What Is Kite Surfing?

If you’ve ever typed what is kite surfing into a search bar, you’re probably trying to solve a simple mystery: “Is that the same thing as kitesurfing, or is it something different?” 

Here’s the clean answer: kite surfing usually refers to riding a kite on the water with a surf-style approach, often on a directional board, often around waves. In everyday speech, plenty of people also use “kite surfing” as another way to say the whole sport. Context decides which meaning you’re getting.

So, if someone says “I go kite surfing,” they might mean “I kite in general.” If a wave-focused rider says it, they might mean “I ride waves on a directional and keep things surf-y.” Same wind engine, different flavor.

What kite surfing means in plain language

Kite surfing is kite-powered riding that borrows from surfing: carving turns, using a directional board, and often playing in swell or breaking waves. The kite provides pull, the board provides the feel, and the rider tries to make it look smooth instead of like a tug-of-war.

That “surf” part signals a few common priorities:

• Flow over fireworks: riders often chase clean lines and turns.
• Wave use: swell becomes part of the ride, not just background scenery.
• Directional board vibe: the board points one way, like a surfboard.

None of that creates a brand-new sport. It’s still kite-powered board riding. It just leans toward surf-style choices.

Is kite surfing different from kitesurfing?

Most of the time, no. Many people write “kite surfing,” “kitesurfing,” and “kiteboarding” interchangeably, especially outside tight-knit local scenes.

But in some conversations, “kite surfing” shows up as a style label. If you hear it in that context, it usually points to wave-focused riding. That’s why the term keeps popping up, it’s not just spelling, it’s sometimes identity.

To clear up how people use the names day to day, check out Kiteboarding vs Kitesurfing: Are They the Same Thing?

What “surfing with a kite” looks like on the water

People often search for surfing with a kite because that’s exactly what it looks like from shore. A rider stands sideways, trims speed, and carves along a wave face with a kite floating overhead.

In that kind of session, the kite tends to play a supporting role. The rider still uses it for power and positioning, but they often avoid constant aggressive steering. Instead, they aim for steady pull and a clean, surf-like board feel.

Wave-focused riding can look calmer than other disciplines, but don’t get fooled. It takes solid control to keep the kite where it needs to be while the ocean does its unpredictable ocean thing.

What makes a session feel “surf-style”

You can spot surf-style riding even before you see the board. It shows up in how the rider uses power and how they choose lines on the water.

• Using the wave’s push: the rider tries to let the wave supply some speed and energy, not just the kite.
• Carving turns: turns look like drawn arcs instead of sharp, powered snaps.
• Less “yank” in the arms: the rider aims for smoother tension through the harness.
• Down-the-line focus: when conditions allow, the rider follows the wave direction and treats the face like a moving slope.

The fun part is that none of this requires huge waves. Even small swell can add a surf-like rhythm, especially when a rider intentionally keeps the kite quieter. It’s more “chasing feel” than “chasing height.”

Directional board vs twin tip, why the board changes the vibe

When people say kite surfing with a specific meaning, they usually picture a directional board, a board that rides best in one direction. That design changes how the session feels and what riders care about.

That doesn’t mean one board “wins.” It just means the board nudges the riding style. A directional board invites surf-like lines. A twin tip invites easy switch riding and broad versatility.

Straps vs strapless, why people care (concept only)

Within surf-style riding, you’ll hear riders talk about “straps” or “strapless.” This isn’t a how-to discussion, it’s just what the terms mean.

• Strapped: feet attach to the board with straps. It feels secure and planted, especially when the water gets messy.
• Strapless: feet aren’t attached. It looks and feels closer to classic surfing, but it requires cleaner board control because the board won’t politely stay with your feet on its own.

When someone says “kite surfing” with a surf-culture emphasis, they often mean strapless directional riding. Not always, but often. It’s the version that looks most like surfing, and it’s the one that gets filmed the most because, let’s be honest, it’s pretty to watch.

How the kite behaves around waves (why “drift” shows up)

Wave sessions put the kite in a different role than flat water cruising. When a rider travels down the line with a wave, the board can move fast in the same direction as the wind and swell. That can create moments where the kite feels lighter because the rider “catches up” to the kite’s pull.

Riders often describe a kite that keeps flying smoothly through those moments as having good drift. In normal words, drift means the kite stays stable and follows along without demanding constant steering. It’s not magic, it’s just a helpful behavior when the rider wants the wave face to be the star of the show.

This is also why you’ll see surf-style riders place the kite a bit higher and more neutral at times, rather than sweeping it aggressively. The goal often becomes: “keep it steady, keep it out of the way, keep it predictable.”

Do you need waves to do kite surfing?

Nope. People use the term even at spots with small swell or just rolling chop. Some riders use “kite surfing” simply because it sounds normal, even if they’ve never touched a wave. That’s why the question what is kite surfing gets messy, the term covers both “style” and “common name.”

Still, if someone emphasizes “surfing with a kite,” waves usually sit somewhere in the picture. They might not be huge. They might not be perfect. But the rider wants that surf-style feel, carving, timing, and using the ocean’s energy when it’s available.

Can kite surfing happen on lakes?

Yes. If wind and space line up, riders can do surf-style directional riding on lakes too. You might not get classic ocean swell, but you can still carve turns, practice flow, and ride a board that feels surf-inspired. The ocean doesn’t own the word “surf,” it just markets it better.

Why the term exists at all

Two reasons keep “kite surfing” alive:

• It describes what people see: a kite, a board, water, and a surf stance.
• It describes a vibe: some riders want a surf-style session, not a powered trick session.

It also helps newcomers. If someone has never heard “kiteboarding,” the phrase “kite surfing” gives them an instant mental image. They might be slightly wrong on the details, but they’re close enough to ask the right questions.

A quick search-intent cheat sheet

When people type similar phrases, they usually want slightly different answers. This helps you interpret the intent behind the words.

Common misconceptions around kite surfing

“Kite surfing is a totally different sport.”
Most of the time it isn’t. It’s either the same sport name, or it’s a wave-focused flavor within the same sport.

“Kite surfing means you’re being towed.”
No tow rope. No boat. The wind provides pull through the kite, and the rider steers it actively.

“Kite surfing means you need perfect surf conditions.”
Nope. Plenty of wave sessions happen in messy wind swell. The goal is feel, not a movie scene.

“Kite surfing is only for expert surfers.”
Surf background can help with wave reading, but kite control and wind awareness matter just as much. Different skill set, different learning curve. Kiters usually start on a twin tip but kite surfing can be enjoyed by intermediate riders. 

When to use “kite surfing” in conversation

If you’re talking to someone who doesn’t ride, “kite surfing” usually lands fast because it sounds familiar. If you’re talking to riders who care about disciplines, “kite surfing” can signal wave-oriented riding on a directional board.

Either way, you don’t need to police the word. The easiest move is to ask what kind of session they mean. That gets you a real answer, instead of a vocabulary debate. And yes, some people will still try to “win” the debate. Let them. You can save your energy for the part where wind actually matters.

More clarity on the terms people mix together (topic based)

To lock down the umbrella definition that covers many setups and surfaces, see What Is Kiteboarding?

To settle the naming overlap that causes most confusion, check out Kiteboarding vs Kitesurfing: Are They the Same Thing?

To decode the nickname that shows up in searches and beach chatter, read What Is Parachute Surfing?

To get the clean conceptual definition of the sport and the most common misconceptions, dive into What Is Kitesurfing? Understanding Kiteboarding, Kite Surfing, and Common Misconceptions.

Bottom line

Kite surfing usually means surf-style kite-powered riding, often with a directional board and an eye on waves. In everyday language, it can also mean the general sport people call kitesurfing or kiteboarding. If you know the context, you know the meaning, and you can stop your brain from melting over three similar words.