A three-day event on the Western coast brings together professionals and beginners to boost the sport India's first kiteboarding event, the Red Bull Quila surf, begins today at the Mandwa beach in Raigad, about 105 km from Mumbai.

The 3-day event aims to kick-in interest in the sport by bringing together amateur and professional kiteboarders in India, to have their kites flying high in the salty winds and their boards gliding over the waters of the Arabian Sea. Ines Correia, Portugal's top ranked kiteboarder and 2011 Women's World Kiteboarding Champion, will be judging the participants on the basis of their manouvers, speed and attitude. The selected participants will get a chance to kiteboard with Ines at the Murud-Janjira Fort, a kilometer off Mandwa beach. The participants will go through a two-day skill enhancement program with Ines giving them tips on improving their kiteboarding techniques.