Kiteboarding, also called kitesurfing, pairs a small board with a large power kite. The rider wears a harness hooked to a control bar, steers the kite through the wind and lets it pull them across the water, and experienced riders use that pull to launch into big, floating jumps. It's mostly done at beaches, bays and lakes with steady wind, though the same idea works on snow and on land with special boards and buggies.

Watching an expert makes it look easy. It isn't, at least not at first. A kite that size produces serious pull, and learning to control it is the whole first stage. Nearly everyone learns at a kiteboarding school with certified instructors, usually starting with a small trainer kite on the beach, then body dragging through the water behind the kite, then getting up on the board. Expect several lessons over more than one day before you ride on your own.

The Date Activity

If you're both adventurous, booking a beginner lesson together makes a memorable and very physical date. You'll spend plenty of time watching each other get dragged around, which is good for laughs. If one of you already rides, resist the urge to teach your date yourself. Book a proper lesson and enjoy being the one cheering from the sand.

Kite beaches are great places to watch, too. On a windy afternoon the sky fills with bright kites and riders jumping the chop. Make a beach day of it, then stay for sunset and dinner. If kiteboarding looks like a bit much, windsurfing and surfing are other ways to spend a day on the water.

On Your Own / With Friends

Kiteboarding has a tight-knit beach community, and riders routinely help each other launch and land their kites. A group of friends learning together can keep each other motivated, and some schools run multi-day camps in reliably windy places. Even experienced riders follow one rule, though: don't go out alone. Ride where other people are around, and make sure someone on shore knows you're out.

Good to Know

Take lessons from a certified school before you buy any gear. Schools usually supply the kite, board, harness, helmet and impact vest during lessons, and they can help you choose equipment later. You need to be a confident swimmer. Lessons depend on the wind, so they're often rescheduled when it's too light or too strong, which means keeping your plans flexible. Avoid gusty conditions and offshore wind, which blows you away from land. Check local rules, since some beaches limit kiting to certain areas or seasons to keep swimmers safe. A wetsuit suited to the water temperature and plenty of sunscreen round out the kit.