Top competitors from the adrenaline-fuelled world of kite surfing are preparing to showcase their skills in Brighton and Hove.

The third round of this year's British Kite Surfing Association championship will be held off a stretch of shoreline dubbed Kite Beach, near the King Alfred Leisure Centre, Hove.

Kite surfing is a mixture of sports in which participants are blown up to 30ft into the air with a hybrid surfboard stuck on their feet.

Invented by a Frenchman, popularised by the Hawaiians and developed by the British, the sport is mushrooming into the latest global craze.

It combines elements of skateboarding, para-gliding, surfing, windsurfing and kite flying.

Among others, Jason Furness, from Hove, is credited with bringing the sport to the South Coast. He became the first person to kite surf the English Channel in 1999.

At the height of last summer, 68 kiters were out on the waves between Worthing and Brighton.

Jason said: "Brighton is definitely one of the homes of kite surfing, with me being the first to try it here in 1997.

"There are lots of places such as Shoreham and Lancing where it goes on and all along the coast it's huge."

A kite measuring up to 20m is used to power kiters, who stand on a cross between a snow and surfboard, which skims across the water at up to 35mph.

The most important skill is learning to control the kite, which not only acts as an engine but, crucially, helps with balance.

While it can take surfers and windsurfers months to acquire basic skills, kite surfers can do it in days.

Championship organiser Paul Donovan, from Hove's kite surf shop Boost, said: "A lot of local guys will be competing along with many international stars.

"It's the fastest growing watersport in the world, mainly because it is so accessible, doesn't need much wind or many waves and doesn't require a massive amount of talent to get a great amount of excitement."

As well as organising the event, Paul's shop sponsored the runner-up in last year's senior kite surfing championship, Shoreham's Kevin Maguire.

The 37-year-old, who took up the sport two years ago, said: "The real professionals can fly up to 60 feet in the air although we don't get that high in the amateurs or seniors."

Kevin will be among about 40 professionals and 30 amateurs competing at the championships, between May 22 and 25. Companies interested in sponsoring the event should call Boost on 01273 721100.