A hand-held wing rig includes an inflatable front tube forming a leading edge and a rigid or inflatable center strut which together span a canopy. A radially projecting spoiler profile is formed approximately in the lower region of the leading edge. In use, the spoiler profile is tangentially flowed against, facing a user. Further disclosed is a kite including a spoiler profile formed approximately in the lower region of the leading edge, which is tangentially flowed against.

There is provided a wing sail comprising a first inflatable strut (10) extending in a width direction (Wd), a second inflatable strut (20) extending in a length direction (Ln) from the first inflatable strut, at least one handle (25, 26) mounted on the second inflatable strut, and first and second sail sheets (30, 35) that are spaced apart from one another in a height direction (He). The first inflatable strut (10) defines a leading edge (12) of the wing sail. The first and second sail sheets (30, 35) each comprise a front edge (35F) and a rear edge (35R) that are opposite to one another, wherein the front edges both connect to the first inflatable strut, and wherein the first and second sail sheets both extend rearwardly away from the first inflatable strut towards a trailing edge (40) of the wing sail.

Embodiments of the invention comprise woven multilayer textiles having shaped, enclosed, inflatable pockets, where the inflated textile carries tension, compression, torsion and/or bending loads. Composite structures incorporating such inflatable members or spars are also described and claimed.

A method for monitoring air pressure in a kite when kite boarding is described. The method involves a first step of connecting an air pressure sensor to one or more bladders of the kite. The method involves a second step of positioning a visual display for the air pressure sensor where it will be visible to a user conducting a visual inspection of the kite to display a pressure reading as sensed by the pressure sensor.

Disclosed is a hand held wing rig a center strut of which has recessed grips.

Disclosed is a hand held wing rig a center strut of which has recessed grips.

A hand-held wing rig includes an inflatable front tube forming a leading edge and a rigid or inflatable center strut which together span a canopy. A radially projecting spoiler profile is formed approximately in the lower region of the leading edge. In use, the spoiler profile is tangentially flowed against, facing a user. Further disclosed is a kite including a spoiler profile formed approximately in the lower region of the leading edge, which is tangentially flowed against.

A hand-held wing rig includes an inflatable front tube forming a leading edge and a rigid or inflatable center strut which together span a canopy. A radially projecting spoiler profile is formed approximately in the lower region of the leading edge. In use, the spoiler profile is tangentially flowed against, facing a user. Further disclosed is a kite including a spoiler profile formed approximately in the lower region of the leading edge, which is tangentially flowed against.

An illumination system for a kiteboarding kite that senses the position and orientation of the kite with respect to a rider and directs a beam of light at the rider's path. The illumination system is battery powered and mounted to a kiteboarding kite with an inflated leading edge. A processor executed program analyzes data from several sensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers, in order to quickly adjust the direction of a spotlight and avoid shining light into the rider's eyes. In addition, the illumination system may also illuminate the rider directly or areas of the kite.

A kite includes a frame including a leading edge support and a plurality of struts extending rearward from the leading edge support, a flexible main canopy attached to the frame and at least one flexible kite sizing section adjustably attached to the flexible main canopy. The at least one flexible kite sizing section is adjustable to change an area of the kite, including an area of at least a first wing tip section of the kite.