As usual JP ripping it up, that guy has got the most awesome style. I love watching him sail big waves, no-one does it better i recon and the kiter well he went straight then he really cut loose and went---------------straight. I know it would take big balls to even get out there but beautiful lay down turns and wicked cut backs vs well, going straight, different league.
Looks to me like the wind was to off shore for a kite ,and he couldn't depower enough to get down the face.JP certainly makes it look easy !
its' been a while since this sort of thing was discussed, and the best of windsurfing still eats the best of kitesurfing for breakfast
What I don't understand with kiting is why they stick to their surfing stance, IE natural side for Wilson at that break. To me it seems like a pretty stupid thing to do, we sail both stances, obviously because we have to, but it allows you a lot more power down the line and cutting back off the lip...I don't understand why they don't do the same.
Is Ben Wilson a good kitesurfer or just some punter who happened to be there on the day?
Polakow was awesome as he always is in big surf!
on this day there is no question windsurfing looked better than kite surfing.
Different day, different conditions and it could be a different story.
Also consider that Ben Wilson is not to kite surfing what JP is to wind surfing, he is good, but not the same. Watch some video of sunny coast ripper Keahi De Aboitiz, he is up there with the best at surfing with a kite and rips.
I don't kite surf, but can appreciate when it is done well.
Awesome footage of Polakow, the best wavesailing footage I've seen. Polakow used to be better on the other tack couldn't have looked more comfortable out there is some of the heaviest waves ever. IMO windsurfing is easier in big waves as the size and the weight of the board makes it more suited to the size of the wave, and you can oversheet the rig to control the power and use the speed of the wave to position yourself better.
Kiting is much harder to do switchfoot, and once you've progressed to the waves it's almost impossible to convert to switchfoot after you've caught a few the way you surf. Also with a bigger 'sail' about 20 metres higher and with so much apparent wind you can't oversheet like windsurfing and can only push the bar away to change the angle of the kite to marginally depower it a little, and you loose your steering to a certain extent. Just for the kiter to be out there in position catching those waves was a huge gutsy effort for Wilson, though it would have been good to see a top goofyfoot kiter at it.
So, it's not often windsurfing looks better than kiting nowadays is it, but it sure can sometimes!
I like watching some of the Kite Surfers but watching JP hitting the lip, jumping etc. and actually having fun on the wave not just going as qldnacra says...............Straight. Go the Windsurfers.
Windsurfers still use the wave best in big waves and in very offshore winds but the kitesurfers have been getting a lot better in the smaller stuff.
Windsurf jumps in the waves can be much more impressive than what kiters do jumping.
This is roughly where kiters have progressed to.
2010 windy onshore conditions and mostly strapped.
All I saw was yet more video proof that poledancers still dont get the right of way rules in the waves, dropping in on the surfer,,,,soft.
Watching these made me wonder at a similar level and conditions which sport requires more fitness? Also how do the kitsurfers stay on the boards when they don't have straps? That must be hard?
While I'm one of the first people to take a pun at kite boarders I wouldn't agree that kite boarders are necessarily worse or better than windsurfer in waves.
Search for Marcus Jamieson and One Eye Mauritius. That guy knows how to rip. He calls it "going for the roof" aka going so deep on the breaking wave that you get the board up side down. There aren't many windsurfers in the same league.
That's pretty impressive .How the hell do they keep with the board in the air when they aren't hanging onto it! 
I personally believe the person who comes in with the biggest grin is the better sailor.
All this windsurfing is better than kiting (and vice versa) is like standing at the trough looking left and right wondering what everyone else is holding.
As a long time ex windsurfer I would like to say Windsurfing is always going to rule in big waves.
The atraction of kiting is that you can rip up a small 3ft wave and still have massive fun which just doesnt work with a windsurfer.
The stance thing and strappless is a bit of a mindset problem. If you drive a two wheel drive on the beach you will get bogged and its not much fun, some kiters cant see beyond strapless and stance.
Its like saying only strapless windsurfing is legit because its closer to surfing, pathetic.
As long as kitesurfing doesnt set itself free and embrace that you could do massive freestyle combined with waveriding strapped and create a sport respected instead of constantly looking over the sholder to see what surfers are doing and trying to emulate that sport
Nice vid Spock, really shows the difference in big perfect conditions. To be Honest it's not a fair comparison, windsurfers are always going to be better at carving up waves. It's like comparing surfboards to surf mats or hangliders to paragliders, way too slow and dull for my liking.
Sure kites are better suited to sloppy conditions and they can have it, but have never seen a good kiter out do a good wave sailer on a decent day.
Just my totally unbiased fact.
You know Mike, I couldn't agree with you more, I've alway respected your opinions.
The debate on which sport at pro level is always going to be difficult based on your point of view.
For me, as a long, long time windsurfer and a long time kite boarder, it is how far down the chain these skills flow. IMO kiting is more accessible to let you rip it up whether doing free style tricks or slashing waves out on the bay. Far easier to get to this level than windsurfing and more opportunity.
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...
