Kiteboarding, billed as the fastest Olympic sport, makes its Games debut Sunday. The foiling kitesailors will be racing around the course, trying to stay clear of wipeouts and avoid crashing. The discipline, which includes separate races for women and men, is two out of the 10 sailing events being held on the Mediterranean near the city of Marseille.

What is KITEBOARDING exactly?

Kiteboarding has many different strands. Some of them can include riders performing tricks and jumping in the air.

The athletes, who are wearing safety helmets, "fly" on foils above the water while standing on a board that has straps on their feet.

The riders use harnesses that allow them to lean forward, causing their boards to tip at angles which can sometimes appear impossible. They race up 80 km/h (50 miles per hour) at high speeds.

The board has a foil-covered long keel attached to it. This helps lift the board from the water. The kites can be controlled with a control rod.

Kiteboarders, like sailors, race on a set course around buoys, trying not to tangle with one another's strings, or let the bright, colorful kites that power them fall into the water.

World Sailing describes the Olympic kite racing class Formula Kite as being a hydro-foiling, high performance race. The kite isn't a one-design like some other sailing classes. Competitors can choose between approved production gear.

Max Blom CMO North Actionsports Group, and Mystic Co-founder told us that foil racing is not the largest segment of the sport but it has grown to be the equivalent to Formula One.

Who are the leading kiters? Max Maeder, from Singapore, is the world champion in the men's category and currently tops World Sailing ranking. Maeder said that kiteboarding was like playing chess while driving a race car.

Valentin Bontus, Austria, Denis Taradin, Croatian Martin Dolenc, and Riccardo pianosi of Italy are the other four men who make up the top 5. France's Axel Mazella is being closely watched as he ranks ninth.

Daniela Moroz, a woman from the United States, leads World Sailing's women's rankings. She is followed by Lauriane nolot, a Frenchwoman, Eleanor Aldridge of Britain, Breiana Whitehead, an Australian, and Gisela pulido borrell, a Spaniard.

What is the race format?

Here's where things get a little complicated.

The first series consists of 16 races, which are usually two laps long. Top two kiters at the end qualify for the final. The eight kiters in the third to tenth place go to the semifinals.

The International Kiteboarding Association explains that the objective is to win three races in the semi-finals. In each semi-final, the higher-ranked competitor carries two race victories over. The second-placed participant in each semi final carries one race victory.

Finals can range from one race up to six.

The kiteboarder who starts second will have only one race win, while the first has two. It is the goal to win three races. The competition ends as soon as an athlete achieves it. Reporting by Alexander Smith, Editing by Alison Williams

(source: Reuters)