Please, ask the same question to the windsurfers forum, and then you can see the same votes swapping each sport. I would like to take some windsurfing lessons, although I know I will continue kiting.
After comparing all the answers--->then--->Listen to your kite side heart
!
Good one Kenny.
I have been windsurfing for years and I to am about to buy a sup to sail on.
Select to expand quotejeroen said..
I do both:
1. Kitesurfing is cheaper
2. Kitesurfing is much easier to learn
3. Easier to travel with kitesurfing gear
4. Learning curve kitesurfing is much flatter, you are going to have more fun quicker than windsurfing
5. Windsurfing starts to get fun with 20 or more knots. Kitesurfing starts being fun at 15 knots
6. Once you can windsurf, I personally think its more fun, it looks better (don't hate for me that kite surfers) and its more demanding
7. Where I can kite surf for hours on end in waves, after one hour windsurfing in waves my arms are shot. Windsurfing physically much more demanding!
You should practise both and make your own personal decision. Have fun!
Agree with all of the above, apart from the bit about windsurfing being more fun. I think that they rate equally.
Me- I have windsurfed for many years and about two years ago took up kiting. I am enjoying the challenge of learning something new. As for your question, I think that a lot depends on the conditions where you intend to kite/windsurf. If it is flat, I would personally try kiting. I find windsurfing in light wind with flat water pretty boring, whereas they are fine with a kite. If you intend to travel with your kite, then go with kiting. I still can't get over how much easier it is to travel with kite kit as opposed to windsurfing equipment. I still enjoy windsurfing in waves, which is why I have kept my wave board and sails but to get to the standard where you are competent windsurfing in waves can take a long time. Kiting is easier to learn and you can mess around in waves with a kite far sooner than you could with a windsurfer.
I agree that kiting is easier on the body but I do feel it in my abs, which I think is a good thing. I could kite for far longer than I could windsurf but windsurfing does have the advantage that you can come in, beach the kit, have a chat with your mates, then go out again once you've got your breath back so to speak. It is a bit more of a faff with a kite to do the same.
As others have said though, kiting can be dangerous in a way that windsurfing is not, so it's very important to have lessons from a good instructor.
Either way you are on a winner as they are both great sports. And in case you think it is relevant, I am older than you.
Good luck!
If you have the time, money and location...just take up both then there won't be any issues with which sport is "better". I enjoy having both options available, plus you're obviously young enough to still have the "physicals" to take it on.
This thread has featured many times over the years and you always get the critics on both sides as to who is more radical, easier to learn, cheaper, best for certain spots.
I love the fact that I can read both forums and enjoy the continuous learning curve and features of the sports.
Comparing apples to oranges in this instance. Why not add sailing of surf cats like Nacras to the equation?? If I had the time, I probably would. But there is a sport that is even more difficult to transport and can have a higher cost associated with it...but has a completely different enjoyment factor to it.
In my quiver of toys I also have surfboards, mals and body board....just because it is good fun just to have that option to do different things. Having said all the above, it has probably made me more of a jack of all trades than a complete gun at any one water sport.
Note: Would never add jet-skier to that equation!
And in the off-season, light wind days....go mountain biking.
I think making the most of your health and youth is the key. I can't believe how many of my lame-arsed mates (in their early forties) do nothing for a hobbie. Their most exciting time of the week is when they go for a hard-core "walk" to keep fit.
I have windsurfed for 20 years now, pretty good at it and only really bother in waves. Flat water is okay for 10-15 mins then gets pretty boring unless you're maxed out. I have surfed for around 14 years and they do compliment each other to a point. 2 years ago I moved from WA to NSW, sold my windsurfing gear (got 3 sails left) and bought surfboards, now I've moved back and have to at least try kitesurfing before I splash out on windsurfing gear. I must admit it was always frustrating to see kites ripping at Lano or Scarbs locally in 10-12 knots, I like the idea of the standard surfboard too which would also improve my surfing more than windsurfing I reckon..my only worry is dropping the kite far out and getting into a mess, looks really awkward and I have had to tow a few kiters back to shore in the past. I don't think kiters get on so well when the wind is 25knots+ or the surf is well overhead, just seem to get dragged around along the wave face. Looks like there is ALOT of power in the kite to contend with..not too fussed about jumping, all about wave riding to me and both have advantages it seems..
Ideally I would like to try kiting in light winds, jump on windsurfing gear when conditions are a bit wild. Would also like a Lamborghini too tho..
I have enquired a it lessons tho, soul kite are doing them in October but it's not cheap. Only one way to find out though! Not gonna knock it till I try it!
Both are crap when your sat on the beach and it's doing 10knts but seabreeze reckon it's 25
Couldnt help myself ...... as this topic starts to go pear shaped
Kiting is like going fishing when you cast with a free spooling over head...... you will cast it 10 times ,,,, but you will finally end up all knotted up.
If your not into tangles its not for you.
Kiters will always have windsurfing (dinosaurs) to thank for even eventing the sport of kite flying on water ............ you need to see what Robby Naish really thinks after doing both and manufacturing /inventing / and promoting ....of kite flying on water ....... well lets just say he windsurfs more than he kites
....... luck there is enough ocean / lakes and beaches and varying wind and wave conditions for both to be wave slaying machines ..........
Ps i like to water start quick, and have a board to paddle in on ..........if it all fks up
what ever gets you amppppppppppped 
I think its kinda funny that Kenny has put this post in both the poledancers and kiters forum to get answers from both sports,
but the polers replied in their forum as well as coming here to reply again???(some of them multiple times
)
I guess they get a bit excited that there might be one person taking up the sport this year. lol
Select to expand quoteKennyK said..
Well I just bought myself a sail rig for my SUP.
It's the Gaastra Poison 5.4m rig. It'll go on my 9'6" JP Surf pro.
Hopefully it'll work well for me? Find out tomorrow I guess.
Thanks to every one for your help.
And especially to Jeff who I will be helping me out with some pointers on Sunday.
I reckon I will eventually get a kite as well though.
I'm quite sure I'll enjoy both.
Cheers, Ken.
At least you'll have one useful piece of gear - harness!
Good luck dude, let us know how you go with it.
Select to expand quotebobajob said..KennyK said..
Well I just bought myself a sail rig for my SUP.
It's the Gaastra Poison 5.4m rig. It'll go on my 9'6" JP Surf pro.
Hopefully it'll work well for me? Find out tomorrow I guess.
Thanks to every one for your help.
And especially to Jeff who I will be helping me out with some pointers on Sunday.
I reckon I will eventually get a kite as well though.
I'm quite sure I'll enjoy both.
Cheers, Ken.
At least you'll have one useful piece of gear - harness!
Good luck dude, let us know how you go with it.
Yeah man, went out today at Boreen point, (flat water 5-15 Knots).
Went well, mowed some grass, mostly tacking but got a gybe in as well. 
And a beach start to kick it off. Got some great advice and help from Jeff, off the windsurf forum.
Met a few others up there who were keen to help as well, great guys.
It's awesome to have this forum, there's certainly some helpful people around here!
Cheers,
Ken.
Select to expand quotelotofwind said..
I think its kinda funny that Kenny has put this post in both the poledancers and kiters forum to get answers from both sports,
but the polers replied in their forum as well as coming here to reply again???(some of them multiple times)
I guess they get a bit excited that there might be one person taking up the sport this year. lol
So nothing like going to the polies forums and writing in there all the time (to deliberately troll) is it? Nooooo not at all
Select to expand quoteKennyK said..bobajob said..KennyK said..
Well I just bought myself a sail rig for my SUP.
It's the Gaastra Poison 5.4m rig. It'll go on my 9'6" JP Surf pro.
Hopefully it'll work well for me? Find out tomorrow I guess.
Thanks to every one for your help.
And especially to Jeff who I will be helping me out with some pointers on Sunday.
I reckon I will eventually get a kite as well though.
I'm quite sure I'll enjoy both.
Cheers, Ken.
At least you'll have one useful piece of gear - harness!
Good luck dude, let us know how you go with it.
Yeah man, went out today at Boreen point, (flat water 5-15 Knots).
Went well, mowed some grass, mostly tacking but got a gybe in as well.
And a beach start to kick it off. Got some great advice and help from Jeff, off the windsurf forum.
Met a few others up there who were keen to help as well, great guys.
It's awesome to have this forum, there's certainly some helpful people around here!
Cheers,
Ken.
You got in a gybe and that was your first go!?
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..lotofwind said..
I think its kinda funny that Kenny has put this post in both the poledancers and kiters forum to get answers from both sports,
but the polers replied in their forum as well as coming here to reply again???(some of them multiple times)
I guess they get a bit excited that there might be one person taking up the sport this year. lol
So nothing like going to the polies forums and writing in there all the time (to deliberately troll) is it? Nooooo not at all
Thanks to the bitches, this thread now has legs.
lol.
I'm curious to hear from those that have done both disciplines about which one handles gusty up and down wind conditions better. I recently moved to canberra(I know what your thinking, but it was a good move for my family). Canberra does have a lot of wind but it is always gusty and up and down. I think probably too up and down for kiting.
Yesterday I was down at the lake and the wind seemed to be every where from 5-20 knts, My concern about taking the kite out in these conditions is that during the lulls I would drop my kite. If I was on a sailboard at least I would stay afloat.
I see quite a few people sailboarding here but no kiters, which probably answers my question. So how much fun is sailboarding in gusty flukey conditions? Is it worth the investment in time and money for these kinds of conditions or should I just be content with kiting down the coast once every few weeks during the summer season.
One more question about saiboarding, A few people have said that windsurfing is not worthwhile in light winds, but I have seen sailboarders ripping along in conditions that I would really be struggling to kite in, <10 knots, these guys are obviously using specialist light wind gear,what is the bottom threshold for light wind sailboarding? >5knots? and is this any fun?
For gusty wind generally kitesurfing is much better (North Rebel or short lines = you are barely aware of gusts) BUT at the extreme levels of Canberra, I think it's just too dangerous (kite dropping from sky then relaunching in power zone in a gust...) That's why I think kiting there would be no go, just from safety perspective. Windsurfing the worst thing that can happen it you'll get catapulted in the water (been there done that...)
My advice: look at SUPs? No really....
