Adding up in both threads of those who have done BOTH proficiently it seems rather even.
5 for WS, 6 for KS (and 3 who rate them the same)
Seems it comes down to the fact he is in SE Qld with not enough wind for proper wavesailing so he picks KS.
Select to expand quoteglendog said..
windsurfing is ***.
x2 I am still yet to see a poley do something that I am impressed with all they do is go one way stack it get back up and go they other way repeat added with slooow as farrkk.
Select to expand quotesaltydawg said..glendog said..
windsurfing is ***. x2 I am still yet to see a poley do something that I am impressed with all they do is go one way stack it get back up and go they other way repeat added with slooow as farrkk.
salty dawg, I offer you the following clip. If you continue to be unimpressed by windsurfers I would like to apologise to you, for there is nothing more we mere windsurfers can do to entertain you.
Select to expand quoteBFlood said..saltydawg said..glendog said..
windsurfing is ***. x2 I am still yet to see a poley do something that I am impressed with all they do is go one way stack it get back up and go they other way repeat added with slooow as farrkk.
salty dawg, I offer you the following clip. If you continue to be unimpressed by windsurfers I would like to apologise to you, for there is nothing more we mere windsurfers can do to entertain you.
When I say I haven't seen seen a poley do something I haven't been impressed with Im saying this purely from what I've seen at my usual spots. Windsurfers ripping up at jaws is sickk way better than what a kitesurfer or surfer could do, hitting waves a getting air is also cool... but flat water spots in 20 knots winds I just don't see it
Saltydawg, sounds like you need to leave your little beginners spot so you can see some action
I have no idea what you are talking about with slow....... I get sick of overtaking kiters when I am on pure wave gear and that is not fast equipment.
The L2L times tell the story.
But you are blinded by your devotion.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Saltydawg, sounds like you need to leave your little beginners spot so you can see some action
I have no idea what you are talking about with slow....... I get sick of overtaking kiters when I am on pure wave gear and that is not fast equipment.
The L2L times tell the story.
But you are blinded by your devotion.
Regarding L2L/Loc Times or even GPS speeds....
I'm all for both sports and appreciate the skill and technology in each.
But to be fair, there has been a global industry backing the RD over a few decades for open water speed performace in the windsurf camp.
A few blokes putting together project is all that has driven the open water speed side of kite racing.... a very very long way to go still.
In light condition kiters will smash the windsurfers, but as soon as its 20+ knots and the ocean picks up yes windsurfer are much faster as they exceed the 35-40 knots range where we max out around 30 knots in rougher water.
Kitesurfing gets the nod from me as I can throw board and kite on home made push bike trailer and pedal the 5 k's to the beach. If I pedal no one misses me at home. If I take the car I'm always in the **.
However windsurfing is more social able as you get more time on the beach recovering between run's.
Windsurfing advantage.
you can launch in places kites can't
.....
..... Ahhhhhhhhh. That's It.
windsurfing is still cancelled.
Kitesurfing.
more Speed, airtime manivourability, upwind......
Select to expand quotesalty dawg, I offer you the following clip.
to be fair, most people don't do the aerials or manoeuvres in this video until they've been sailing 5-10 years, and many still haven't learnt to gybe proficiently even after 10+ years of sailing. many of the young adults in the video started sailing at the ages of 5 to 15, probably with parents support.
it's a very long road with windsurfing, but it's very rewarding if you make progress because there aren't many people who get beyond "mowing the lawn" as people call it
imo, if you weigh much more than 75kg, south east QLD doesn't give the heavier person enough regular wind strength and windsurfing time to progress much beyond mowing the lawn. kiting is probably therefore the obvious choice unless you are really motivated and persistent. there are probably only 6 people I have sailed with in SEQ who at least attempt what's in the video
^^^ Give up dude they have no idea.
Even when shown factually that half those who"converted" to kiting prefer to windsurf now, they just get all ****ty.
KennyK if you have been surfing all your life there has to be one important thing that everyone here has overlooked, you can get barrelled kiting!! Sure that's pretty advanced stuff and you have to have the right conditions come together but there are people getting properly barrelled under a kite and not to take away from poleys but that's just not a realistic option for windsurfers ( unless maybe at jaws if your a lunatic)
Plus it seems like windsurfing makes you kinda grumpy^^^^
been kiting around 10 years .use to windsurf before that. I pulled out the old wave board last summer a few times and was loving it. just bought some new gear for this year. both sides have there good points and bad points. looking forward to trying the new sailing gear
kiting is much easier, more accessable and fun in light winds. I think windsurfing you realisticly need another 10 knots. I live in a not very windy place. I have kited more in one month than I would have windsurfed in several years. Kiting is much easier to learn and progress. You can do it in shallow water (a big plus in some areas) You get to a point though where the learning curve plateaus and it becomes pretty flat. A lot of people then leave the sport because there's not a lot left.
Often people go back to windsurfing.
windsurfing is hard. you need lots of wind. there is lots of gear. It takes years to learn. it's learning Curve is a continuous. It garners life long deovtees.
Wavesailing is probably the best thing to do on the planet. But unless you live in hawaii or WA you will be a slave to the wind - constantly trying to pull strings when it looks like there's enough. Often dissapointed (i used to have to drive 110klms) just to sit and wait for the wind to get up or turn around because it never got windy enough
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!
Yeah our wind is more centered around 15 knots I'd have to say, which would make kiting a better choice.
Certainly there'd be way more opportunity.
Wow a lot of great helpful replies guys, thanks very much, I really appreciate it. 
Although I would love to be a good wave sailor, I think considering all that has been said, for where I live, my age, what I want to achieve, etc, kiting is the logical choice.
Although yesterday I watched some "Kite boarding disasters" on you tube, HOLY ****!!! 
some guys got absolutely smashed and or blown away at a great rate of knots!! Metal note, be very, very CAREFUL!
Thanks guys!
Windsurfing is a pretty one dimensional sport, especially for the average rider. Zoom along. Do a bit of a pop. Try and gybe. Fall off. Water start. Repeat.
Kitesurfing is also limited by the imagination of the rider, but what you can do within those limitations is amazing.
Here's the latest variant on a kiteboard race. The gear used is bog standard recreational stuff. The skills demonstrated are mid-level intermediate. If you can imagine it, chances are you can do it.
Select to expand quoteJacobMatan said..
KennyK if you have been surfing all your life there has to be one important thing that everyone here has overlooked, you can get barrelled kiting!! Sure that's pretty advanced stuff and you have to have the right conditions come together but there are people getting properly barrelled under a kite and not to take away from poleys but that's just not a realistic option for windsurfers ( unless maybe at jaws if your a lunatic)
Plus it seems like windsurfing makes you kinda grumpy^^^^
lol, Not all windsurfers are grumpy old men like that and shouldnt all be tarred with the same brush because of him. Have met some friendly happy ones on the rare occasion.
Try both and see what suits you,
but you will be up and riding and enjoying yourself a lot faster with kiting. And get a lot more time on the water without spending thousands on multiple boards and sails to try and cover wind ranges and then need to buy a shed and massive van or trailer to transport and store the windsurfing bulk.
Windsurfing appears unique in that sticking your landings are of no consequence? That video shows one landing and the guy was super pumped, the rest of the time it just cuts out.
Imagine skateboarding or snowboarding where stomping your landing wasn't part of the trick. Weird.
Been doing both for many years. Both are very addictive sports. Which one I prefer depends on the conditions:
In 20+ kn side shore wind and decent swell it's windsurfing 100% for me, no contest. In windsurfing I feel like I am one unit with the rig and the board. In kiting I am still being towed by something externally (which I can control unlike a boat in wake boarding). No boost in kiting gives me the same buzz as looping over a wave in windsurfing. On a kite in the end you are still suspended by a "parachute". Maybe if I had the skills & guts to do mega kite loops I would feel different?
However, in average Perth metro conditions I have much more fun kiting. I find Windsurfing in choppy water without waves relatively boring, probably since I can't freestyle. Freestyle windsurfing is incredibly hard and tedious to learn. You need less wind to be boosting jumps and doing tricks and riding waves on a kite (unless maybe you're putting a sail on a SUP). You notice the lulls much much less on a kite. On a windsurfer you come off the plane in the lulls, especially on marginal days. This can be very annoying. On a kite you just keep going and barely notice. It's also much easier to ride shore break on a kite since you plane almost instantly and can change direction faster.
So, if you still have the mind and body of a teenager, you are going to move to a windier place than QLD, and you are prepared to put in several days a week for the next couple of years learning a difficult but rewarding new sport (i.e no 8-5 job and your wife and kids have left you ), then give windsurfing a go. Otherwise I would suggest you start with some kiting lessons.
^ Yeah.
I think the peak experience provided by windsurfing is higher than what is provided by kitesurfing. However who has the youth and the time and the local conditions to get there? Not me. And not OP.
Beachbreaks in SE Qld. are for kiting. No question. It's just not consistently windy enough and OP will pick up kitesurfing so much faster and be able to enjoy himself so much faster.
If OP has a bay or a lake or whatever nearby instead then he could consider windsurfing. It's not something to learn in the surf anyway.
That said "mowing the lawn" on a windsurfer, while it may appear boring, feels fantastic. It's being one with the gear. It's leaning into the wind with most or all of your weight under the sail. It's essentially low level flying.
Select to expand quoteholgs said..
You notice the lulls much much less on a kite. On a windsurfer you come off the plane in the lulls, especially on marginal days. This can be very annoying. On a kite you just keep going and barely notice. It's also much easier to ride shore break on a kite since you plane almost instantly and can change direction faster.
So, if you still have the mind and body of a teenager, you are going to move to a windier place than QLD, and you are prepared to put in several days a week for the next couple of years learning a difficult but rewarding new sport (i.e no 8-5 job and your wife and kids have left you ), then give windsurfing a go. Otherwise I would suggest you start with some kiting lessons.
I windsurfed for more than 10 years and now have been kiting for just over 10. I would have to agree with you holgs. The thing that really put me off windsurfing was that with the lulls you end up bobbing along not on the plane, waiting for the wind to pick up. With kiting you are always on the plane, however if the wind dies it is generally harder to keep upwind.
I would still love to get out on a windsurfer when the wind is 30 knts plus if i could. At this sort of wind speed (esecially if it is also gusty) kiting can get pretty dangerous but windsurfing is great fun. However, I dont have any windsurfing gear anymore and i generally find it's too much crap to lug around in the car.
Select to expand quoteKennyK said..
Hi,
Looking at getting into either wind surfing or kite surfing, and want to hear from those who have done both.
Which do you prefer and why?
BTW, I am 51 years old and have surfed for 40 years and done some sailing, so expect to pick either up reasonably easy.
Cheers,
Ken.
Don't worry about your age, you are never too old:
Mark_Australia is WHO I agree with all the way... Can't beat WAVE SAiling on 73-85l WAVE Board with 4.7 4.2 WAVEJumping...If ya have to 5.3 or 5.4 but up Brisbane any way,you don't get the conditions for it so you'll get a lot more kiting than windsurfing..
I've done both, windsurfing(waves) for about 15yrs and kiting now for 13yrs heres my take on it;
Both are great fun but....
Under 10 knots both can be done but its a bit like rooting a fat chick, not much fun unless ur desperate.
Flatwater = Kitesurfing
Waves 10 to 20 knots = Kitesurfing
Waves 20 knots plus and cross to cross off wind = Windsurfing
Waves 20 knots plus and cross on to onshore wind = Kitesurfing
If you live in SEQ you will be able to count the good days for windsurfing on your fingers (maybe on 2 hands) thats why so many windsurfers around here took up kitesurfing and haven't looked back.
If you live in WA thats another story......
Windsurfing was the greatest thing ever in the late 80's and through the 90's and then evolution happened and kiting was born.
The acceleration, the air time, the wave riding in your natural stance, the lightness and durability of the gear is all a huge step forward.
If kites weren't invented then I'm pretty sure I'd still be loving windsurfing. Can't believe anyone that loves the wind would rather wallow on an 8'6 plank
than fly on a surfboard.
NB: will admit to have been comprehensively beaten by a poley in drag races on flat water in 25 knots...
Kiting is easier and you will be doing massive jumps before you know it. Good times!
But You might die kite surfing.
I have saved two kiters from dying.
A friend broke his neck.
I nearly drowned getting dragged into a pier when learning to kite.
But I did stub my toe once windsurfing.
I do windsurfing and I am still a beginner/intermediate... never tried kiting, althoug they say it takes less time to become good at it, to me it always looked quite dangerous...
on a windsurf, when I feel I don't control it, I just empty the sail and the danger's gone.. if you're patient enough to take your time to learn windsurfing, I think it will be rewarding in the end.. and that feeling of course that tere's always something new to learn is also exciting...
but again, I don't really know much about kitesurfing and I cannot really compare the two sports..
and you CAN have fun in lighter winds, you just need to have the proper board and the sail... of course, to have all the sails and board sizes for all different wind strenghts, it can be expensive...
but I don't know, in the end i'd say that it also depends on your character, KITE is like more spread, more mainstream, more risky too maybe..
WINDSURFING is more PRO, more technical I think? you cannot jump on board and play, it takes time...
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.
