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The view from Maui's north coast highway is never less than spectacular, but on this particular day it was breathtaking. Whizzing across the surf, doing back flips and 360s and hanging in mid-air were masters of the newest variation on water sports: kiteboarding.

Navigating between surfers and windsurfers, the kiteboarders were flying like dragonflies along the coast. This was the young face of the hip new sport that I'd been waiting to see.

Borrowing elements from surfing, paragliding and windsurfing, kiteboarding (also known as kitesurfing) is the most radical sport to emerge from beach culture in decades. Using a variation of a wakeboard, kiteboarders are attached to large kites, up to 10 metres wide, that use the wind to pull them across and above the water, and allow them to jump up to 20 metres in the air.

The concept sounds simple, but I was about to discover that the learning curve, especially with Maui's legendary trade winds, could be both steep and scary.

I'd spent months preparing myself to kiteboard in Maui. I'd learned the basics of flying a trainer kite at my home in the Canadian Rockies, and I'd watched videos that provided helpful tips for learning this intimidating sport. But nothing prepared me for the 30-knot winds I found when I arrived at Maui's Kanaha Beach, a mecca for devotees to the sport.

Although it's difficult to identify the true birth of the sport, most agree kiteboarding emerged in the 1980s when windsurfers in both France and Hawaii began exploring ways to go farther and faster using kites instead of sails. The sport has since evolved toward "freestyle flying" -- catching big air and performing aerobatic tricks.

Standing on the white sand, I peered through the blazing sunshine at kite masters showing off their stuff despite winds that looked as though they'd tear my limbs off. After surveying the situation, I retreated in fear to the parking lot.

Three days later, the winds still hadn't died down. I was told that, for a beginner like me, the conditions were far from ideal. Nonetheless, I convinced myself that it was now or never.

I had allowed myself only 10 days in Maui and the first seven had been spent being intimidated by the winds This could be my only chance. My friend Ian cheerfully agreed to give me a lesson, promising it wouldn't be too difficult.

The first step in kiteboarding is learning how to fly the kite on land. Actually, it's more like steering than flying. You learn where the most power is and how to get out of a hard yank when your kite finds the "power zone." Once you've got the basics down, you're ready for the beach.

In Maui, that means Kanaha Beach, known locally as "kite beach," where launching conditions are ideal, the wind is almost always steady and the horizon is dotted with colourful kites.

It's also a highly intimidating spot, with some of the world's top kiteboarders catching huge jumps in the air and landing with ease before doing it all over again. Everyone there looked like a pro.

Ian and I pumped the kite's inflatable bladders and stretched out the 30-metre lines. The kite took off in a flash. While he held it by the bar, I nervously got into position.

Ian worked his way into the chest-deep water, where there was enough resistance to the wind that I was able to take over. As soon as he handed me the bar, I was off, being dragged through the water by the kite's wind power.

I was yanked and tugged, and moving at a blistering speed toward the coral reef. The feeling was exhilarating and the warm water was heavenly. Heading out downwind from the beach toward the breakers, I crashed my kite a few times, and eventually turned around and headed upwind back to the beach, where Ian helped me "delaunch," or land the kite.

Even though I involuntarily consumed several litres of sea water and endured one yank that was so violent it lifted my entire body out of the water, the experience had been better than I'd ever dreamed it would be. I had harnessed the power of the wind, and using it to glide across the turquoise ocean was a liberating sensation.

We walked back up the beach and decided to give it another go. This time I had more confidence and strength, and even though the wind was so strong I could have been blown to Tahiti, I was able to control my kite and just relax and enjoy the ride.

I was flying like a dragonfly. And I was hooked.

If you go

Kiteboarding can be practised in any location where there's water and enough wind, including on lakes and along coastlines in Canada.

In Maui, the top school is the Kiteboard School of Maui. Beginner lessons start at $90 (U.S.) an hour. Phone: (808) 873-0015; Web: http://www.ksmaui.com.

In Canada, kiteboarding is growing in places such as Squamish, B.C., Wasaga Beach, Ont., and Lawrencetown, N.S.

Toronto Kiteboarding School offers beginner classes for $150 at both Cherry Beach and Ashbridges Bay. Phone: (416) 816-7534; Web: http://www.kiteaddict.com.

In Vancouver, AirTime Boardsports offers free two-hour introductory kiteboarding lessons. Phone: (604) 734-9463.

For general information about the sport, http://www.kiteboardingmag.com details the latest news and gear, and offers tips on getting started; or visit http://www.kitesurfcanada.com for information on kite schools and locations coast to coast in Canada.