Kite & Windsurf

Oops! Sorry. It's just that I thought from the photo and all,... ummm, well you know,... you're a fine looking lad and all but,.... ummmm, .

Damm. Now I just hate myself.

"But for the guys who think we should change over because it's getting so popular, remember the number of gays is increasing, but I'm not trying that either"

Not what I have heard Firie Bob

I shouldn't enter into a debate on a windsurfing forum being a kiter as I am just asking for it, but have to add my two cents......

I spent a quite a few years on the poley and then changed to the dark side as many kiters have and have an appreciation of both sides. I did so because the conditions at our local spot IMO are better suited to kiting as I (and other local kiters) seem to be on the water and planning more often than the poleys. I have certainly had more sessions as kiter in the past 5 years than I would have as a poley.

Still, I do miss those off the wind speed runs that can be done with control on the poley. Try and do the same on the kite to keep up with a mate on the poley and in even the smallest amount of chop and it always end up in disaster, a huge ball of spray as I kiss my arse in a tumbling mess as he flys past laughing

Yeah CJW, looks like you forgot to mention under kiting "pros" cheap air travel. Don't go kiting without your ruby slippers.

Have a look... and it's an old video...

Weeelll Mr Bonk, while you're not looking they're popping vulcans n willy skippers n body drags, n duck gybes n duck tacks n air tacks n hass tacks n backwinded tacks n diablos n lollypops n chachos n spocks n flakas n geckos n stopits n cowboys n 360s n speed loops n ponches n several hundred other things. Only you weren't looking. Those guys that were falling off were probably just learning the next trick.

Thats probably due two reasons. One; because windsurfing is more difficult to do, as has been mentioned above. Two; the average windsurfer isn't into tricks and stuff. They might be older and have no need to get rad.


Fact is in windsurfing, planing and going in a straight line is fun. Locked down and blasting is great and for many people thats all they want.

Doing the same on a kitesurfer would be boring.

There is no rule saying you have to do tricks or whatever.

Personally I first saw a kitesurfer in 1997 on the Gold Coast Broadwater. It was a very strong southerly wind and the guy was getting blown all over the place while I was having fun with my 4.4 sail. The kitesurfer was lucky not to get killed and ended up miles downwind. It looked dangerous and out of control.

Since then I've seen kitesurfing pick up during my windsurfing hiatus. The main thing I was interested in was how they gybe, which looks pretty simple. Having all that lift would be fun so if you enjoy that, good for you.

i used to windsurf years ago, way back then there were some great guys and some total tools. I have stopped windsurfing and now kitesurf. guess what, there are some grat guys and some total tools. seems like nothing much has changed except there are more people on the water now.

As for the hole surfing debate, i dont think it looks that great but spending a few hours trying to smash waves as well as i can is awesome.

I would also like to add that when in the waves i try to stay clear of surfers an d windsurfers as much as possible. especially the surfers.

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yea but my dick is bigger than yours

Swordfight!

hey MA, is that the aerial I landed? Can't remember. I got a few like that in that session

I mean I only added what I considered my pros and cons, other might have a different interpretation. Like I said also the list does come from a windsurfers perspective.

I think the reason you don't see many people doing tricks etc is because of the shear difficulty of them. As an example of the difficulty level between the two sports, i've seen someone with no windsurfing or sailing experience start kiting and over 2 seasons become a highly accomplished kiter, all the twirly tricks, kite loops etc. Now there is no way the same can be done in windsurfing. Over a season the average person would be lucky to pull off a carve jybe by the end of it. To learn the harder tricks requires extreme dedication, a lot of practice and a lot of patience which most people just don't have.

I think that is one of the real advantages of kiting is that people can really quickly see their progress and get something out of the sport, where with windsurfing a lot of people get frustrated and give up.

I agree that kiting is probably more suited to the average conditions we get here on the east coast as you need good wind to really get teh best out of windsurfing imo. There's a place for both sports, both have their appeal, I just prefer windsurfing...that's me :D

As for the variety of tricks, go check out www.continentseven.com Variety is the key word.

In response to Mr Bonk,a speed run followed by a jibe at the other end?
WHAT,there's another end? I've been looking for a year now and haven't found it yet,and jibe involves a catapult type manouver,yes?
Seriously though I like the co-operation between poleys and kiters at pelli point,lots of kites and boards and it seems to me only learner poleys end up in the kite area and only the really good kiters seem to enter the poleys run.
I figure most kiters realise the poleys in there area are struggling and make allowances to suit,and the kiters further upwind have the skill to negotiate the traffic jam.
Everybody seems to get along really well 99.9%of the time anyway.Love the sport and enjoy it agro free.Keep it up everyone.