Windsurfing versus Kitesurfing - Page 8

Ken · 27th December 2012, 04:17 PM

Baggy is in for the kite/snowboard crowd, so a tight wet suit doesn't fit the image, so the baggy swim suit on the outside keeps them stylish - Just a guess.

Farlo · 27th December 2012, 06:28 PM

Hi Ken,

Sailing at l'Almanarre today I noticed a few things. In average, kiters were not younger than windsurfers. There were many young windsurfers indeed, and some greyish kiters as well. Windsurfers were first on the water in a solid 25 knots, but kiters remained much longer after the wind faded a bit. Most windsurfers were on 4.2/4.7 and had to stop while kiters kept going with the same wing. They did not seem to fight much harder upwind than windsurfers and jumped a lot more often; admittedly there were very little waves.

Both were in similar numbers in a place which was once a Mecca of windsurf. However there was no sign of conflict. A few guys had brought two gears and chose on the spot according to wind & wave conditions... A local mentioned several lethal kite accidents at la Bergerie on the other bank. He was clearly in favour of windsurf but helped a few friends to take off their kites. It was amazing (and somewhat frightening) how close they were doing it from the palisades.

As far as I could see, no one wore boardshorts. Windsurf was kind of flashy too in the 80's if I remember well.

29th December 2012, 01:57 PM

i thought this was a windsurf forum? :-)
pros and cons of kitesurfing are irrelevant

what we ALL need to do is - learn to live and let live
"smile at your brother and love one another"
enjoy the water and share it with others
help someone is distress irregardless of anything
ask someone sitting in water too long - thumbs up or ???

if i had the time and money - i would try kiting
for now - i am hooked on windsurfing and loving it

Happy Holiday Season to ALL and Happy New Year to ALL !!!

8th January 2013, 02:50 AM

I am a hardcore windsurfer and yet have to say that kiting has its advanatges, there is no way anyone with half a brain can say otherwise.
BUT!!! Kiting ideally need a bunch of "Criteria" so it can be done safely responsibly and without detriment to others around.
How many time have you heard of kiters being banned from launches or beachs with public access??

When all the criteria are satisfied all is fine its a high powered sky high sport, when things go wrong it can be trouble not only for the kiter but others in the area.
I have said this time and time again give me a large funboard , like phantom 320 or a Rio and I can use it ANYWHERE... in 3 to 30 knots , that has more then 3 feet of water safely responsibly and with little detriment to others around me including the public.

I can set up in 15 minutes and :
-i can launch from a enclosed inlet with obstacles all around, sail out sail back.
-go speeds a 50 foot ULDB sailboat cannot hit,maybe volvo 60 or a catamaran can get close.
-i need no crew ! but its fun to windsurf with others!
-i can go downwind, and get back upwind,
-If the wind dies i do not have to swim back.
- i can do it in water over my head or just a few feet.
- i have floatation, so I can self rescue.
-I can car top it.
-i can do it for pennies on the dollars spent on other sailing craft.

Who else can say that? go thru the list with a kite ... some thing is that list they are very good at ...others related to safety ..not so..

shredulato

13th February 2013, 07:29 AM

Honestly, I don't see it as a competition. They each have their own pros and cons on any given day.

Personally, I've been picking up kiting to cover me on those sub 15kt days that I used to have formula gear for. I'm having a blast, and love not having to haul the massive kit around anymore. When the wind starts pushing 20kts that's when the windsurf gear comes out.

I've actually replaced 2 sets of windsurfing gear (formula & light wind slalom) with a 12m Lithium and V2 Sector and can't believe I waited so long to do so (although glad I did due to advances in safety tech).

So yea, I would be so quick to write one off in favour of the other. I plan to keep doing both for as long as the body will let me.

27th December 2012, 04:17 PM	#71
Ken Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas USA Posts: 799	Baggy is in for the kite/snowboard crowd, so a tight wet suit doesn't fit the image, so the baggy swim suit on the outside keeps them stylish - Just a guess. __________________ Toys: Formula 160; iSonic 111; HiFly Move 105; Tiga 263; '85 Mistral Superlight. Maui Sails TR 11.0; 9.2; 8.4; 7.6; 6.6; Maui Sails Switch 6.0; 5.2; Maui Sails Global 4.5; 4.0.

27th December 2012, 06:28 PM	#72
Farlo Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 517	Hi Ken, Sailing at l'Almanarre today I noticed a few things. In average, kiters were not younger than windsurfers. There were many young windsurfers indeed, and some greyish kiters as well. Windsurfers were first on the water in a solid 25 knots, but kiters remained much longer after the wind faded a bit. Most windsurfers were on 4.2/4.7 and had to stop while kiters kept going with the same wing. They did not seem to fight much harder upwind than windsurfers and jumped a lot more often; admittedly there were very little waves. Both were in similar numbers in a place which was once a Mecca of windsurf. However there was no sign of conflict. A few guys had brought two gears and chose on the spot according to wind & wave conditions... A local mentioned several lethal kite accidents at la Bergerie on the other bank. He was clearly in favour of windsurf but helped a few friends to take off their kites. It was amazing (and somewhat frightening) how close they were doing it from the palisades. As far as I could see, no one wore boardshorts. Windsurf was kind of flashy too in the 80's if I remember well. Last edited by Farlo; 8th January 2013 at 01:59 PM.

8th January 2013, 02:50 AM	#74
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	kiting more specialized then one thinks at first I am a hardcore windsurfer and yet have to say that kiting has its advanatges, there is no way anyone with half a brain can say otherwise. BUT!!! Kiting ideally need a bunch of "Criteria" so it can be done safely responsibly and without detriment to others around. How many time have you heard of kiters being banned from launches or beachs with public access?? When all the criteria are satisfied all is fine its a high powered sky high sport, when things go wrong it can be trouble not only for the kiter but others in the area. I have said this time and time again give me a large funboard , like phantom 320 or a Rio and I can use it ANYWHERE... in 3 to 30 knots , that has more then 3 feet of water safely responsibly and with little detriment to others around me including the public. I can set up in 15 minutes and : -i can launch from a enclosed inlet with obstacles all around, sail out sail back. -go speeds a 50 foot ULDB sailboat cannot hit,maybe volvo 60 or a catamaran can get close. -i need no crew ! but its fun to windsurf with others! -i can go downwind, and get back upwind, -If the wind dies i do not have to swim back. - i can do it in water over my head or just a few feet. - i have floatation, so I can self rescue. -I can car top it. -i can do it for pennies on the dollars spent on other sailing craft. Who else can say that? go thru the list with a kite ... some thing is that list they are very good at ...others related to safety ..not so.. shredulato

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29th December 2012, 01:57 PM	#73
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	i thought this was a windsurf forum? :-) pros and cons of kitesurfing are irrelevant what we ALL need to do is - learn to live and let live "smile at your brother and love one another" enjoy the water and share it with others help someone is distress irregardless of anything ask someone sitting in water too long - thumbs up or ??? if i had the time and money - i would try kiting for now - i am hooked on windsurfing and loving it Happy Holiday Season to ALL and Happy New Year to ALL !!!

13th February 2013, 07:29 AM	#75
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Honestly, I don't see it as a competition. They each have their own pros and cons on any given day. Personally, I've been picking up kiting to cover me on those sub 15kt days that I used to have formula gear for. I'm having a blast, and love not having to haul the massive kit around anymore. When the wind starts pushing 20kts that's when the windsurf gear comes out. I've actually replaced 2 sets of windsurfing gear (formula & light wind slalom) with a 12m Lithium and V2 Sector and can't believe I waited so long to do so (although glad I did due to advances in safety tech). So yea, I would be so quick to write one off in favour of the other. I plan to keep doing both for as long as the body will let me.