FlickySpinny said...OK, I've got the picture. Nasty....
Most poleys are pretty cool with kites, but at the same time very wary of kites, mainly because we don't understand them.
In all honestly, they scare the living sh1t out of me and I give you guys a wide berth both on the beach and on the water.
This is mainly because I've over the years (I'm only 29 but been windsurfing since I was 15, and I've seen the development of kiting along the way) I've seen a couple of guys lose control of kites and seen 'em impact into the beach and I just don't want to be anywhere near when that happens! I know it's a rare occurance, etc, etc (although I don't know what causes it) - I'd just rather be a long, long way away when a learner loses control thanks!
Poley's aren't generally a bunch of haters (in fact, especially down here in Melbourne, you'll have to work very hard to find a more laidback bunch I reckon), but there's a bit of a sense of rivalry.
This partly comes from the fact that you guys can play in less wind than we can, and when it's blowing 14 knots we're watching you having fun whilst we're sat on the beach getting sunburnt.
However, it mainly comes from a windsurfer's most hated conversation, not for any real on-the-water rivalry...
(You guys will have a laugh at this...)
[Punter]: "So... you're a windsurfer?"
[Windsurfer]: "Yup" (pleased someone's taking an interest)
[Punter]: "Have you ever tried kitesurfing?"
It's cool the first dozen times, but by the time you've had that EXACT conversation at least once a month for five years it's enough to drive anyone to murder
So that (for me at least) is the only real rivalry - kitesurfing is a lot more high-profile / cool, and most poleys are pretty accepting of kites (albeit mainly in a "I'm staying the fk away from that" kind of a way).
Anyway, back to the point (there is one) - I spent a long time as a snowboarder and hating skiers because they did things that I thought stupid or unpredictable... then a mate took me sking, and I began to understand their stupid and unpredictable movement down a hill (and also understanding why skiers don't like snowboarders)
So I'd rather understand everyone and be cool with the fact that people do things in different ways, in the hope that when I fk up on the water (and seeing as I dive, sail, surf, windsurf, wakeboard, etc, it surely is only a matter of time) someone will come and fish me out rather than laughing at me.
Laters...
) and you might save someone from an accident.
