Snowkiting


Book Description

Skiing and snowboarding are dangerous enough. Bringing the unpredictableness of the wind into it is truly for daredevils. Snowkiting provides an incredible new kind of rush to the snow sports. Catching the wind with a kite gives extreme athletes a chance to take flight for a bit while using a snowboard-like blade to cut through the snow. From learning the basics to watching the pros in action, readers see how dangerous and thrilling snowkiting is, and how they can learn it for themselves, if they dare.




Kiteboarding and Snowkiting


Book Description

Though kites have been around for centuries, only recently have they been used for surfing and snowboarding, creating the exhilarating new sports of kiteboarding and snowkiting. Kiters experiment with new tricks and can even display their talent at internationally sanctioned competitions. Along with that thrill, however, there is an element of danger. Participants need to take the appropriate safety measures, such as using proper equipment and checking weather conditions. When approached and handled correctly, kiteboarding and snowkiting are activities that can be enjoyed to the extreme.




Extreme Sports Medicine


Book Description

This technically oriented book on medicine as applied to extreme sports offers broad coverage of the field extending well beyond the usual focus on major trauma and acute injuries. In addition to the injuries and diseases associated with individual extreme sports, this book also addresses the topics of psychology, dermatology, ophthalmology, infectious diseases, physiology, nutrition, training, injury prevention strategies, rehabilitation, doping, treatment in hostile environments, and legal aspects. Innovative and less frequently considered topics are also discussed, such as recent advances in protective equipment and materials, the effects of exposure on whole-body vibration, and cold exposure risk management. More than 60 of the most authoritative experts from across the world have contributed to this book, drawing on their personal experiences and including practical examples whenever relevant. Both subject matter and illustrations have been selected with the utmost care, the latter including photographs of world-class athletes.The book’s multidisciplinary approach to the subject ensures that it will be relevant to a wide readership.




The Kiteboarding Manual


Book Description

Your complete practical guide to this fast-paced and addictive sport. Kiteboarding has gone from strength to strength over the last few years, and interest is only set to increase with its inclusion in the 2024 Paris Olympics. In this book, Andy Gratwick (Head of Training for British Kitesports) gets you started with the kite and takes you through to flying it on the water, jumping, tricks and racing, as well as covering weather, wind and tide theory, and helping you select the right kit. Sections cover: - The origins of kiteboarding and massive rise in popularity in recent years - How a kite flies and basic weather principles as well as background on tides and currents, waves, and wind vs tide - Getting started on land – LEI rigging, assembly, launching and flying, body-dragging - How to master your board skills – turns, stopping, rules of the road - Going upwind, riding toeside, turning and transition - Moving fast and riding waves; learning to tack and gybe - Details on all kiteboarding disciplines from speed kiting to kiting on land - How to improve your performance and enjoy incredible airtime! For this second edition there's a new chapter devoted to all things foiling, as well as new text on latest kit, more effective techniques, tips on higher jumps, and new photography throughout. Packed with step-by-step photo sequences explaining the basic moves all the way through to more advanced tricks, and including information on competitions and becoming an instructor, this is a book no kiter will want to be without.




Extreme Snow and Ice Sports


Book Description

Extreme snow and ice sports--such as snowboarding, skiing, ice climbing, snowmobiling, and sledding--can put you on the edge of your seat. Slide in and explore the world from the view of an extreme athlete.




Serious Leisure and Nature


Book Description

Leisure activities undertaken in nature are immensely popular. This book examines the new serious leisure concept of nature challenge activity (NCA), exploring how NCA unfolds in an aesthetically appealing natural environment with implications for consumption and environmental sustainability.




Kitesurfing


Book Description




thekitespot.com GUIDE TO KITEBOARDING


Book Description

"Thekitespot.com GUIDE TO KITEBOARDING: From Complete Beginner to Independent Rider" is more than just a book- it is the ultimate resource for anyone eager to embark on an exhilarating journey into the world of kiteboarding. Written by Samina Laurinaityte, a senior BKSA kiteboarding instructor and founder of thekitespot.com, this step-by-step guide takes you on a systematic progression from beginner to independent rider. No more confusion when it comes to selecting the right equipment. Say goodbye to feeling overwhelmed by wind forecasts and understanding the nuances of wind patterns. Bid farewell to the frustration of grappling with kite control and safety techniques. Samina understands the pain points and challenges beginner kiteboarders face and addresses these common hurdles head-on, providing clear explanations, practical tips, and troubleshooting advice to ensure a seamless learning experience. With a focus on practicality and progression, this book is designed to follow the steps of your lessons and each chapter is carefully crafted to build upon the previous one, ensuring a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. Book Overview: Chapter 1 - Introduction to Kitesports Discover what to expect from kiteboarding lessons and learn about the learning progression from a beginner to an intermediate rider. This chapter also addresses frequently asked questions that beginners often have before diving into the sport. Chapter 2 - Equipment 101 Learn about different kite shapes, control bar terminology, twintip board features, harness types, wetsuits, and other essential accessories. This chapter provides you with the knowledge to understand the terminology and make informed gear choices. Chapter 3 - Wind & Forecast Develop the skills to read wind direction, identify wind features and local effects, determine wind strength, understand water movements and tides, and interpret wind forecasts. This chapter empowers you to make informed decisions based on wind conditions. Chapter 4 - Kite Control & Safety Dive into the aerodynamics of kites, explore the Wind Window, learn kite control terminology, discover the importance of the sweet spot, find safe kiteboarding locations, and understand essential safety procedures such as self-rescue and packdown. Chapter 5 - Practice Learn how to launch and land kites, perform body dragging exercises, execute board starts, improve upwind riding, and enhance overall control on and off the water. This chapter provides practical exercises and techniques to refine your skills. Chapter 6 - Equipment 201 Discover what to consider when buying your first gear, explore suitable kites and boards for your progression, learn how to optimise kite performance, and gain insights into maintaining and caring for your equipment. Chapter 7 - Independent Rider Explore international hand signals, understand 'right of way' rules, practice kiteboarding etiquette, learn how to assist other riders, master self-launching and landing techniques, and gain confidence to ride independently. This chapter also includes a helpful checklist to assess your readiness for independent kiteboarding. With "thekitespot.com GUIDE TO KITEBOARDING" as your trusted companion, you'll gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become an independent kiteboarder and embrace the joy that learning kiteboarding brings.




Off the Edge


Book Description

“A deep dive into the world of Flat Earth conspiracy theorists . . . that brilliantly reveals how people fall into illogical beliefs, reject reason, destroy relationships, and connect with a broad range of conspiracy theories in the social media age. Beautiful, probing, and often empathetic . . . An insightful, human look at what fuels conspiracy theories.” —Science Since 2015, there has been a spectacular boom in a centuries-old delusion: that the earth is flat. More and more people believe that we all live on a pancake-shaped planet, capped by a solid dome and ringed by an impossible wall of ice. How? Why? In Off the Edge, journalist Kelly Weill draws a direct line from today’s conspiratorial moment, brimming not just with Flat Earthers but also anti-vaxxers and QAnon followers, back to the early days of Flat Earth theory in the 1830s. We learn the natural impulses behind these beliefs: when faced with a complicated world out of our control, humans have always sought patterns to explain the inexplicable. This psychology doesn’t change. But with the dawn of the twenty-first century, something else has shifted. Powered by Facebook and YouTube algorithms, the Flat Earth movement is growing. At once a definitive history of the movement and an essential look at its unbelievable present, Off the Edge introduces us to a cast of larger-than-life characters. We meet historical figures like the nineteenth-century grifter who first popularized the theory, as well as the many modern-day Flat Earthers Weill herself gets to know, from moms on vacation to determined creationists to neo-Nazi rappers. We discover what, and who, converts people to Flat Earth belief, and what happens inside the rabbit hole. And we even meet a man determined to fly into space in a homemade rocket-powered balloon—whose tragic death is as senseless and absurd as the theory he sets out to prove. In this incisive and powerful story about belief, Kelly Weill explores how we arrived at this moment of polarized realities and explains what needs to happen so that we might all return to the same spinning globe.




Moon Tahoe


Book Description

California outdoors expert Ann Marie Brown provides you with the essential details needed to discover all of the can't-miss sights, attractions, and restaurants in and around Tahoe. Ski Squaw Valley's renowned slopes, hibernate in a cozy South Shore cabin, dine in Tahoe City, or hike the Tahoe Rim Trail—Brown will help you maximize your time with her insider's tips no matter which of Tahoe's offerings you choose to take advantage of. Including creative trip ideas for a variety of travelers, such as "Top Picks for Families," "The Nonskier's Winter Wonderland," and "The Adrenaline Junkie," Moon Tahoe gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.