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#ilPOLIMIrisponde: How does a kitesurf fly?

Riccardo Mereu, Professor of Innovative Technologies for Energy.

Riccardo Mereu

Kitesurfing is a wind-based sport where the kiter can travel on water or snow propelled by  a large kite connected directly to the kiter.

The kite has an aerodynamic shape similar to the wing of an aircraft wing; the upward force of  the wind into the kite – lift – counteracts the downward force of weight  – drag of the kite – and is added to the thrust, i.e. the traction  given by wind itself.

There are several parameters that affect the way a kite flies.

Riccardo Mereu, Professor of Innovative Technologies for Energy, explains them.

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