Kitesurfing, simply put, is an extreme sport wherein "by using a large, powerful kite for propulsion, and standing or sitting on some form of transportation [usually a board similar to ones used in wakeboarding], the kitesurfer is able to reach high speeds and perform amazing and exhilarating stunts" (WiseGeek.com). It is a sport like no other, and it attracts a plethora of people, including the rich and famous.
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| Imgage Source: miamikiteboarding.com |
Why the rich and famous?
Kiteboarding is an expensive sport, with boards ranging from $499 to $1,200, and kites ranging from $499 to $1,500. A typical kiteboarding gear is worth around $1,500 to $3,000. Kiteboarding lesson costs are also factored in, as the sport is very difficult to learn without help from a pro.
Another reason is that kitesurfing requires extensive traveling, as kiteboarding locations are usually in exotic, remote locales around the world. Offshore Odysseys lists the following as the best locations for the sport: the Marshall Islands, Cargados Shoals in Mauritius, Pohnpei and Kosrae in Micronesia, Anakao in Madagascar, and Raivavae in French Polynesia. These places are so remote that most are only accessible by yacht.
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| Image Source: surfertoday.com |
But the best reason why kiteboarding attracts the rich and powerful is that it gives them a taste of the things that only they are familiar with—risk, high stakes, and flux.
For technology tycoons, like Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and noted business leaders and investors, like Sir Richard Branson and Alex von Furstenberg, kitesurfing is a sport for those who are willing to take risks and challenge the elements.
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| Image Source: wsj.com |
Alex von Furstenberg is the founder and chief investment officer of Ranger Global Advisors, a family office focused on opportunistic value-based investing. The firm’s website offers more information about him.
