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.

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.

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.