CJW said...

Smithy said...
*snip
As for freestyle tricks in wave sailing, this is not new, have a look at Robby Naish way back when Adam was a boy, he was the master of freestyle tricks in the waves...

Yeah this is true, freestyle has always existed in the waves, to an extent, but there is a massive difference between gybing on a wave face and riding it backwinded/toeside and the 'new school' stuff the kids are throwing down now, most of the moves have only been invented in the last 5-10 years. Don't get me wrong Robby is a legend of the sport but it's progressed so far past his skill set it's not funny. The results we see today took the new style freestyle explosion started by the likes of R.Campello etal and their decision to push it into the waves.

What I still don't understand is why this hasn't happened in kiting?

The emphasis in kite wave riding at the moment is toward waveriding strapless and moving it toward surfing.
Kauli was also moving windsurfing closer to surfing when he was developing his very small twins and quads and using smaller sails. Trying to get back into the pocket better and use the wave power more.

In terms of aerials they are landing some strapless back loops now, but there will be limits on what they can do strapless as controlling the board in the air during rotations is very difficult.

There is some strapped wave riding where they do backloops or handlepass 360's and land back on the wave face.

I think windsurfers have the best aerials at the moment and they get back into the pocket way better than kiters can.

terminal said...
What I still don't understand is why this hasn't happened in kiting?

In terms of aerials they (kites) are landing some strapless back loops now, but there will be limits on what they can do strapless as controlling the board in the air during rotations is very difficult.

If you want to open your eyes and see someone doing double back loops strapless and massive punts on a kiteboard take a look at this! No windsurfer in the world could make 25 knots onshore look this fun, and he's only been kiting 3 years.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/kite-wave-byron/


Robby Naish saw the future when he got into kiteboarding :)

Check out Kai Lenny 4 in 1 now this guy knows how to do it all.Seen videos of him Kiting,windsurfing,sup,tow in and paddle surf jaws.When its all said n done just get out there n have fun...thats my thoughts

CJW said...

Hausey said...

No windsurfer in the world could make 25 knots onshore look this fun, and he's only been kiting 3 years.

Challenge accepted

Ok you got me this time, that guy Koster is a super freak!

That was an incredibly diverse display of moves....



But have a look at this young Australian, now kite world wave champ!

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Keahi-de-Aboitiz-Hawaii-Sessions-video/

aus301 said...

Hausey said...

If you want to open your eyes and see someone doing double back loops strapless and massive punts on a kiteboard take a look at this! No windsurfer in the world could make 25 knots onshore look this fun, and he's only been kiting 3 years.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/kite-wave-byron/


Robby Naish saw the future when he got into kiteboarding :)

Some pretty interesting comments here... to me that looked a little impressive but not as much fun as I would have windsurfing the same conditions, what you see as fun is defined by only you, and you would probably see that no windsurfing will ever look as fun as kitesurfing, just as the opposite is true for many of us pole surfers.

Sure Robby did see a future when he branched into kitesurfing, a future for his company, a future for another way to enjoy the ocean etc. Interesting how he never buys into these sort of arguments, instead choosing to ride anything he can and enjoy the ocean many different ways.

Kites aren't lame, nor are windsurfers. Lame is having a pissing contest about who is having more fun when at the end of the day I bet my smile is just as big as yours after a good session, and that's all that counts.

Yeh true, good points; it's all about fun at the end of the day, and sometimes that might be a newby getting up and going, or catching their first wave or whatever - they might be more stoked than anyone!

It's interesting that both Naish and Cabrinha are both big names in kiting and were both at the top in windsurfing. They both would have been stoked by kiting and the potential they saw with it.

I remember watching them both at Diamond Head back in 87 and 88 on a few big days and they were so much better than anyone else on that tack. Cabrinha was super smooth and really surfed the wave really well and I think invented the back loop. Naish was really versatile, more radical and tore the place to shreds.

I used to think kiting was crap; used to laugh at Laird Hamilton trying to do it in Hawaii in 93/94, and it was only when I watched a video of Naish at Gnarloo on a kite in around 2002 that I realised I was being judgemental - I windsurfed from 1979 to 2003, and have kited since!

They are both awesome sports and this post should be locked as it's no vs. It's a draw, anyone who enjoys either will know!

Did you see this link - kiting looks pretty cool don't you reckon?

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Keahi-de-Aboitiz-Hawaii-Sessions-video/

This thread is so pointless...

The interesting thing about this thread is that it started as a comparison between two sports with points of view being provided by participants of each about the validity of the other. There has been all sought of comments about strapped v unstrapped, wind direction, aerial prowess etc.

The simple fact is that these are 2 different sports and unless you participate at a competent level in both you will never really appreciate the differences and the degrees of difficulty of what you are seeing. A maneuver in one does not translate directly to the other. It is a bit like me as a windsurfer and kite boarder making comments on SUPing in surf, I know what I think looks hard or radical but really I don't have a clue...

As many have said in this thread, it's all about what is fun to each of us as individuals and what is radical for me to be doing will be mowing the lawn for someone else. At the end of the day a level of respect for all of these sports is all we should ask for (even SUPing...)

"Wavesailing v kiting "
Discussing it in the windsurfing forum??

Kind of like "rug making v Harley repair" in
The rug makers forum

No bias there

Smithy said...
The interesting thing about this thread is that it started as a comparison between two sports

this thread was started by a windsurfer with bad grammar who was looking to start a flame war between windsurfers and kitesurfers .

No sport is better than the other . Who gives a fark what kind of activity you do on the water as long as you love it and you come back into shore with a smile on your dial .

this is 2010


2 weeks ago

good rider hey

spot1 said...

this is 2010

2 weeks ago

good rider hey

Gotta admit, I certainly enjoyed watching that. Pretty sweet surfing skills- good power, speed and style. Cheers for sharing.

The kite waveriding strapless has progressed a lot on the last few years and its still progressing fast, which is good to see.

This is 3 years ago, but it shows kiters can squeeze a lot out of shorebreak waves in not a lot of space.

busterwa said...

pro Kite-surfers wouldn't even get close to this guys talent and footwork down the line!!! That video just shows how Poxy big wave kite-surfing really is.

F.. about 5 min 01 there's a jet ski in the tube that gets munched!

I've lways felt that baton twirling within rhythmic gymnastics was the highest end of radical sports? Maybe I'm just outa da loop on whats cool

How does Keahi keep the board with him in midair without straps???