As a windsurfer who is just about to enter the sport of kiting as well, I was hoping to hear from others out there who do both sports as well. I am interested in hearing how they go about their time allocation to both sports and how they make decisions based on which to do at each beach session.
My Dad does both, and he mostly kites in summer. And goes for the odd windsurf if it balistic, and windsurfs a little in winter.
I've done both- I dont own any windsurf equipment now! I suppose windsurfing has some good points, but i've forgotten them.
Sounds like what the others have mentioned is pretty much the trend. I Windsurfed for 8 years. Still own my gear but haven't used it except for one session 18 months ago when it was about 40 knots in the middle of winter. The diversity of kiting will soon consume you. Once you get into it I recommend you sell your windsurfing gear whilst you'll still get something for it. 
Otherwise it will sit in your garage like mine gathering dust till it's not worth getting rid of. 
There's a guy at my spot who did the 'get a kite for light days' thing. I don't think I've seen him on his windsurf gear since 
I HAVE TO DISSAGREE ON THIS ONE
Last week it was a 50/ 50
And most of the time I look at the conditions wind swell and make a disition
I was a scrbs on Friday good wind and swell and only 3 or4 kites out ???
V 18 to 25 windsurfers so what that tells me is there is only a small % of kiters that go out when it is 20k to 25 and some swell
I find kitting much more fun when it is 15k to 22 k
And wave sailing when it is 18 k to25 k and above with swell
And when it is off shore and 2.5 meters of swell go surfing
My advice is to keep it all going on and pass that on to your kids
Its got to be better than hanging at the shopping mall
or in a arm chair fat and lazzzy
I gotta say I prefer my 4.7m2 and wave board (sailboard) in 20-25knots and a 3m peak and down the line wall. I wouldnt attempt it at my skill level on a kite.
I only kite in less than 22knots on a 10m2, in relatively small surf or flat conditions.
I await the flaming.
I windsurfed for 20 years - not quite serious addiction, but close. I have NEVER windsurfed since the first day I saw someone boosting big off flat water underneath a kite. And the sensation when I finally tried kiting myself - like being towed behind a helicopter - just awesome! Windsurfing was fun, but nothing like the thrill of kiting - not even close. So the time allocation is simple - 30 mins to place the ad on seebreeze or ebay to sell the pole board 
, and the rest of your life to master freestyle moves under a kite
Some interesting feedback. I am passionate about windsurfing, but have always wanted to try kiting and to increase my time on the water. I love a days sailing in the waves, and admittedly have not seen a lot of kiting wave riding. Having recently bought a couple of kiting mags it is great to see that wave riding using boards (surf boards and no straps) is really where things are progressing in this sport (apart from sliding over bits of metal and ramps - not interested in that.)
A few years ago I was watching some kiting in Exmouth and the kites were still not truly 'riding' the waves. There was still a large element of them being pulled along the wave face by the kite. Changes in this evolving sport seem to be allowing for more of a surf & kite style rather than a straight kite & tea bag style.
as a surfer now mostly kiter, what u say is right still large element of getting pulled along rather than surfing. With so much going on its always going to be hard if not impossible for kiters to get deep tubes and come out like surfers, so much going on. Having said that i'll probably see some 10 yr old post his tube ride on u tube - then ill feel like a right fkn kook
Having windsurfed for about 15 years and started kiting in under 15 knots on a surfboard that I used to surf on years ago was so thrilling that I became completely addicted to kiting as the source of power for my sailing fix. I haven't windsurfed since and the only gear I have left is my wave sailboard that I have used in VERY light winds with a tiny fin on flat water. Heaps of fun and gets you out on the water as well as honing the kiteflying skills. Riding waves with a kite is not as easy as it looks and now I can go out in conditions that I would dream about going out in on a windsurfer but couldn't for lack of wind. No whitecaps, smooth conditions, don't hesitate shi house get in it. do it, sooo much fun......
Yep,
Same story here Shi thouse, Windsurfed for 17 years and bought a kite for light wind days. I only just got rid of my last sailboard a few weeks ago for a staggering loss
I have a go on mates pole gear from time to time (about 10 minutes every 2 years) and it just serves to remind me why I kite 
Kiting is so dynamic and has so much variation to master, it's the learning and freedom you get addicted to, and how quick and easy it is loading the car, or motor bike
Enjoy both if you can, but it is likely you will succumb to the dark side [}:)]
Good winds,
windsurfing ha its time and place- mast high+ super gusty cross/off or real frontal gusty rain stormy cross-cross off, other wise kite and surf board is the way to ride waves when its windy! no wind and offshore no question?
Have windsurfed for over 20 years, mostly waves, I learnt to kite (on the back of Ian Young's Jetski) on a working holiday to WA 3 years ago.
Still do both but the convenience of kiting is a definite plus. Working at the airport I can be on the water at Brighton within 15 minutes and home to cook dinner for the family by 6. With windsurfing it's a drive to Wanda and hopefully there's some swell. If there are waves and good winds I still prefer windsurfing but kiting can make even the most marginal day a blast.
Yep , after 18 yrs of windsurfing , got tired of always chasing elusive waves in Perth and discovered I could have a lot of fun in flatwater with a kite, sold all my windsurfing gear, started on directionals , then mutants and TTs, now partially following current fad of riding a surfboard, and again getting depressed as spending a lot of time chasing a few waves. Should have stuck to windsurfing! Kitesurfing definitiely more fun if you do a bit of freestyle as well, and dont limit yourself to waveriding only. Still love watching the windsurfers shredding waves though!
Windsurfing in waves will always be the clear winner, kiting in waves(on a surfboard) is pretty close but its not the same.
Windsurfing is, i find, much more technical and probably more difficult to get really good at, while most people will become whats called "advanced" kiters after just one season.
If you enjoy the technical aspect of windsurfing then kiting may not satisfy you completely as it is easier to learn and get realitively competent in a couple of weeks. You are also effectively detached from your rig and while the consequences for mistakes are real they are different.
agree with that. still consider myself a windsurfer as well as kiter... but in truth i rarely break out the windsurf gear anymore... its too hard
i still think windsurfing in waves looks way better than kiting in waves. but im having fun on the kite and surfboard. and its close, but not quite the same.
Definitely looking forward to getting into it and giving it a good run this summer. Will be staying down in Safety Bay for 8 weeks so that should give me a decent head start before I return home. But what is really appealing to me is the minimal amount of gear you need. Thanks for all of the advice and help!
I think the answer to this question relates directly to your level of windsurfing. If you are a competant wavesailor who can make of full advantage of down the line riding and smack solid lips, then you will never stop sailing. If you are Joe average blast about guy and never really sorted out how to windsurf well, then you will love the ease of which you can learn to kite and how quickly you progress.
I would still rather down the line wavesail in over 4 foot of surf any day, but if it is crappy surf or wind then kiting is a more rewarding experience.
I think the majority of people who say they used to windsurf but now only kite were never particularly good windsurfers in the first place.
Each to his own though and I think you will probably not sail so much for a few seasons and then go back to windsurfing more when you get tired of dangling around under a kite, or you miss the smack of a solid lip that you can only get on a sailboard.
DON'T prematurely sell you windsurfing gear. It will come back into fashion. Just like I thought guys would never wear tight jeans and pink shirts again after the eighties, and now it is frightening to see that fad coming back.
Jeff
...so tight jeans, pink shirts AND windsurfing are all coming back in style..?
at least i still have my windsurfing gear.
You make a good point Jefferson. It is a rare day to get decent waves in Perth to sail on. We travel north to Gero & Exmouth every year just to get some decent waves in. I can't see myself getting out of windsurfing, purely because I love the thrill of a decent wave ride. Given all that, I currently live on Christmas Island and am limited to little or no waves at all. Trips to Cocos and Indo are on the agenda soon but even then, I am limited as to what gear I can take with me and that pretty well rules out windsurfing given the $10 cost per kilo over the 20kg limit they give you. Will see how my summer in Perth pans out with the kiting.
As for style...as a current supporter and fellow mo' bro for Movember, I would say that the 1970's porn star mo' I have may just make a fashion resurgence of its own. Then again, maybe not.
Most of the guys in Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, who once windsurfed, have now converted. I've found that once they start to jump, it's all over..
I started windsurfing in 1980 and it probably was to a degree the focus of a lot of choices I made in life. chasing wind and waves and also moving to Perth from Adelaide. I thought I would never give it up as long as I could stand up straight.
Gave it all away in 2000.
Picked up my mates windsurfer about 2 weeks ago, and wanted to give it a quick go, after 4 years of not windsurfing, after having a great time all day on a 9 m kite, I couldnt even get this pile of heavy carbon / fibre glass on the plane.
He said theres not enough wind yet.......
I heard it from the horses mouth yesturday.
Mr Ed said he windsurfed for many years but just couldnt wavesail very well even though wavesailing was his focus. Found it hard. Didnt progress. He was a kook.
He also has been longboarding for a long time.
He took up kiting and said it was so much easier.
He was crap at windsurfing so converted to kitesurfing.
I think this is true. My opinion.
Spot1 is a good example of a true windsurfer who kites.
I do have a question though... Why hasnt Scott Mc or Matt Holden or Ben Severne converted fully to kiting???
im interested to know at what level most people were at windsurfing when they converted to kitesurfing???
Could be that a lot of realy shiit hot windsurfers dont want to convert, because they are just chicken to start at the bottom of the heap again, actually, a lot of great windsurfers dont make the best kiters its a fact.
Problem is, they disregard the personal fun factor, wich can be hugh even if your a beginner,
but I guess its your image that you got to worry about most
). As for Scotty, he's a full time porn star when it comes to poling, why would he start from scratch when he's paid to pole?
