In 1984, Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux started to sketch and experiment with kite theory and the plausibility of actually using a kite for realistic use such as going upwind. Early stage prototypes involved 2 line kites with battens and a bar with reels on either end. the brothers experimented with stacking kites but later realized that a single kite would be more efficient, and an inflatable frame would be better than rigid battens. The legaignoux brothers built the first inflatable kite in oct 1984. The first patent on a inflatable kite was Nov 16,1984. Early stages the brothers used skis rather than a board. In 1990 Peter Lynn pioneered Kite buggying. Peter Lynn use a three-wheeled buggy and a 2 line parafoil power kite. Cory Roesler patented the Kiteski which was a two line delta kite on a control bar implementing reels and a pair of water skis.

By 1998 kitesurfing had become a mainstream sport, and several schools were teaching kitesurfing. The first competition was held on Maui in September 1998 and won by Flash Austin.

French kitesurfer Sebastien Cattelan became the first sailor to break the 50 knots barrier by reaching 50.26 knots on 3 October 2008 at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia. The outright sailing speed record has since been claimed by the French trimaran Hydroptère which, on 4 September 2009, reached a speed of 51.36 knots over 500 meters. Eric Gramond set the distance record when he went 419.9 km (226 Nmilles), crossing from Fortaleza to Parnaiba in Brazil during 24 hours on October 12, 2008. Kiteboarder Sebastien Cattelan was the first sailor to break the 50 knot barrier with a spean of 50.26 in October 2008. The current sailing speed record is held by Trimaran Hyrdoptère with the speed of 51.36 achieved in September 2009.