What exactly is kitesurfing?

It’s a combination of wind surfing, wakeboarding, surfing and kite flying. A rider is strapped by his feet to a board while holding on to a kite that flies overhead, giving him the speed to ride the water. It’s a relatively young sport, begun some 10-15 years ago, and one that seems to be gaining in popularity.

In the U.K., for example, the number of kitesurfers grew from about 12 in 1999 to about 7,000 today, according to the British Kite Surfing Association. Similar growth is happening worldwide. In the U.S., popular kitesurfing spots include the Gulf Coast, lakes in Michigan and the Gorge in Oregon.

Through Kite Billboard Inc., a new company out of Florida, advertisers will soon be able to have their message printed directly on kites, in an area ranging from 15-60 feet wide. The ad is visible up to 300 feet out on the water.

The sport is certainly catchy because of its relative novelty, as well the eye-catching jumps and tricks that the riders can do.

“It’s a spectacle,” he says Antonio Martinho, president of Kite Billboard Inc and a kitesurfer himself. “Wherever we are, crowds will flock.”

The company has a few advertisers already in line, says Martinho. The first kites are about to be produced and the company expects to deliver within the next month. And since the riders and the gear can easily travel, the service will be available nationwide.