Kitesurfing: the latest craze in extreme sports

Since the very dawn of time, man has longed to dominate its surrounding environment. This desire, joined to the hunger for new emotions, has given birth to a variety of extreme sports in the past few years; and even though many extreme sports have had short-lasting lives, others seem to be here to stay.

Kitesurfing, for example, has enjoyed a fast-growing popularity since it got to the United States in the late 90's; it is an exciting sport consisting of sliding over the waves with a board like those used for surfing, while being propelled by a huge, specialized kite. Making the most out of the speed reached thanks to the strength of the winds, and doing all sorts of amazing acrobatics, kiters surf over the unpredictable ocean while taking up to 65-feet-high jumps.

This extreme sport got to the coasts of Mexico in 1999 and has skyrocketed ever since. Nowadays Kitesurfing schools can be found all along the Riviera Maya and many other parts of the country. Kiters can be seen reaching for the sky in places like: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, but they can also be spotted in much more secluded places like: Xpu-Ha, Isla Blanca and Holbox.

Each year, several tournaments are hosted in different parts of the Mexican Republic to select the candidates who will fly to Hawaii in October to take part on the world's most important Kitesurfing competition known as "King of the Air". During this amazing event, professional kiters from Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Belgium, Germany and Holland and all over the world gather to provide spectators with a fascinating exhibition of stunts like no other.

It would seem this sport is destined to become the most spectacular of the new millennium, since its fast-spreading generates more adepts, better-quality equipment and more exciting competitions with each passing day.

If you are constantly seeking for new emotions, your next vacation in the Mexican Caribbean might be the perfect chance to try out this exciting sport.

Do not forget to take a beginner's lesson first; it is highly recommended to learn about protection gear and basic rules on take off, flight and landing of the kite. It is also recommended to count on the assistance of a professional instructor on your first flights before trying to do it by yourself.

Come to the Mexican Caribbean, and try out the latest craze in extreme sports!