Kitesurfing is a half aerial and half aquatic sport that appeared in the 1980s. It allows one to glide through the water on a board similar to that of surfing towed by a kite. It was in 1984 that the Legaignoux brothers from Brittany filed the patent for their invention, officially giving birth to the discipline. Since then, several categories of kitesurfing - Freeride in complete freedom, Freestyle for artists, Waves for surfers, Foil in levitation above water, Long distance, and Speed for competitors - have been developed for competition or for pleasure, and the sector continues to evolve.