My Dad does both, and he mostly kites in summer. And goes for the odd windsurf if it balistic, and windsurfs a little in winter.

shi thouse said...

As a windsurfer who is just about to enter the sport of kiting as well, I was hoping to hear from others out there who do both sports as well. I am interested in hearing how they go about their time allocation to both sports and how they make decisions based on which to do at each beach session.

I bought a kite for light winds only. Was certain that I would windsurf in 20 kts + ... 3 months later I had sold all my windsurf equipment and replaced it with a full quiver of kites



Rex

There's a guy at my spot who did the 'get a kite for light days' thing. I don't think I've seen him on his windsurf gear since

I gotta say I prefer my 4.7m2 and wave board (sailboard) in 20-25knots and a 3m peak and down the line wall. I wouldnt attempt it at my skill level on a kite.
I only kite in less than 22knots on a 10m2, in relatively small surf or flat conditions.

I await the flaming.

Some interesting feedback. I am passionate about windsurfing, but have always wanted to try kiting and to increase my time on the water. I love a days sailing in the waves, and admittedly have not seen a lot of kiting wave riding. Having recently bought a couple of kiting mags it is great to see that wave riding using boards (surf boards and no straps) is really where things are progressing in this sport (apart from sliding over bits of metal and ramps - not interested in that.)

A few years ago I was watching some kiting in Exmouth and the kites were still not truly 'riding' the waves. There was still a large element of them being pulled along the wave face by the kite. Changes in this evolving sport seem to be allowing for more of a surf & kite style rather than a straight kite & tea bag style.

Having windsurfed for about 15 years and started kiting in under 15 knots on a surfboard that I used to surf on years ago was so thrilling that I became completely addicted to kiting as the source of power for my sailing fix. I haven't windsurfed since and the only gear I have left is my wave sailboard that I have used in VERY light winds with a tiny fin on flat water. Heaps of fun and gets you out on the water as well as honing the kiteflying skills. Riding waves with a kite is not as easy as it looks and now I can go out in conditions that I would dream about going out in on a windsurfer but couldn't for lack of wind. No whitecaps, smooth conditions, don't hesitate shi house get in it. do it, sooo much fun......

windsurfing ha its time and place- mast high+ super gusty cross/off or real frontal gusty rain stormy cross-cross off, other wise kite and surf board is the way to ride waves when its windy! no wind and offshore no question?

Yep , after 18 yrs of windsurfing , got tired of always chasing elusive waves in Perth and discovered I could have a lot of fun in flatwater with a kite, sold all my windsurfing gear, started on directionals , then mutants and TTs, now partially following current fad of riding a surfboard, and again getting depressed as spending a lot of time chasing a few waves. Should have stuck to windsurfing! Kitesurfing definitiely more fun if you do a bit of freestyle as well, and dont limit yourself to waveriding only. Still love watching the windsurfers shredding waves though!

agree with that. still consider myself a windsurfer as well as kiter... but in truth i rarely break out the windsurf gear anymore... its too hard

i still think windsurfing in waves looks way better than kiting in waves. but im having fun on the kite and surfboard. and its close, but not quite the same.

I think the answer to this question relates directly to your level of windsurfing. If you are a competant wavesailor who can make of full advantage of down the line riding and smack solid lips, then you will never stop sailing. If you are Joe average blast about guy and never really sorted out how to windsurf well, then you will love the ease of which you can learn to kite and how quickly you progress.

I would still rather down the line wavesail in over 4 foot of surf any day, but if it is crappy surf or wind then kiting is a more rewarding experience.

I think the majority of people who say they used to windsurf but now only kite were never particularly good windsurfers in the first place.

Each to his own though and I think you will probably not sail so much for a few seasons and then go back to windsurfing more when you get tired of dangling around under a kite, or you miss the smack of a solid lip that you can only get on a sailboard.

DON'T prematurely sell you windsurfing gear. It will come back into fashion. Just like I thought guys would never wear tight jeans and pink shirts again after the eighties, and now it is frightening to see that fad coming back.

Jeff

You make a good point Jefferson. It is a rare day to get decent waves in Perth to sail on. We travel north to Gero & Exmouth every year just to get some decent waves in. I can't see myself getting out of windsurfing, purely because I love the thrill of a decent wave ride. Given all that, I currently live on Christmas Island and am limited to little or no waves at all. Trips to Cocos and Indo are on the agenda soon but even then, I am limited as to what gear I can take with me and that pretty well rules out windsurfing given the $10 cost per kilo over the 20kg limit they give you. Will see how my summer in Perth pans out with the kiting.

As for style...as a current supporter and fellow mo' bro for Movember, I would say that the 1970's porn star mo' I have may just make a fashion resurgence of its own. Then again, maybe not.

JEFFERSON said...

I think the answer to this question relates directly to your level of windsurfing. If you are a competant wavesailor who can make of full advantage of down the line riding and smack solid lips, then you will never stop sailing. If you are Joe average blast about guy and never really sorted out how to windsurf well, then you will love the ease of which you can learn to kite and how quickly you progress.

I would still rather down the line wavesail in over 4 foot of surf any day, but if it is crappy surf or wind then kiting is a more rewarding experience.

I think the majority of people who say they used to windsurf but now only kite were never particularly good windsurfers in the first place.

Each to his own though and I think you will probably not sail so much for a few seasons and then go back to windsurfing more when you get tired of dangling around under a kite, or you miss the smack of a solid lip that you can only get on a sailboard.

DON'T prematurely sell you windsurfing gear. It will come back into fashion. Just like I thought guys would never wear tight jeans and pink shirts again after the eighties, and now it is frightening to see that fad coming back.

Jeff

Quite a bold statement there Jefferson. So by your say so those of us gave it away were never good in the first place. I wish I had your ability to see across borders. I think you will find it was different for everyone. For instance trying to get wind and waves in SA is not easy. We aren't blessed with the conditions of those of you in WA. I enjoyed wave sailing as much as the next guy, still have gear just don't use it. But, given I can get more diversity out of kiting on any given day here without waiting for swell (which is non-existant on the metro waters anyway) and therefore without the traveling, kiting wins out. I wouldn't exactly say doing back loops and forwards indicates we weren't any good in the first place. [}:)]

I started windsurfing in 1980 and it probably was to a degree the focus of a lot of choices I made in life. chasing wind and waves and also moving to Perth from Adelaide. I thought I would never give it up as long as I could stand up straight.
Gave it all away in 2000.
Picked up my mates windsurfer about 2 weeks ago, and wanted to give it a quick go, after 4 years of not windsurfing, after having a great time all day on a 9 m kite, I couldnt even get this pile of heavy carbon / fibre glass on the plane.
He said theres not enough wind yet.......

im interested to know at what level most people were at windsurfing when they converted to kitesurfing???

i have see scott 1 time it was funny