Kitesurfing or kiteboarding is a surface water sport that
uses the wind to pull a rider through the water on a small
surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). Generally
kiteboarding refers to a style of riding known as freestyle
or wake-style, whereas kitesurfing is more "wave-riding"
oriented. These two styles usually require different boards
and specific performance kites.
A kitesurfer or kiteboarder uses a board with or without
foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large
controllable kite to propel the rider and the board across
the water. In 2006, the number of kitesurfers has been estimated
at around 150,000 to 210,000, with 114,465 inflatable kites
sold that same year.