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History of kitesurfing

This page is all about the history of kitesurfing. When was kitesurfing invented and much more questions and info about the sport kitesurfing.

From the first kite surfer till today. In the young sport that kite surfing is, a lot is changed.

Hydrofoil kite surfing
kitesurfing today (Hydrofiol)
First type of kitesurfing
First kitesurfer

When was kitesurfing invented?

The first real documents for the idea of kitesurfing date back to 11 October 1977. This is the first date of the first patent of the concept of kitesurfing. The concept was of a “surfer” on a floating board with a “wind catcher”. The concept comes from the fast growing water sports and special windsurfing. In the beginning, they want to use the same boards as windsurfing as well.


Back then Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise, noticed people had more free time and looked for a way the connect with nature and use the power of nature. Windsurfing was already a well know sport, and Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise wanted to add more freedom and speed. And so started the history of kitesurfing. The safe way to assume that kitesurfing dates back to 1977. The first patent was enclosed in October of 1977 but it is safe to say that Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise tested his ideas in the summer of 1977.

The first patent of kitesurfing dates back to 1977

Who invented kite surfing?

The Dutch surfer Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise was the first man to patent a sort that we know today as Kitesurfing. So we know him now as the inventor of kite surfing or kite boarding. His patent is from October 1977. As the picture above shows it the idea of a wind surfboard and a device to catch the wind.

When were the first Championships of kitesurfing?

The first championship in freestyle kite surfing was held back in September 1998 in Maui. The winner of the first championship was Flash Austin. After 1998 there were held more competitions and championships for kitesurfing. The main competition for kitesurfing changed some time from names the Freestyle PKRA/VKWC/WKL/GKA all made an almost year round competition and crown one surfer the champion. Here is a list of all the world champions of kitesurfing.

YearMenCountry
2020Maxime ChablozSwiss
2019Valentine RodriguezColombia
2018Carlos Mario BebeBrasil
2017Carlos Mario BebeBrasil
2016Carlos Mario BebeBrasil
2015Liam WhaleySpain
2014Christophe TackBelgian
2013Alex PastorSpain
2012Youri Zoon [nl]NL
2011Youri ZoonNL
2010Andy YatesAustralia
2009Kevin LangereeNL
2008Aaron HadlowEng
2007Aaron HadlowEng
2006Aaron HadlowEng
2005Aaron HadlowEng
2004Aaron HadlowEng
2003Martin VariArg
2002  
2001Martin VariArg
When was kitesurfing invented?

The first official documentation of kitesurfing is form 11 October 1977. This patent shows the idea of kitesurfing this is the start date of kitesurfing. but a lot have changed over the time.

Who invented kitesurfing?

Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise was the first surfer who combined a surfboard and a device to catch to wind back in 1977. Here for he is the Inventor and the first in history in the sport kitesurfing.
history of kitesurfing

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