Quiz Question: Which famous American surfer is credited for popularizing the sport of kiteboarding?
The given options are:
- Kelly Slater
- Garrett McNamara
- Laird Hamilton
Correct Answer: Laird Hamilton
Info: Laird Hamilton is considered one of the best surfers in the world even though he’s never won a traditional surfing competition. Since the 1990s he’s been a watersports pioneer, helping invent tow-in surfing, which made it possible to surf giant waves previously deemed unrideable. The technique allowed him to become the first to surf Jaws, the now famous surf break off the north shore of Maui. Hamilton was an avid practitioner of kiteboarding when it was still an experimental sport—he helped refine the equipment and also demonstrated various maneuvers. Most recently, he helped innovate the use of foil boards for kiteboarding—the hydrofoils allow boarders to ride in lighter winds and use smaller kites than traditional setups.