For those that Kite and Windsurf - a question?

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked

How does kiteboarding feel different than windsurfing Question

I'm not as much referring to the obvious mechanical differences as I am how it feels to be out in the water.

I'm a long time boardhead who is seeing more and more folks that have windsurfed for years converting their wind-time to kiteboarding --- with fantastic reviews! I still love ripping up the swell at The Hatch or The Wall on a 3.7 day (while kiters are flying high on 7m's at Lyle) --- but as a beginner kiteboarder this summer, I'm curious how other boardheads have experienced the difference on the water between flying a kite and a sail...

One thing for sure as I've been dragging my ass around on my small 4 line trainer - y'all kiteboarders have been super friendly and helpful!

Kite or sail - it's ALL good!

stevegriffith22 · Since 14 May 2006 434 Posts Obsessed

If you look at it like motorcycles, I always figured it was like:

Windsurfing was like riding a hyabusa, you know, they hall ass and can smooth things out, and kiteing is like riding a super motard, up down, on and off the throttle, left right.....yeeee haa.

This being from my oh......two lessons on a sail board at scout camp....so really I don't even know if my opion counts Confused

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

kiteboarding is better than windsurfing

Bill D · Since 14 Jul 2007 11 Posts New Member

I still like windsurfing when it blows hard or wave sailing at the beach, but I was spending too much time on the beach watching string kiters having a good time when it blows 12 to 18. I decided to jump in and find it very addicting, similiar to when you first started to learn shortboarding.

Make sure you take some professional instruction and learn kite safety. The board skills should come pretty quickly for the basic stuff.

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

I POLEsmoked from 82-92 until one bad day at hookipa. I left it alone until 2003 for over 10 years until I got back on the horse with Kiteboarding.

For me kiting is about less equipment and way more jumping and tricks without the penalties of wakeboarding and flying without the risk of Parasailing or hangliding.

It it technical and scary for me to get BIG air on a sailboard. Kiting is no problemo to jump 5-10 feet. 20 feet ? Not that big a deal.

I think we are more comfortable in the air than in the water. Spins and tricks... keep trying. Something will give! Ouch.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

I still windsurf in really high winds 37mph plus, but kite on 7meter in 30's and down.

I'm 43 and windsurfed really hard for years in high winds. The interesting thing is that I like kiting in the light 20mph winds on my 11 meter TD II!!!

20 is the magic number for me and it feels really safe to kite in this condition on a regular basis.

Kiting is light because the kite is pulling you up and you can just hang out and surf the swell. It's like jibing on a wave you just surf it longer when you are on a kite.

Kiting feels lighter and you land jumps softer and the gear is lighter too.

I have not windsurfed since June of this year!

Very Happy

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

Kiting makes you smile. While I have not windsurfed, I have recently gone through the swells by the hatchery during the blowout and I did not witness a single windsurfer smiling. Maybe it was because they were pissed I was in the swell? Not sure but just an observation.

stringy

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Aug 17, 07 9:09 am

In terms of the FEELING, I can't speak too much about windsurfing because when I was trying to learn it, it felt like a big pain in the arse. So much gear and setup time and then you get out on the water and it is HARD. After about 6 sessions I said, it will take my years and years and years to get to a place that I would have fun doing it (ripping). b

You go to the hatch or the wall and some of those guys are absolutely killing it and it looks like radical fun. Then you realize that those guys have spent more than a decade on the water, living out of there vans to get that good.

So for me, kiting had a much "free-er" feeling right away. The board is small and light so you can whip it around, turning is easy, and you should be ablt to catch small airs within about a dozen sessions. It is also somewhat easy to progress in KB if you don't mind getting beat up a bit. I was trying some unhooked moves for the first time yesterday and admittedly ate shit several times. I felt like I was 90yo this morning.

So take some lessons and give it a try. I think the main thing it to be friendly, cool and watch out for everyone. As the launch spots get more and more and more crowded, people are going to have to put some effort into keeping the good vibes going.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

the really cool thing about kiting, in addition to all the above, is that you can pack it down. its very minimalist, and with the new bow-type kites, a one or two-kite quiver is possible. it all fits in the trunk of a midsize car.

i pack my trunk before work and wear my wetsuit under my clinic clothes. when the wind comes up, i'm good to go.

and the neoprene makes me feel sexy all over. Cool

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

hiker
I can tell you that kiting in the surf is just as much fun
if you are into carving GYBING turns with power
just like on the big stuff(windsurfer)

give it a couple yrs. and you become sooo lazy that all that gear will be impossible to pack around
but it looks good in the garage

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

It's all about attitude. Some windsurfers might be doing it out of habit and not even having that much fun anymore (or maybe they're angry about having to mow the lawn). I got windsurfing friends that are in their twenties/early thirties and they huck front and back rolls and tear the waves up. They usually have a big grin on their face and love to share the wave with their kiting buddies. I found a similar vibe at Punta San Carlos as well. I guess the hardcore riders just have more fun...and it's way easier to advance in kiting, hence more smiles.

Mad props to the HUCKER for his air, but what's up with the video just showing one move over and over? How about mixing it up a little?

pura vida one · Since 22 May 2007 80 Posts

for me boardsports are a lifestyle. snowboarding and skating have defined a large part of my life. i don't windsurf and definitely wouldn't exclude it from the boardsports category by any means, but it seem to be a different animal, a little more sailing(of course). i put kiting in w/ skate/snow/surf. the variety of styles, the manueverability, and the grabs are totally family w/ my lifetime on halfpipes, parks, cliffs and bowls, etc. i've had no inclination to windsurf but kiting was a natural crossover.