Kites

Since the dawn of time, man has known about the power of harnessing the winds. Some have even speculated that the ancient Egyptians used kite power to help build the Great Pyramid. Kitesurfing combines kiteflying with wakeboarding, surfing and windsurfing to make the world's fastest growing extreme sports.

Yes, you can go tack, jibe and sail upwind!

Kites go from 3m training kites through to a huge 25m, with inflatable bladders along the leading edge to not only keep their shape and keep you powered-up but also to keep them afloat for the inevitable water-landing.

The size of the kite you need depends on your weight, and the strength of the winds, so it's not unusual for experienced kite-surfers to have three or more kites to choose from, depending on the conditions. Some kites are so powerful they can lift a grown man tens of feet into the air, especially when exploding off the lip of a wave.

When packed up, will fit in a bag around the size of around a sleeping bag, so you don't need a van or a ute to carry your gear around.