--- In kitesnowboarding@yahoogroups.com, M Silva <teklife@...> wrote:
>
> On 7/20/06 4:40 PM, "jimge" <jimge@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Well, the boat determines most of where you go :-)
> >
> > But you have a certain amount of control of left/right/up/down by
> > shifting your weight around.
> >
> >
> Well, if you have a boat to guide you around, what¹s the point of
the kite
> then?
>
>
> --
> "The U.N. is a place where governments opposed to free speech
demand to be
> heard!" -Alfred E. Neuman (MAD Magazine)
>

Ok, here's how it works. The kite tube is basically just an
inflatable thing that sort of has the shape of an airfoil. It's
attached to the back of the boat by a tow rope. The boat goes about
30 MPH, and that generates enough airspeed over the surface of the
tube to generate lift. You ride on the back of the towable, and are
thus lifted into the air with it.

Think of it as parasailing, but you get to ride on the *back*
instead of hanging underneath. It's a lot more interactive than
parasailing, and a lot more fun,as it actually requires some skill
to not wipe out. (I've only been out on mine twice so far, and can't
wait to get out again...)

Check here for pictures and video:

http://www.sevylor.com/towables.html