermo says, "Relax, brother. Don't fight the kite." I've come to Fort Walton Beach in Florida's Panhandle to learn kiteboarding (aka kitesurfing) from the aces at XL Kites. Considered extreme, or at least exotic, when it first gained popularity in the late '90s, it's now the world's fastest-growing watersport. Combining elements of windsurfing, wakeboarding, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics, the sport has a sky-high cool quotient. At shores around the U.S. and beyond, you can find people skimming over the water with enviable grace, occasionally using the kite to vault into the air. It looks like something only athletes or daredevils should attempt. But here's the truth: With motivation and practice, most of us can learn to kiteboard. "Maybe two or three people out of a hundred don't get it," Palermo says. "It's like wakeboarding and driving the boat. But if you spend enough time, you can do this." Both equipment and instruction have improved since the sport's early days, which has broadened its appeal. The kites have an inflatable leading edge and struts for stability and buoyancy. Rigs include four or five lines connecting kite to control bar and a quick-release safety system. Boards come in various sizes and shapes, The thrill of kiteboarding usairwaysmag.com MAY 2014 27 http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - May 2014

Table of Contents
Perspective: CEO Letter
From the Editor
Making It Happen
Wine & Dine: Encinitas, California
Wine & Dine: Benjamin Steakhouse and The Sea Fire Grill
Diversions: Western North Carolina Cheese Trail
Adventure: California State Parks
Adventure: Kiteboarding
Connections: Everybody's Business
Style Spotlight: Petal Power
Great Escapes: Los Cabos, Mexico
Great Escapes: Melbourne, Florida
Gear Up: Mother's Day
Travel Feature: Victor Hugo's Paris
US Airways Feature: Serving Those Who Serve Us
Hidden Treasure: Central Arkansas
Best of Health: Miami Beach Foot & Ankle Surgery
Great Dates: Eastern Music Festival
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Audio Entertainment
Video Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
oneworld alliance
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - May 2014