Unhook3d said..

Hi there poleys,
Just a question after a thought whilst part way thru a good downwinder last Friday.
Why do I never see any windsurfers doing downwinders?
Is it purely because of the logistics of the equipment required? Or something else I haven't thought of?
Or both?

We like to sail across and upwind also. Why are kiters obsessed with downwinders?

i think it would be faster for me to sail up wind that de rig and drive

Unhook3d said..

Hi there poleys,
Just a question after a thought whilst part way thru a good downwinder last Friday.
Why do I never see any windsurfers doing downwinders?
Is it purely because of the logistics of the equipment required? Or something else I haven't thought of?
Or both?

I reckon it's mindset. Windsurfing is a solo sport. When you first learn, you do everything by yourself and nothing changes. Kiting on the other hand is very communal. When you first learn to kite, you need people to launch you and land you, so from the very start of learning the sport, it involves team work and support. I reckon it's a logical step to have an event where you sail somewhere and have somebody pick you up. Yes, compact equipment is an important factor I reckon.

There's something most kiters don't take into account and that's speed. A downwinder would be over in 15 mins followed by derigging, packing, transport. Too much bother for too little reward.

pretty simple really Unkook3d, as a dude that can do both. windsurfing is all about trim and angle. the machine that is a windsurfer goes like the clappers with lift from the fin. whether it be a tight tack to windward, a beam reach (across the wind) or a broad reach (downwind) so you have the luxury of staying in the same place.

upwind on a kite is all about digging your heels in and controlling your speed, you displace heaps of water as apparent by the large wake you throw out behind your board and going across the wind still requires heaps of heel pressure and you still have to control your speed so you don't bounce.

..but then...wait for it.downwind you can ride the board flat and the heel pressure is released and the board starts to handle like a windsurfer and becomes loose and responsive and you start to get the "dolmio grin" that you see on windsurfers all the time!..and then your girlfriend begrudgingly picks you up in the car.

both sports are great!!!

Been doing coast runs for 20 years or so, never called them down winders but they are similar. What I always think is odd how much of a hurry the kiters seem to be when they are going downwind, they also seem to hug the beach a lot more than we do. Sometime looks like they are just getting dragged through the beach break but whatever floats your boat I guess. The good thing is they dont get in your way for long as blink and they are gone. Lately the ski guys are more of a worry as they can be difficult to spot and sometimes there are heaps of them, but useful as shark decoys.

We always take our time and enjoy all the spots along the way. A bit more logistics involved than doing it on a kite (Cant use a bus to get back) but after a lot of years its pretty simple.

Used to take $10 in case I needed a Taxi back and only ever used it once (got in quick before he noticed how wet and sandy I was). Used to do Floreat to Brighton but dont bother with that anymore either as its a pretty boring run and too much traffic.

Can highly recommend it to windsurfers, getting onto a sea/swell and riding it for a Km is a great feeling and keeping away from crowds is great. Only negative is you get out of the habit of checking around you before jybing which can be a bit embarressing if you are around others. Some of the spots offshore actually have some nice ramps and faces on a good day and being deep water theres a lot less to go wrong.

If I cant get a car arranged I sometime do the sail upwind first and then go down wind but thats a lot more work and needs better wind, downwind you can get away with bad wind and still get going.

Since getting a GPS dont go as far off shore (once I realised it was more than 2Km I figured I wouldnt go out there all the time).

heres one from a couple of years ago, this normally takes about an hour or so and is an easy drive/park etc...




and this was my effort at writing www.seabreeze.com.au, just got the www done (this was upwind).

Why are kiters so intrigued by what windsurfers do?
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Do-windsurfers-do-downwinders/?SearchTerms=Downwinder

Found greenleader's perspective interesting

One day I will do the whole surfing between locations thing. I'm planning to go to Lake Garda in Italy this September. Have been there lots, but never knew how to windsurf before. I'm sure you can sail between the towns around the lake there. At least between say, Riva, Torbole and Limone, which all have beachy areas and are relatively close.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Do-windsurfers-do-downwinders

This thread was going a few months ago.

I am a big fan of downwind/coast runs.

Clarence

and take friends on your downwinder!

I don't know about kiting but wouldn't windsurfing downwinders be murder on your legs? I was reading an article by Guy Cribb and he said he had to pull out of one. ( he did say he wasn't that fit at the time)
He said a double rearstrap is murder on your legs and you're better off with a single strap and stand as upright as possible so your legs don't cramp.