Select to expand quoteDiscus said..
Maybe i should explain.
Having windsurfed in the past Ive recently decided to try it again. I thought about kite surfing but some how didnt think it was quite for me. Thinking that there must be some people out there that may have tried both I thought it would be good to hear about their findings.
So you're kite-curious. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Select to expand quoteJonesySail said..wes Greene said...teabaggin said..
Ive been windsurfing since 1982 . I took up kiting in 2000 . I was stoked to find a sport where you could boost so easily but a few injuries did come with it. Windsurfing gear only got used very occasionally in the first 6 years of kiting. Missed the feeling of really blasting along on flat water and riding waves DTL on a windsurfer so stocked up with latest windsurfing gear. Was great to get back to windsurfing. Now I kitesurf and windsurf , it feels so good to be doing both.
there is answer.....
do both 
Another vote for doing both, kiting is super handy for travel and light winds and or shallow water spots, but when it's windy I prefer to windsurf.
A lot depends on location and conditions to which is one is the better option.
Yes, but what did you take up first? Windsurfing I bet. In which case the theory still holds.
I ran into one of my windsurfing mates yesterday. He was on course to purchase a new kite board. I asked why he strayed, knowingly, into the "dark side" ? He reckoned kiting is less physically taxing than windsurfing. I suppose that is a good enough reason. As long as we enjoy the sports, and do it in a safe way without impinging on others enjoyment...
I started windsurfing and kiting at the same time. Could go and turn around on a kite before i could plane on a windsurfer.
Now, I pretty much only windsurf. I kite when its a 15kt seabreeze or when im on a surf trip with mates who have their kiting gear and i didnt bother taking my gear.
You look at both sports on paper and kiting is heaps better. It less physical(although my knees hate kiting), can hook around in light wind easier, the gear is simple and easy to buy/sell, its easier to travel.
But its not windsurfing. Windsurfing is awesome...
If you see 2 blokes kissing and holding hands but at the same time they've got kids in tow from their previouse relationship
Well I guess it's a bit like that
I started windsurfing in Holland when I was 6. When I moved to Bali there was simple not enough wind to windsurf so I sticked to surfing. Then in 2003 I picked up kiteboarding as the little wind we have in Bali was enough to have fun with a kite. If Bali would have had enough wind, I most likely would not have picked up kiteboarding. Then a few years back we started a small resort in East Java and it turned out to be a super windy location. My friends left me some windsurfing gear and I started windsurfing again. Now when it's windy I have a choice to make. Most often I take out my windsurfing gear. That's probably because my first love with windsurfing and the sport is just more demanding and fun to do. I ride boards around the 80-85 liters and mostly on a 4.9 - 5.0. Unfortunately the water is flat at Tabuhan Island but we do have plenty of wind from May until October averaging between 15 - 25 knots. The nearest waves are at G-Land (lefts) and have started to explore the right-handers on the other side of this peninsula.
Select to expand quotejeroen said..
I started windsurfing in Holland when I was 6. When I moved to Bali there was simple not enough wind to windsurf so I sticked to surfing. Then in 2003 I picked up kiteboarding as the little wind we have in Bali was enough to have fun with a kite. If Bali would have had enough wind, I most likely would not have picked up kiteboarding. Then a few years back we started a small resort in East Java and it turned out to be a super windy location. My friends left me some windsurfing gear and I started windsurfing again. Now when it's windy I have a choice to make. Most often I take out my windsurfing gear. That's probably because my first love with windsurfing and the sport is just more demanding and fun to do. I ride boards around the 80-85 liters and mostly on a 4.9 - 5.0. Unfortunately the water is flat at Tabuhan Island but we do have plenty of wind from May until October averaging between 15 - 25 knots. The nearest waves are at G-Land (lefts) and have started to explore the right-handers on the other side of this peninsula.
Your resort gets good reviews, do you have hire windsurfing gear yet?
Select to expand quotegmitton said..
Kiteboarders are great if they stay out of the way. Some are good, some dunno!
When did the topic change???
Select to expand quotejeroen said..
The nearest waves are at G-Land (lefts) and have started to explore the right-handers on the other side of this peninsula.
G-Land still exists? I swear I haven't seen nor heard of it for about two decades.
Started windsurfing in 92, started Kiting in 2003, did both till early 2007. Now I mainly wave kite. Found Kiting fairly easy to pick up, certainly compared to windsurfing. No doubt wsf is a hard sport to master and far more taxing on the body. I miss the intense workout and high level of strength and fitness. However there are lots of pro's to Kiting, travel is a major one. Never forget the Italian guy being charged 1700 Euro for wad gear out of Mauritius airport, he was a bit taken aback when I paid $50 for my xlarge kiting bag. I do occasionally have urge to go back, however when I have tried found it a bit too hard. Certainly if I was spending weeks in a flat windy spot, I would give it a go. Used to surf a longboard and have SUP as well, reckon it's all good, beats hell out of sitting at home looking at screen.
yeah the gear takes up less space if you only have one kite. but it's an invalid argument, it's like saying i only body board because it's less gear, or body surf. if i do a windsurf trip I'm taking 1 board, 2 sails (rolled as one) 1 mast, 1 boom and extension, and 1 or 2 surf boards, so I imagine if i'm kiting i would take 2 kites, kites board, one or 2 surf boards, plus lines and ****, it still equals at least 2 bags.
and this thread is stupid, it's like asking Gays that have changed to be straight. the answer is who cares, as long as your getting your rocks off.
Started windsurfing way back when the only board around was a windsurfer one design. Started kiting when the kites were 2 line killers. I have lived within 50 metres of the waters edge for the last 15 years so I have access to just about every windy session available. I love both these sports with a passion but I have to say that with kiting I am on the water twice as much as I would be if I was just windsurfing.
Doing both sports really makes you appreciate the other even more. IMO why limit yourself to one or the other, do both, work out which one you like best for different conditions and maximise the time and enjoyment on the water. The only real question is how the hell do you finance both??
Learning to windsurf is a frustrating PITA, I can't imagine many kiters that would be willing to go through that when they can already kite.
Select to expand quoteZed said..
Learning to windsurf is a frustrating PITA, I can't imagine many kiters that would be willing to go through that when they can already kite.
"I can't imagine many kiters" Many! So far we haven't unearthed even one! Barri is the only one even close, he started windsurfing and kiting at the same time.
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
Also know as "the easy way out".
That's what I love about windsurfing, it's not easy!
