The vocabulary of kitesurfing

Rotation 360 : A rotation of 360 degrees.Generally, this consists of the control bar being passed behind the kiteboarder's back.However, a less than vertical roll can be called a 360.

Rail : The edge of the board is the rail. A rounded edge is a soft rail and a sharp edge is a hard rail.

Railey (Raley) : An aerial maneuver in which the rider extends his body horizontally in mid air, traveling head first with his feet behind.The riders feet are at a height even with, or slightly above head height.

Ram Air Kite : Ram air foil kites have no rigid structure. The shape of the kite is formed while flying. These kites have shapes that are very close to airplane wings and therefore are the most aerodynamic kites. These kites normally have a limited number of air intakes and a one-way valve system to prevent the air from escaping, and are also called closed cell foil kites.

Reaching : Sailing with the wind coming from the side (sailing across the wind). If the wind is coming from directly from the side, it is a beam reach. If the board is pointed more into the wind it is a close reach. If the wind is coming more from behind, it is called a broad reach.

Rebel : An SLE kite manufactured by North

Recon : a kite control system used by Cabrinha that allows easier water relaunching

ReDonkulous : A ridiculous with a donkey in the middle.Often used to describe over built things, over sized, huge air, etc. . .

Reel bar : a combination winding reel and control bar used to wind up the kite flying lines.

Relaunch : to start the kite flying again. It is desirable to have a kite that the kitesurfer can relaunch from the water after a fall.

Rhino, R2, R4 : Rhino2 and Rhino4 are models of inflatable kite manufactured by North.

Rider : the rider is you, me, and all the guys that practice a sport in which they slide, like snowboarding, surfing and others. To slide is to ride.

Right of Way : The system defined to maintain order and prevent chaos out there! Right-hand-forward riders typically have right of way rights. All other riders and vessels should yield. But don't expect some weekender with a cooler of beer in his cigarette boat to know this. Steer clear of Crockett and Tubbs, and any otherdangers.

Rigid kite : a kite such as a speedwing or delta whose shape is mostly held by means of a rigid frame, eliminating the need for a complex bridle. Most rigid kites are not water relaunchable.

Ripstop : Ripstop refers to the squares of reinforcing fibers in the fabric which make it resistant to tearing. A rip in this fabric will stop at one of the reinforcing fibers. Many kites use ripstop polyester fabric in their canopy.

Roast beef : a trick where a kiteboarder jumps and grabs the heelside (back) of the board between his/her legs.

Rocker : The curvature of a kiteboard running from nose to tail, describing the height of the nose and tail in relation to the center of the kiteboard when the kiteboard is laying flat on the ground.Rockers can be continuous or constant, meaning the nose and tail are equally higher than the center of the board. The curvature is modeled after a portion of the circumference of a single circle (arc), or multi-stage in which the curvature is greater in some areas and less in others, meaning multiple arcs were used in the shaping of the kiteboard.In the picture to the right the front kiteboard has little or no rocker, while the rear white kiteboard has noticably more rocker.

Roll : An inverted, aerial maneuver in which the rider's board is at least as high as his head during the rotation.

Rollers : Large waves out to sea that do not form an apex and crash. Nice for popping airs in the open water.

Aerial : Existing, happening, or operating in the air.

Agro : A verb describing extreme agression.

Airfoil (aerofoil) : a wing, kite, or sail used to generate lift or propulsion.

Airtime (Hangtime) : The time spent in the air while jumping.

Anemometer : tool meant to measure the wind strength. It can be useful to help you choose your kite size.

AOA, Angle of Attack: : also known as the angle of incidence (AOI) is the angle with which the kite flies in relation to the wind. Increasing AOA generally gives more lift.

AOI, Angle of Incidence : angle which the kite takes compared to the wind direction

Apparent wind, AW : The wind felt by the kite or rider as it passes through the air. For instance, if the true wind is blowing North at 10 knots and the kite is moving West at 10 knots, the apparent wind on the kite is NW at about 14 knots. The apparent wind direction shifts towards the direction of travel as speed increases.

AR, Aspect Ratio : the ratio of a kites width to height (span to chord). Kites have a high aspect ratio (like the Naish AR5) or a low aspect ratio (like the Wipika Classic).

AR5 : The legendary first 4 line inflatable kite manufactured by Naish.

ARC : an older model foil kite manufactured by Peter Lynn and generally considered the first popular model of Peter Lynn's "Twinskin" model kites.

Aspect ratio : Measurement of the wingspan divided by the width of the wing. A high aspect ratio looks like a banana and a low aspect ratio looks like an egg... Unfortunately, kite manufacture use different formulas ! On this web site we use the simplified one: ratio=wingspan/ maximum width

Average scale : A modest way of describing wave heights.Measured in: Below average, average, and above average.It changes based on location.

Back 360 : A 360 in which the kiteboarder initiates the rotation by turning their shoulders upwind, toward their riding direction, and turning their back away from their riding direction.Their heelside edge is leading the board through the rotation as the kiteboarder turns towards their leading shoulder upwind.

Back Loop : a kitesurfing trick where the kiter rotates backward (begins by turning their back toward the kite) while throwing his/her feet above the level of his/her head.

Back Roll : same as a back loop but without getting their feet up high.

Backside : When the kiteboarder turns their shoulders downwind, and turns their back towards their direction of movement or riding object, like a slider.When added to a trick, it means the initiation of their rotation started with their back turning toward their direction of movement.

Bar (control bar) : this is the equivalent of the wheel of a car. It enables you to control your kite from left to right and to depower it as well.

Batten : A stiff rod of fiberglass or carbon fiber that is used in some parts, of some kites, to provide rigidity or shape where needed.

Beach start : departure from a standing position. It is possible thanks to the very low water depth.

Beam reach : sailing in a direction perpendicular (at a 90¡ angle) to the wind. A beam reach is usually the fastest point of sail. A beam reach is a point of sail between a broad reach and a close reach

Bear Away / Bear Off : change your direction of travel to a more downwind direction.

Beaufort Scale : Measures wind speed in ranges, a 0-10 scale : 0 - Calm 0 knots / 1 - Light Air1-3 knots / 2 - Light Breeze 4-6 knots, Foils kites will fly, maybe / 3 - Gentle Breeze 7-10 knots, Foil kites fly better, inflatable kites will fly maybe / 4 - Moderate Breeze 11-16 knots, best conditions for learning inflatable kites / 5 -Fresh Breeze 17-21 knots, novice pilots only / 6 - Strong Breeze 22-27 knots, intermediate only / 7 - Moderate Gale 28-33 knots, advanced only / 8 - Fresh Gale 34-40 knots, expert only / 9 - Strong Gale 41-47 knots, extreme danger / 10 - Whole Gale 48-55 knots, suicidal / 11 - Storm 56-63 knots / 12 - Hurricane 64+ knots

Bladder : an inflatable inner tube in a kite used to give the kite shape and floatation. Bladders must be inflated or pumped up by hand.

Blade : a model of foil kite made by Flexifoil.

Blasted : When you get pulled very hard by the kite and blasts of water obscure the kiteboarder from onlookers momentarily.

Blind : a term used to describe riding in a direction that does not allow you to see your kiteor where you are going easily

Board : this is what you will be on while practicing kitesurfing. Several types can be used. The most usually used board is the twin-tip, which can go in both direction.

Board Leash : a leash or line connecting the kiter to the board and used to keep the board nearby when the kiter is in the water.Modern kiters don't use board leash anymore

Board rail : This is the side of the board, its edge.

Body-drag : get pulled by your kite in the water, without a board. This is a necessary step in the kitesurf learning process, which makes you familiar with being in the water with a kite in the air, but without the technical difficulty of the board.

Boom : another name for a control bar.

Bow Kite : A new type of inflatable kite that is flatter and does not have a pronounced C shape or U shape as the classic inflatables.Bow kite is a part of the Flat LEI Kites however, Bow kite has to have a concave trailing edge to make it shaped like a bow while some other Flat LEI kites may have straight or convex trailing edge and do not have a bow shape.

Brake lines : flying lines attached to a foil kite to slow the kite or reduce its pull in strong winds. Brake lines lead to back attachment points on the trailing edge of a foil kite. Inflatable kites do not have brake lines.

Bridle : lines that form the junction between kite and the flying lines. A foil kite may have a complex bridle, while inflatable kites usually have simple bridles. Bridle lines are sometimes called shroud lines.

Bridles : The inflatable 2 lines kites as well as the foil kites are equipped with bridles which enable them to fly properly.

Broad reach : sailing in a somewhat downwind direction. A broad reach is a point of sail between a beam reach and going straight downwind.

Buggying : using a power kite to pull a small land-based 3 wheeled vehicle.

Butter (Glass) : Smooth water

Cable Park : a place to practice wakeboarding by being pulled with a cable instead of behind a boat. A cable park is a place where mechanical cables pull the rider around the water.

Cabrinha : a manufacturer of inflatable kites including the Black Tip and the CO2 models.

Camber : the curvature of an object such as a sail or kite usually used when referring its aerodynamic properties.

Cell : a parafoil is divided up into ribbed compartments called cells

Chicken bone : What you call your Donkey Dick when you are in a family or professional situation.Shown in the Picture on right as the straight, black tube going through, and below the circular loop.

Chicken Loop : The loop at the end of the depower strap that hooks under your spreader bar hook. Also called a Trim Loop, this loop got its name when 4-line kites were first released, indicating the rider was "chicken" of the kite's full power.

Chikara : A kite material used on some foil kites. It is a nylon cloth.

Chops : tiny waves.

Chord : The width of the kite at it's widest point, usually the center strut length.

Close hauled : sailing in a direction as far upwind (toward the wind) as possible.

Close reach : sailing somewhat towards the wind but not close hauled. A close reach is a point of sail between a beam reach and close hauled.

Close to the Wind : Near the maximum angle that you can ride into the wind.

Closed cell : these kites normally have a limited number of air intakes and a valve system to prevent the air to escape after a fall. These types of kite are called closed cell foil kites.

Cock Block : When a rider isn't following the right away rules and forces other riders avoid him or her.

Coefficient of lift, CL : a measure of how hard a kite pulls relative to its projected size.

Control bar : a long bar used by the kitesurfer to control the kite. With 4 line inflatable kites, the rear kite lines are connected to the ends of the bar and the front lines are connected to a chicken loop which goes through the middle of bar. Bar length is typically 40 to 90cm.

Creep : the amount a line permanently lengthens when pulled. Loosely braided line has a lot of creep, tightly braided has less, linear core line has the least. If all the lines creep evenly, it's pretty much unnoticeable. On inflatable kites the front lines usually creep more than the backs.

Cross Venting : holes cut into the individual cells of a foil kite or parafoil to allow air to pass through between the cells.

Custom board : a custom board hasn't been made in a factory. A shaper can build you a board according to your weight, the conditions you will ride in, and your expectations. This is a very personal board. Always great, but usually more expensive than others.

Dacron : the material used for the leading edge of most inflatable kites.

Deadman : a kitesurfing trick where the kiter hangs upside down during a jump, lets go of the control bar, and hangs their arms downward.

Depower : Depower your kite by pushing your bar. That will make your rear lines longer and change the flight angle of your kite. All 4 lines kites are also equipped with a power adjustment strap you will use if overpowered.

Directional board : They are the first boards used with a kite, and look like a surfboard, or a windsurf board. It can go in only one direction, which makes it a bit more technical, but its glide abilities are the best!!

Directional : a kite board that looks like a small windsurfer board or surfboard with footstraps. A directional usually has 3 footstraps. It rides best in one direction and has definite nose and tail ends. A directional board is typically 150 to 220 cm in length.

Donkey Dick : The plastic tubing that keeps your chicken loop fixed to your harness hook.

Down Loop : A kite maneuver in which the kite is tuned down toward the water, then in the opposite direction of the riding direction, and then completed with the kite finishing the loop at its original position.

Downwind : the direction that the wind is going toward, opposite of upwind.

Drag : the resistance to movement.

Drift : the sideways movement due to the action of the wind on the kite.

Dual Line, 2 Line : Kite which is flown using 2 lines of equal length which enables the rider to steer the kite right or left.

Dyneema¨ : Also known as Spectra. It is the standard line for flying lines. It is slippery and will allow multiple line twists without loosing kite control.

Edge : to tilt the board on its edge and ride it that way. Used to control the direction of travel. To go upwind, a rider must edge hard. Skiers and snowboarders also use this type of edging to turn.

Eye of the wind : the direction that the wind is blowing from.

FFVL : Federation Franaise de Vol Libre. It is the Free Flight French Federation, which takes care of kiteboarding.

Fifth Element : a 5 line kite control sustem used on North kites.

Fifth Line : A 5th line that connects a control bar to a kite.Generally, kits have four lines.The fifth line generally connects the center of the leading edge to a special leash system on the control bar, which can make C kites safer and also can make them easier to relaunch.

Fin : a small piece of rigid material on the bottom of a kiteboard that tends to guide the board in a forward direction. Kiteboards usually have 4 or more fins.

Fins : attached under your board, they will enable you to edge on the water, to turn, to go upwind and to ride straight in the desired direction.

Fixed Loop : It is a loop on the control bar which hooks in to the spreader bar of the harness.The fixed loop allows the kiteboarder to steer the kite while taking the pressure of the kite off of the kiteboarder's arms, however, it offers no depower capability.

Flat 3 : An aerial 360 where the kiteboarder passes their control bar behind their back, and lands on the same edge of the board they started from.

Flat LEI : A new type of inflatable kite that is flatter and does not have a pronounced C shape or U shape as the classic inflatables.Flat LEI is often confused as Bow Kite which has to have a concave trailing edge to make it shaped like a bow while some other Flat LEI kites may have straight or convex trailing edge and do not have a bow shape.

Flex : Short word for flexible or flexibility

Flexifoil : a manufacturer of foil kites including the Blade and Nexus models.

Flying lines : the main lines between the kite and the rider, usually made of Spectra. The power lines or main lines lead to attachment points of the kite. Additional lines may be used as trim lines or brake lines.

Foil : A type of kite. Usually foils are two-skin kites held in shape by a bridle with air vents on the leading edge. As the air passes into the kite, the kite fills with air and expands to its full shape. Much like a flying air mattress, though mattresses would be more comfy than taking a nap on your kite.

Foot Pad : A cushion on a kiteboard that a kiteboarder stands on while riding.It's a soft surface on kiteboards used to absorb impact.

Foot-strap : this is the strap that keeps your feet attached to the board.

Frame : the collection of carbon or fiberglass spars that form the skeleton of the kite.

Free ride : Just ride for pleasure, no contest and no judgment, only 100% pleasure.

Front 360 : An aerial 360 in which the kiteboarder initiates the rotation by turning their shoulders downwind, away from their riding direction, and turning their back towards their riding direction.The kiteboarder turns their leading shoulder downwind as they release from the water.

Front Loop : a kitesurfing trick where the kiter rotates forward (begins by turning away from the direction of travel) while throwing their feet above the level of their head.

Front Roll : same as a front loop but without getting their feet up high

Frontside : When the kiteboarder turns their shoulders upwind, and turns their back away from their direction of movement or riding object, like a slider.When added to a trick, it means the initiation of their rotation started with their back turning away from their direction of movement.

Goofy : You are goofy if the foot you feel most comfortable with when in the front direction is the right foot. Regular is the opposite, left foot in the front direction. This comes from other sports like skateboarding, snowboarding or surfing, in which we usually ride in a favorite position. No favorite position in kitesurfing because you go in both directions, once goofy and then regular.

Grab (to) : Hold your board while you are in the air. That gives you more style, and more balance as well! There are many grabs to do. The easiest is the tail grab.

Grab handle : Handle usually mounted in the center of a kiteboard used to carry the board or help put the board on the kiteboarder's feet.

Grommet/Grom : A kiteboarder under the age of 18.Generally groms have an attitude characterized by their age.

Grunt : The amount of pull generated by a kite when the kite is moving at low speed.

Gybe (or jibe) : To change direction by turning down wind and then continuing to turn until you are going in the other direction.

Handle : on the middle of your board, the handle is great to carry your board, as well as to do some technical no-foot tricks.

Handle Pass : Transferring the control bar from one hand to the otherbehind your back

Handles : used instead of a control bar to fly the kite. In 4 line kites, a pair of bent handles with one power line connected to the top and one brake line connected to the bottom of each. A "link line" or harness line runs between the two handles to allow a harness to take the load of the kite. Generally considered unsuitable for inflatable kites.

Hang Time (Airtime) : The amount of time you spend in the air

Hard rails, soft rails : The rounder the edge of the board the softer the rails are said to be. Hard rails means a sharper edge.

Harness : In order to get enough power, a kite has to pull like hell! And it is not possible to practice kiteboarding only with the strength of your arms. So we use a harness, which is an accessory between you and the bar, a kind of seat which will distribute the power on your body rather than on your arms. There are 2 types of harnesses : seat and waist.

Heelside : the side of a board on the edge where your heels are (opposite of toeside). To ride heelside is normal and is where your heels are tilted down below the level of your toes.

Hook Knife : A knife in the shape of a hook used in emergency situations such as cutting kite lines.

Hooked In : Being attached to the harness loop on the control bar by the harness bar on the harness

IKO : The International Kiteboarding Organization based in Cabrete, Dominican Republic.

Indie : a kitesurfing trick where the kiter grabs the toeside edge of the board with his/her back hand near his/her back foot during a jump.

Inflatable Kite : A kite that gets its shape from inflated struts and an inflated leading edge.

Jellyfishing : When a kite's wingtips move in and out like a jellyfish.Usually, a structural design "flaw."

Jibe (or gybe) : To change direction by turning down wind and then continuing to turn until you are going in the other direction.

Jibe (to) : It is a U-turn. The jibe comes from windsurfing and is only necessary when using a directional board.

Jump : Pretty explicit, don't you think?

Kevlar : A very strong fiber sometimes used for kite lines. Has some characteristics (more stretch) which make it somewhat less desirable than Spectra.

Kite : this is your engine! It is specific to kitesurfing, built in order not to sink. 2 kite types which are inflated or foil kites.

Kite Leash : Another name for a safety leash.A secondary attachment running from the control bar to the harness or to the wrist.Used in self rescue, self landing and emergencies when the safety realease on the chicken loop is pulled.

Kite loop : when the kite is rotated 360 degrees in the sky. A kiteloop can be either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Kiteboard : The board used in for kiteboarding.A device usually strapped to one's feet, or the roof of a car. Experienced device owners can use said kiteboard to boost big air and tricks impressing the women sunning themselves on the beach. Inexperienced kiteboard owners should wear foot protection against inadvertent ankle-stubbing, and beach-butt-chafe

Kitemare : 1. A scary incident that has occurred during kiteboarding.2. A scary kiteboarding story where a kiteboarder, could have or did get injured or killed, while kiteboarding.

Kitesurfing, Kiteboarding : also called kite sailing or flysurfing. Using a kite to pull you across the water with a board under your feet.

Knot : Wind measure unit.

Landboard (Mountainboard) : An off-road skateboard that snowboarders originally used to ride down hills without snow.Kiteboarders use it to ride on any hard, flat surface.

Larks head : knot used for attaching flying lines.

Lay line : an imaginary course on which you can sail directly to your target without tacking.

Leader Lines : The thicker lines that connect the control bar to the kite lines.Usually made of a thicker Dyneema than the kite lines.

Leading edge : Leading edge : This is the front edge of the kite. This edge is in opposition to the trailing edge.

Leak : An unfortunate situation. A cause...its effect being your kite going limp. A leak causes you to watch from the sand. A leak should be fixed immediately!

Leech Line : a line that runs inside the trailing edge of the kite to prevents vibration and noise.

Leeward : the direction away from the wind. Opposite of windward.

LEI, leading edge inflatable : an inflatable kite where the leading edge (the forward side that the wind hits first) of the kite has an inflated bladder.

Lift : A metric used to describe how efficient a kite is in getting you into the air and keeping you there.

Lift-to-drag ratio, L/D, LDR : a measure of the efficiency of a kite. High L/D means the kite has a high top speed and flies at a greater angle to the wind, which results most noticeably in sailing more upwind (to windward) and faster possible board speeds. Kites are not as efficient as sails, their L/D rarely exceeds 4.0 while a good yacht sail manages 10 and sailplanes (gliders) get over 50.

Line Set (lines) : the flying lines or strings which are used to control the kite.

Linking : A kiteboarders or kitesurfers ability to land and/or perform a trick or move and immediately initiate and second trick (heaven-forbid a third or fourth...now your get'n nasty!!)

Lit : At the edge of comprehensible control. At the breaking point of muscle and tendons as your kite is practically tea-bagging your arse across the water. You are lit when your board is throwing up a spray through all four or your lines.

Locked in : sailing along with the kite is remaining stationary in the sky relative to the rider - not moving the kite around but just letting it fly steadily.

Lofted : When a kite lifts you off the ground unexpectedly.

Luff : A kite luffs when the air flow stalls. It may then stall and fall out of the sky. Luffing will occur if the kite gets too far upwind.Luffing may occur whenever there is a loss of tension on the lines.

Naish : a manufacturer of inflatable kites, based in Hawaii. Robby Naish is a legendary windsurfer and an early kite surfer.

Nautical Mile : Distance at sea is measured in nautical miles, which is 1852 meters, 6067 feet, or 1.15 miles. Measurement of speed at sea is always done in knots (nautical miles per hour).

Neutral Edge : Not edging upwind and not edging downwind.Riding perpendicular to the wind.

North: : A manufacturer of inflatable kites including the Rhino and Toro.

Nose : The board nose is the front part of it. We do not need that name a lot in kiteboarding as 95% of the boards used in the world are twin-tips, with no nose or tail.

Nose line : a short line from the nose of the kite (usually the pump leash attachment point) to the 5th line in 5 line kite control systems.

Nosebone : a trick in which the rider, while in flight, tucks one knee to the chest and extends the other leg straight out in front.

Off shore wind : That wind comes from the earth and will take you away if you have any trouble on the water. Do not ride in off shore winds if you have no safety boat.

Ollie : a trick where the rider pops the board into the air by pushing down on their back foot and jumping up with their front foot forward.

On shore wind : Opposite of the off shore wind. Coming from the sea, that wind will push you on the beach. Appropriate for kiteboarding, but be careful, if you have troubles, you can be projected on obstacles! Not the best wind to ride with.

Outhaul : Part of the bridle which can be adjusted to move the tow point toward the wing tip or toward the center. This adjustment affects turn rate of the kite.

Pad : The pad is between your feet and the board. It prevents from sliding on the board, and makes the ride more comfortable, as well as the receptions.

Parafoil : invented by parachute designer Domina Jalbert in 1963, this is a kite which is based on the aerofoil wing shape and does not require any rigid frame for flight. Can also be called ram-air, wing, ram-jet, and paraglide.

Peter Lynn : a New Zealand manufacturer of kites including the ARC and various other Twinskin kites.

PFD : personal flotation device, lifejacket.

Pig Tail : A short line extension that can be attached to the kite, or the end of the fly line.

PKRA : Professional Kiteboard Riders Association.One of the major, international, competitive kiteboarding tours for the different disciplines of kiteboarding, such as freestyle, wave riding, boardercross, hang time and more

Plane up : How quickly a kiteboard will support your weight on top of the water, rather than anchoring you up to your knees. Planing up is much better than planing down. Stay on top of the water.

Planing : is when the board is going fast enough to skim across the surface of the water, as compared to pushing its way through the water.

Point of sail : The direction of a kiteboard or sailboat relative to the wind. When you are sailing as much toward upwind as possible, your point of sail is called close hauled. Other points of sail are called: close reach, beam reach, and broad reach.

Pointing : going in a direction as upwind as possible. A board that points well is one that goes upwind at a better angle than others (more directly into the wind).

Polyester : is the material used for the canopy of most inflatable kites ..ripstop polyester of about 50 gram weight.

Port : A small, circular window. To the left. The left side of a nautical vessel. The color defining port is red. For kitesurfing, this is left-hand-forward riding. Left-hand-forward kitesurfers do not have right of way over starboard riders or vessels. Right does not mean red, guys!

Port tack : Sailing on a tack with the wind coming from the port side (left side).

Power Zone : The relative area of the wind window that provides power to the kite.The area of the wind window other than the neutral zone.

Pressure Gauge : A device to measure pressure in a contained space.Some kite pumps can have attached pressure gauges for the kiteboarders to know how much pressure is in each of thier kite bladders as they pump.

Profile : in an airfoil, the side view of the foil.

Projected area : The apparent area of a kite while it is being flown, as opposed to when it is lying flat on the ground. The amount of area that presents itself to the wind.

Pull the Trigger : a phrase used to describe steering the kite aggressively, usually to initiate a jump with the kite.

Pump : 1. To inject.2. A device used to insert air, or another medium, into an object.3. A powerstroke with the kite.4. An exercise kitesurfers ritually perform to warm up prior to getting wet.

Pump Leash : a short line used to hook the air pump onto the nose of the kite during pumping so the kite does not blow away.

QR, Quick Release : a mechanism that will allow a kiter to disconnect something when needed. For example, most modern kites now have a QR to allow a kiter to disconnect the chicken loop in an emergency.

Quad line, 4 line : Kite flown on four lines. Having 4 lines has the advantage of not only being able to steer left and right like a dual line, but you can also adjust the AOA.

Sacrificial Lamb : the lamb that is slaughtered for food. The kiteboarder that takes a trip out of Chicago in search of beautiful beaches and caribbean winds, only to learn he gets skunked while its windy for all his friends back home in Chi-town. Thanks bro!

Scudding : making the kite drag you along the beach on your feet.

Send the kite : Changing the kite's direction abruptly to generate a sudden rise in power to boost big. I sent it back hard, and the next thing I knew, I was superman!

Shackle : a metal clip mechanism than can be used to connect something and also to release it when activated. Some kiters use a schackle on their spreader bar to connect their chicken loop.

Shaper : is a board maker, who makes boards by hand or in small production runs.

Sheeting In : When referring to the Trim Strap or Sheeting Strap, this refers to depowering the kite.When referring to the control bar, this refers to pulling the bar in and maximizing the power of the kite.See video below.

Sheeting Out : When referring to the Trim Strap or Sheeting Strap, this refers to maximizing the power of the kite.When referring to the control bar, this refers to pushing the bar away and depowering the kite.See video above.

Sheeting Strap (Trim Strap) : Used to adjust the power of the kite.

Shift System : A 5 line kite control system used on some Naish kites.

Shroud Lines : Bridle lines are sometimes called shroud lines.

Side : The best wind for kiteboarding! That wind is parallel to the beach.

Side Off Shore (Side Off) : The wind direction when the wind is blowing off shore at a 45 degree angle to the shoreline

Side On Shore (Side On) : A wind direction blowing on shore at an angle other than 90 degrees to the shoreline

Side Shore : The wind direction when the wind is blowing at an angle parallel to the shoreline.

Sine the kite : A technique used to generate apparent wind at the kite to deliver more grunt. To sine the kite, the rider steers the kite up and down as he rides to trace a mathematical "sine" wave through the air. "Today wasn't fun, I had to sine the kite all day." var. making a figure-8 flying pattern when on land.

Sine wave : flying the kite up and down at the edge of the wind window to generate more power with apparent wind.

Sining : Sining the kite means moving it in a sine wave pattern (up and down) to generate apparent wind and increase it's power.

Skunked : Being sprayed by a skunk, resulting in a lonely immediate future. Showing up at the beach to see flags hugging poles. "Everytime he shows up, we get skunked!"

Sled : a arched shape of kite such as the Naish or Wipika or ARC (as opposed to a flat kite with a bridle to define its shape).

Sleeving : short protective sleeve which covers the ends of a line and helps to preserve strength and prevent wear.

Slick : Flat smooth water.

Slingshot : A manufacturer of inflatable kites including the Fuel model.

Slogging : a term used to describe sub-planing riding which happens when the power in the kite is not sufficient to get your board up on top of the water.Originally a windsurfing term.

Snap shackle : a metal shackle that can be opened by pulling on a release mechanism.

SnowKiting : Kiting across snow covered terrain.Snowkiters may ride skis, snowboards, or any other snow-riding apparatus.

Spaghetti : Lines that are so tangled up they resemble spaghetti.

Span : the kite width, the size of the kite measured at right angles to the wind.

Spar : the sticks used as the frame of a kite. A batten is a spar.

Spectra¨ : Also known as Dyneema in Europe. It is the standard for flying lines. It is slippery and will allow multiple line wraps without loosing kite control.

Spi : The cloth of the kite. The spinaker is light and water proof.

Spin : A move in which the rider rotates but does not pass the control bar behind their back.Can be initiated from heelside or toeside.

Spinout : when a board's fins lose "grip" on the water or stalls, causing the tail to slide sideways.

Splice : the place where two lines are joined together. A splice usually refers to a smooth join of two lines without using a knot. The end of one line is interlaced or runs through the core of another.

Spot : Beach on which you practice kiteboarding. Your home spot is your usual kiteboard beach.

Spreader Bar : The stainless steel hook on the front of a kiteboarding harness used to attach the chicken loop to the harness.

Stall : a kite stalls when the air flow past it becomes detached from the kite surface and becomes turbulent. A stalled kite loses lift and falls.

Starboard : A nautical term indicating the right of a vessel. Right-hand-forward riders are riding starboard in kitesuring and usually have the right of way. Riders should always be alert and give up right-of-way in the pursuit of safety.

Starboard tack : Sailing on a tack with the wind coming from the starboard side (right side). You are normally kiting on starboard tack if your right hand is forward.

Static Loop : Same as fixed loop.

Stopper Ball : A small ball with a hole in the middle often used in the rigging on control bars.

Straight Off Shore : The wind direction when the wind is blowing away from the shore at a 90 degree angle to the shoreline.

Stretch : the amount a line momentarily lengthens when pulled. Spectra has very low stretch, kevlar has slightly more, nylon has a lot. Stretch affects responsiveness and size of control movements.

Struts : term used to refer to the inflatable battens in an inflatable kite. There are 5 body struts and one leading edge strut that hold the shape of an Naish kite.

Surface 360 : A 360 rotation with out leaving the water or jumping.

TableTop : Being inverted under the kite in the air and straightening your body with the bottom of the board making the top of a table.

Tack the wind (to) : To go upwind. The ride angle is under 90¡ compared to the wind direction.

Tacking : To ride in a zig-zag pattern upwind at 45 degree angles.

Tea Bagged : When a rider is flopping behind his kite face-down, being pulled without control and trying to recover. It looks like a tea-bag.

Theft : A total misfortune.

Thermal wind : cold air over the ocean and warm air over the land result in a pressure differential that causes wind.

Thruster : A three fin configuration at the back of a directional board.The configuration forms a triangle with a central back fin and to forward rail fins.

Toeside : to ride a board on the edge where your toes are (opposite of heelside). This is the same technique as in snowboarding.

Traction kite : a kite big enough to pull a vehicle on land, snow, ice or water. This type of kite is called traction kite.

Trailing Edge : The rear, or back of the kite.

Trim line : in a 4 line inflatable kite is a the line that goes from the loop at the center of the control bar (chicken loop) to the two flying lines connected to the front of the kite. Adjusting its length adjusts the "trim" or angle of attack (AoA) of the kite. Changing this adjustment can increase the AoA for more lift or decreasing the AoA for less lift

Trim loop : a loop used in most 4 line kites located at the centre of the control bar and used to adjust the kites AoA, thereby depowering the kite. Also called 'chicken loop'.

True wind : The wind as felt by something that is not moving.

Twin tip, TT : a board that rides equally well in either direction, like a wakeboard. A TT is usually smaller than a directional board in size. A twin tip is typically 110 to 160 cm in length and is symetrical (has no front and back end).

Unhooked : Being detached from the harness loop on the control bar of the kite.

Unhooked, hooked out : the control bar is not connected to the harness, the rider is bearing the full force of the kite with his arms.

Upwind : to windward, in the direction toward where the wind comes from.

VAOAS : Variable Angle of Attack System. An adjustment system for foil kites.

Wakeboard : a wakeboard can be used as a kite board. It usually has 2 boots fixed on it like a snowboard. A wakeboard is typically 140 to 150 cm in length. Most production wakeboards do not have the ideal rocker (shape) for kitesurfing.

Walk of Shame : The unfortunately long distance you must walk to get back to your stuff when still learning to stay upwind. Depending on rider skill...cab, train or plane rides may be required.

Water start : starting in deep water by lying on your back and letting the kite pull you up onto your board. Like a water ski start or a windsurfer water start.

Wave ride : to surf a wave like a surfer while kiting

Whip : to bind strands of a line with a small cord.

Wind : Air in motion moving around you. A kitesurfer needs typically 8-10 kts of wind to kitesurf.

Wind range : used to describe the range of wind speed that a kite will fly well in. Usually given in knots.

Wind window : The flight zone of your kite. There are several zones in the window. The zenith (top, over your head), the edges (sides), and the power zone (in front of you).

Windmill : When your kitelines get tangled on the kite, or the bar, or some object (another kite) and begins spinning out of control while powered up. You don't want to personally experience this.

Windward : in the direction toward the wind. Opposite of leeward.

Wing Span : the widest measurement of a kite often taken from wingtip to wingtip

Wing : a term used sometimes for a kite or any other airfoil.

Wipika : a French manufacturer of the original inflatable (bladder) kite developed by the legendary kite boarding pioneers, Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux. Theirs was the first practical water relaunchable kite.

Working the kite : making figure eights or sine patterns with the kite to generate more power by increasing apparent wind on the kite. In light winds it helps to really work the kite.

Wrist Leash : A version of the safety leash that attaches to your wrist instead of your harness.

X2, X3, X4 : are models of inflatable kites manufactured by Naish.