Pilot kite: traditional, single-line kite, starting at £5. They are available in any good sports or fancy goods stores.

Power kite: harness-held, multiline kite. Prices start from £140. The bigger they are, the more powerful they are. On a windy day, even the smallest power kite should propel you down the beach.

Kite buggy: three-wheeler driven by power kite and steered using foot pedals. Prices start at £300.

Mountain board: snowboard with wheels, attached to a power kite.

Surf-kite: alternative to windsurfing, using a partially inflated, power kite instead of traditional sail. Prices start at £250.

For further information contact: Skate City, 14 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin (tel 01-679 9900); Ed's Shedz Surf + Adrenalin, Tramore, Co Waterford (tel 051-386022); Troggs, Main Street, Portrush, Co Antrim (tel from the Republic 048-70825476) or go to www.kitesurfing.com.