KITEBOARDHISTORY.COM

Who invented Kitesurfing ? Kitesurfing is not so new that it seems and is not a one man invention. In the 70's, a few US people use round parachutes to pull them on waterskis... The swiss Andreas Kuhn sails in the middle of the 80's with wakeboard style boards pulled by a paraglider (around 25m²). He is probably the first one jumping high and in light winds. Shown on the european TV's... In 1984 the frenchies Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux, sailors, windsurfers and surfers, get a patent for the first self-relaunching marine wing. To promote it, they participate several International Speedsailing events in 1985 and 1986 with waterskis. During 10 years they improve their wing and test most power kite uses, making hundreds kites, boards, skis and boats. First wings sold in 1993.

Primary location: Wailuku United States