Forums > Windsurfing General

why do you windsurf?

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Created by vwpete > 9 months ago, 18 Sep 2013
powersloshin
NSW, 1688 posts
18 Sep 2013 10:32PM
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Mark _australia said..

vwpete said..
Personally I used to windsurf, but I was not really that good, I could never have gone out at tombies, so for me getting into kiting was easy,


That says a lot.



that was expressed by Peter Hart in a magazine , how someone told him he switched to kiting because even if he is not good, he looks good kiting, but you cannot look good on a windsurfer if you're not good.
I cannot judge kiting as I've never attempted it. I started windsurfing almost 5 years ago at age 55 and I loved it since the beginning. It has been like being born again. It gives you the opportunity to spend long hours in the open, enjoy the wind, waves, ocean, totally de-stressing: you don't have time to think about work or trouble or anything else, in those moments you only live the present . Also you get fit, healthy, make friends, keep learning forever. Most of these reasons are common to other sports, but anyone is free to chose their ways. Good like to kiters, but wouldn't I look silly if I went asking some yachties why are they sailing, or joggers why they're jogging?

lotofwind
NSW, 6451 posts
19 Sep 2013 1:07AM
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Not sure why crew stay in the old school dark ages???,
most have evolved, we dont see many of those things around here any more and even the old windsurfing school instructors that danced for 20 odd years and were the best of the best,,, now all kite. But as some have said on here already, that they already own thousands of dollars of poledancing gear and they know how to do it already, so why try something new and start at the beginners level again. All a bit too hard in the senior years, which is understandable, kinda like teaching your grandpa how to turn on an iphone.
Old dog new trick syndrome.????

I guess it would be like going into a shop to buy something to watch movies on and the shop guy tries to sell you a DVD player, but you say "No no no,,,I want a beta video player"???? Why would you? Its just stupid to step backwards when there is better faster gear than there was 30 years ago that allows you to do so much more than the basic boring stuff that, well, was good in its day, but now is just like a dinosaur,,extinct as it couldnt survive in todays world .

Kite surfing was invented many moons ago by windsurfers that got bored of it and wanted to experience something a bit more exciting than just sailing around slowly looking at the scenery yelling PORT and STARBOARD at each other."Look out, we may collide in 5 minutes if we dont change direction!!"
Most poledancers try and say they are "sailors" and want to sip cognac and smoke cigars at the yacht club, but the sailors dont recognise them as actual real sailors, but as wannabe yachtie try hards that cant afford an actual yacht ,and know they are not nearly as classy or skilled as an actual REAL sailor that get respect from kiters and all of society. So their only hang out is the bowls club playing pokies and eating $7 roast dinner buffets at 4pm.

My tongue is getting tired pressed soooo hard in the side of my mouth.

Ninjury
QLD, 167 posts
19 Sep 2013 9:30AM
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lotofwind said...
Not sure why crew stay in the old school dark ages???,
most have evolved, we dont see many of those things around here any more and even the old windsurfing school instructors that danced for 20 odd years and were the best of the best,,, now all kite. But as some have said on here already, that they already own thousands of dollars of poledancing gear and they know how to do it already, so why try something new and start at the beginners level again. All a bit too hard in the senior years, which is understandable, kinda like teaching your grandpa how to turn on an iphone.
Old dog new trick syndrome.????

I guess it would be like going into a shop to buy something to watch movies on and the shop guy tries to sell you a DVD player, but you say "No no no,,,I want a beta video player"???? Why would you? Its just stupid to step backwards when there is better faster gear than there was 30 years ago that allows you to do so much more than the basic boring stuff that, well, was good in its day, but now is just like a dinosaur,,extinct as it couldnt survive in todays world .

Kite surfing was invented many moons ago by windsurfers that got bored of it and wanted to experience something a bit more exciting than just sailing around slowly looking at the scenery yelling PORT and STARBOARD at each other."Look out, we may collide in 5 minutes if we dont change direction!!"
Most poledancers try and say they are "sailors" and want to sip cognac and smoke cigars at the yacht club, but the sailors dont recognise them as actual real sailors, but as wannabe yachtie try hards that cant afford an actual yacht ,and know they are not nearly as classy or skilled as an actual REAL sailor that get respect from kiters and all of society. So their only hang out is the bowls club playing pokies and eating $7 roast dinner buffets at 4pm.

My tongue is getting tired pressed soooo hard in the side of my mouth.




You make a convincing argument, perhaps we should skip that old fashioned kite puppet fad and go start SUPing, then we can go troll the kite forum about their ahem...longevity. Marble season lasted longer

Carantoc
WA, 6666 posts
19 Sep 2013 7:35AM
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lotofwind said..

................

My tongue is getting tired pressed soooo hard in the side of my mouth.



Stop sucking cock then

Chilla
WA, 136 posts
19 Sep 2013 8:07AM
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[b]

you can wear speedo's and listen to music on your tape cassette recorder...


.....he may have said 'chaps', every now and then I still call an Ipod a Walkman.....

Kazza
TAS, 2342 posts
19 Sep 2013 10:13AM
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I used to kiteboard and got bored with it. After mastering it and just going backwards & forwards, boosting etc I thought what else is there to do. Riding the waves wasn't as much a challenge as windsurfing waves. The kite lines are a pain in the arse, you can't just stop and have a rest like you can windsurfing. I had so many near death experiences with it and my friend was killed from it, so life is short, windsurfing is safe. Then the GPS took control of windsurfing and gave the sport another dimension, slalom racing has got a new life. All very good reasons to windsurf instead in my view.

EDIT - I should say I watched my friend killed from it, and those f...king things piss me off, especially when they kite up wind while your windsurfing. I reckon kiters need to do a course and get a licence for it, just like scuba divers.

Milsy
NSW, 1176 posts
19 Sep 2013 10:28AM
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ha, you are funny lotofwind, and that includes when your absolutely caroasting mark, its funny!, kite surfing seems like a good sport, from my experience the only negative is sharing space with them on the water, there slow, and there lines occupy a lot of space, but apart from that, it looks good, definitely more eye catching than windsurfing, actually i think what i mean to say is the intermediate kiter might look a little more eye catching than the intermediate windsurfer, but a top windsurfer is something to see, fast gypes, good airs, crazy greasy lightning speed rocko, personally i dont really see the comparison, kite surfing seems more like a slower wake boarding sess than windsurfing, more emphasis on height,,, people have listed the verbs or skills that make windsurfing fun, but all sports offer this, including kiting, a path to mastery, which levels of fulfilment is usually measured by how many layers of subtle skill a sport has to offer, windsurfing offers a connection to the elements, it allows us to keep developing skills as the years roll on, for me, life hasn't been crazy easy, it can be hard to find a platform on this planet in which i feel my spirit can soar, come in windsurfing, where i can feel exhilarated, leaving myself behind, becoming re-invigorated, re- invented, re-energized, i love what windsurfing has brought to my world, i am the best i can be when i windsurf, it gives me great power and the feelings i get after sailing definately reminds me that life and the world can be sweet sometimes, thats what windsurfing gives me,,, now you can knock sailors, if you've read seabreeze forums it would be hard not too, but to knock the awesomeness that is windsurfing is stupid, considering your sport is a by product or after thought of windsurfing, and honestly man, if you came to our world and were that disrespectful to something that means soo much to me, i would break you man! I LOVE WINDSURFING!

sick_em_rex
NSW, 1600 posts
19 Sep 2013 11:04AM
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onya Johnny, you are the Master!

elmo
WA, 8732 posts
19 Sep 2013 9:12AM
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Because I'm too fat and uncoordinated to dance

joe windsurf
1480 posts
19 Sep 2013 3:50PM
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windsurfing is better than sex

joewindsurfer.blogspot.com/2011/04/is-windsurfung-as-good-as-sex.html

Sailhack
VIC, 5000 posts
19 Sep 2013 7:01PM
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lotofwind said..

Kite surfing was invented many moons ago by windsurfers that got bored of it and wanted to experience something a bit more exciting than just sailing around slowly looking at the scenery yelling PORT and STARBOARD at each other.


Now that I've picked myself off the ground after reading Carantoc's remark...

Kite surfing was invented by windsurfers...but not for the reasons you mentioned.

It was a distraction so that they could get the trendy little 'look-at-me' kids to leave them alone to enjoy the great sport of windsurfing.

yew101
WA, 13 posts
19 Sep 2013 5:13PM
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Carantoc said..

lotofwind said..

................

My tongue is getting tired pressed soooo hard in the side of my mouth.



Stop sucking cock then


I am sitting in school in class but I couldn't help to laugh.... so funny

Maddog49
WA, 102 posts
19 Sep 2013 5:33PM
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Why I took up Windsurfing?
It was in the early 80's when I was working near Cottosloe Beach. Every afternoon I use to watch the windsurfers surf the waves and I thought to myself that looks like fun.
I bought myself a wally for a few hundred dollars and started to learn the basics. Windsurfing had just started to take off with every square metre of parking space along Melville waters was taken by cars laiden with Windsurfers. Every afternoon straight after work I would go for a sail and every weekend. It was about learning a new skill, meeting new people and sharing your experiences. After a period of time you started seeing the same people and started organising activities and sailing different locations.
It does not matter what sport you do. It is the people around you, getting outside exercising, and enjoying the experience that matters. I don't care if I am the slowest, oldest, fattest out there. I am enjoying myself.
When I speak to people about windsurfing they always say, "I would love to try that someday" but they never do. At least we got off our behinds and tried something new.
After not sailing for about 20 years due to having children, a wfe and a mortgage I have taken it up again and once again I am enjoying getting out onto the water and meeting new people.

Maddog49
WA, 102 posts
19 Sep 2013 5:47PM
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It also gives me an excuse to buy more toys to go with my surf ski, fishing boat, fishing gear, Storm 10, Tiga 195 and when it arrives my new Starboard carve 135l. Can not wait for the October holidays.
He who dies with the most toys wins.

vwpete
WA, 139 posts
25 Sep 2013 10:49AM
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Just wanted to say thanx for the replies, I would not say I am that much better informed as to why a newbie would prefer to windsurf over kite. But I do get why good windsurfers stay windsurfing.

cheers

Just to share the stoke.


Rexo
QLD, 25 posts
25 Sep 2013 2:18PM
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A year ago I tried kites then tried windsurfing. I always wanted to windsurf but uni stopped that. Now I can. So I tried kites to see what all the craze was about. Once I learnt the kite, doing it on the water was pretty easy, but has its risks. (Being a water skier and wakeboarder might have made it easier). Then I tried windsurfing.

Yep, its damn hard and frustrating at the start but it dominated for me over kites.

Now I am sorta over the hump and really getting into it. Windsurfing for me. More challenging and more rewarding. Just me but I would rather watch a pro windsurfer dominating (aka Koster, Siver or even old school Naish) over some pro kiter.

Windsurfing and kites reminds me of young kids on scooters at skate parks. Hardly anyone is learning the skateboard anymore as its to hard so the youngins go straight for the scooter.

If windsurfing was easy everyone would be doing it, and everyone is kiting.



RumChaser
TAS, 621 posts
25 Sep 2013 4:45PM
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I do it because it is hard to do. I've done a heap of sports over the years and without doubt windsurfing was the most frustrating and difficult one to learn. Maybe it just appeals to a certain kind of masochistic personality and that is why it is not as popular. I was once told that kites were great (please don't get me wrong, I don't care what you ride) you can get up and going and know just about everything in 6 months and then he said "then what?".
When you windsurf you learn something new every time you go out. I've been going for 10 years now and he was right, I'm always learning and always being challenged out on the water. I just hope I live to be 150 so I can then say "Well, I know it all now".

pierrec45
NSW, 2005 posts
25 Sep 2013 10:13PM
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I do it for sports, no other reason.

At freestyle my heart rate goes up like crazy, real fast. It could be because I'm no good at it, but whatever, no biggie.
Even in winds as weak as 14 knots, I have to slow down to bring the rate down to an acceptable (not dying outright) level.
Also it's a real symmetrical sport: after a good outing, whether short or longboard freestyle, I ache equally from bi- and triceps, hams and quads, abs, dorsii. My VO2 tested 2 years ago is wayyy better than my age group, which I attribute to my sports.

When I'm too old for all this, in many many years, then I'll consider kiting, chess, that sort of stuff.

I teach windsurfing a fair bit, but am the first proponent of kiting for anyone who wants easier activities where one needs not work too hard.
Any activity is better than nothing - kiting as good as many.

stroppo
WA, 729 posts
25 Sep 2013 8:26PM
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When you hit the high seas after work it just makes me feel so good the feeling of freedom ,waves,speed and sharing happy days with other like minded people allways learning more each time you hit the water learnt when i was 14 and now 43yrs old and i just cant get enough the excersize it has given me is a big plus the epic missions and safaris it has taken me have changed my life so glad my dad got me into sailing as a kid on dingys i owe him things ive hit along the way, the reef lots of times, a few birds, a big sea turtle ,the beach, a few euros, my mates, flying fish into the rig ,a sting ray, drift wood, my head a few times and that just comes with time on the water and i love it more than ever now with the GTC im one happy wind wanker as my skeg head mates would say and great reading other peoples reasons why they love it !

Kazza
TAS, 2342 posts
26 Sep 2013 10:31AM
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vwpete said..

I would not say I am that much better informed as to why a newbie would prefer to windsurf over kite.


Because everyone is an individual and whatever one they enjoy the most and is "in the blood" then they'll stick with it.

NR
WA, 516 posts
26 Sep 2013 9:24AM
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To an outsider:
Its like draughts and chess. To someone who has no idea and never played, maybe draughts looks more appealing as they can follow what is happening. The game is faster and you get a quick result. Chess can be tons of practice to get good, and you only really get it if you play it or are the type of person capable of learning it. To everyone else, a quick game of draughts or checkers is more than enough. But when you can play chess, why would you ever want to play draughts again unless its with a 5 year old.

To someone that does it:
Kiting is a completely different feel. Its comparing oranges and apples anyway. Kiting is slidey, riding on the board edge. Feels like snowboarding and wakeboarding. Windsurfing, well, it feels like windsurfing.

Gorgo
VIC, 4982 posts
26 Sep 2013 11:56AM
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NR said..

...

To someone that does it:
Kiting is a completely different feel. Its comparing oranges and apples anyway. Kiting is slidey, riding on the board edge. Feels like snowboarding and wakeboarding. Windsurfing, well, it feels like windsurfing.



No it's not. It's almost identical. 18 years windsurfing. 13 years kiting. The feel and the feeling is almost identical. A perfectly trimmed board. Loaded fins. Perfectly powered and trimmed sail/kite. The dynamics are the same and the considerations are the same. The end result is most certainly the same, going fast over the water with a big grin on your face.

The slight vertigo feeling of getting lost in a forward roll is very similar, although the way it pans out can be quite different.

Carving a toeside gybe on a kite surfboard is very similar to a planing gybe on a sailboard, especially if you swap your feet on the kiteboard. The transition of the kite and flipping the sail are analogous and equally critical in their own way.

Of course in both sports there are individual moves and aspects that are unique or things that work better (dangling, boosting, sliding with a kite, going fast in chop on a sailboard) , but the general feel and reward is virtually identical.

Trousers
SA, 565 posts
26 Sep 2013 3:16PM
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i expect i windsurf for exactly the same reasons you kiteboard, or that guy parasails or she cross-country skiis, or they base jump. they are all variations on the same theme; conquering yourself, harnessing the elements and being happy. it's simple really; the pursuit of that which you love.

believing the overwhelming satisfaction of 'nailing it' can only be achieved from kiteboarding is a breath takingly narrow view of an enormous, amazing world.

John340
QLD, 3138 posts
26 Sep 2013 8:55PM
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^^. Ditto - we'll said

waveboy1
VIC, 236 posts
26 Sep 2013 9:34PM
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hankie and esky lid ?

lotofwind
NSW, 6451 posts
26 Sep 2013 10:21PM
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Gorgo said..

NR said..

...

To someone that does it:
Kiting is a completely different feel. Its comparing oranges and apples anyway. Kiting is slidey, riding on the board edge. Feels like snowboarding and wakeboarding. Windsurfing, well, it feels like windsurfing.



No it's not. It's almost identical. 18 years windsurfing. 13 years kiting. The feel and the feeling is almost identical. A perfectly trimmed board. Loaded fins. Perfectly powered and trimmed sail/kite. The dynamics are the same and the considerations are the same. The end result is most certainly the same, going fast over the water with a big grin on your face.

The slight vertigo feeling of getting lost in a forward roll is very similar, although the way it pans out can be quite different.

Carving a toeside gybe on a kite surfboard is very similar to a planing gybe on a sailboard, especially if you swap your feet on the kiteboard. The transition of the kite and flipping the sail are analogous and equally critical in their own way.

Of course in both sports there are individual moves and aspects that are unique or things that work better (dangling, boosting, sliding with a kite, going fast in chop on a sailboard) , but the general feel and reward is virtually identical.


Bang on mate, good to hear from someone who has done both too and isnt just blowing smoke out their own axx pretending they understand both codes when they havent done both. I fixed one of the red thumbs for you, probly from MA but the old "dont like anything new crew" will probly add some more showing how deap their heads are buried in the sand.
Had to laugh hard at one of the comments saying "I mastered everything about kiting really quickly, but had that many near death experiances that I gave it up " Bah haa ha he ha. Yep, they mastered it. lol. Would be like me saying I have mastered poledancing,,,, but I keep getting catapulted every 5mins so I gave it up. lol.

Mark _australia
WA, 22423 posts
26 Sep 2013 8:53PM
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Here's another one who has done both

By the way Loto, it wasn't my red thumb so no need to theorise or have yet another crack at me.


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Rexo said..
A year ago I tried kites then tried windsurfing. I always wanted to windsurf but uni stopped that. Now I can. So I tried kites to see what all the craze was about. Once I learnt the kite, doing it on the water was pretty easy, but has its risks. (Being a water skier and wakeboarder might have made it easier). Then I tried windsurfing.

Yep, its damn hard and frustrating at the start but it dominated for me over kites.

Now I am sorta over the hump and really getting into it. Windsurfing for me. More challenging and more rewarding. Just me but I would rather watch a pro windsurfer dominating (aka Koster, Siver or even old school Naish) over some pro kiter.

Windsurfing and kites reminds me of young kids on scooters at skate parks. Hardly anyone is learning the skateboard anymore as its to hard so the youngins go straight for the scooter.

If windsurfing was easy everyone would be doing it, and everyone is kiting.


lotofwind
NSW, 6451 posts
26 Sep 2013 11:19PM
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Thats cool dude, as I told you, just a bit of fun, dont take it to heart, thats what a means,,all in good fun,,,but I guess it is the poledancers forum so no one is actually interested in the comments that some above have made that have actually done both sports for many years and are giving their opinion of both like Gorgo has.
It is kinda funny though that it is a thread on "Why do you windsurf",,, but straight away all you guys start comparing it to kitting???? Classic .
You would think it would be all comments on the actual buzz of the hobby not trying to compare it to something else???
I bet if the question was asked "why do you kite board" in the kiters forum you wouldnt see all the kiters trying to make out "because its better than windsurfing??"
Interesting isnt it.

Mark _australia
WA, 22423 posts
26 Sep 2013 9:34PM
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lotofwind said..
It is kinda funny though that it is a thread on "Why do you windsurf",,, but straight away all you guys start comparing it to kitting???? Classic .

You would think it would be all comments on the actual buzz of the hobby not trying to compare it to something else???





Part of the original post: "He then expressed how much he would like to give kiting a go as it looked so much fun.. But next no word of a lie, he asked with a bewildered face. ??? So why do those chaps do wind surfing?"

That would be why we are talking about both.
yeah - didn't read the whole thread - Classic.


BTW it is not spelled "kitting" - just one T

lotofwind
NSW, 6451 posts
26 Sep 2013 11:40PM
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There you go, finally you got the hang of the To show its just in fun instead of silly personal name calling trying to retaliate.
Glad you have realised its all in fun. It only took 7 years. Im glad I could teach you foruming social etiquette as you have helped me with my spelling.
Peace out.



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"why do you windsurf?" started by vwpete