The San Francisco Bay Area is an environment whose weather and landscape provide numerous opportunities for athletes performing on water or land. Among the many events and opportunities the Bay Area provides, kite boarding stands out as a unique, yet dangerous way to enjoy the bay.

Kite boarding consists of a parachute-like kite that drags the surfer along the water while standing on a board similar to a wakeboard. The main factor that distinguishes a pleasant ride from one that drags surfers onto rocks, is the wind. The direction and velocity of the wind are pivotal for a surfer to evaluate before heading out to sea.

“It’s dangerous for surfers to underestimate the power of the wind, especially for many rookie surfers,” said Australian visitor Phillip Greene.

Besides finding the perfect balance between the wind and the waves, kite surfers must also find a way to pay for the expensive equipment, with a nice kite costing around $1,600.

“The equipment gets expensive yes, but there are many people such as myself who think it’s worth it.” Greene said.

Kite boarding locations have sprung all around the bay area, from Berkeley, San Francisco and Oakland to the other side of the Peninsula such as Foster City and Burlingame. These locations are usually hotspots around evening hours, starting at around 3 p.m., which is usually when the wind picks up and lasts as late as 7 p.m. and sometimes later.

Although kite boarding tournaments have yet to receive the same media attention as big players like the National Football League, several nationwide organizations host a series of tournaments throughout the year in hopes of attracting the public and sparking interest in yet another sport that lives on without full media attention.