Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
I got really tempted about 10-15 years ago as many of my WS friends were switching over.
Two of them are now in wheelchairs for the rest of their lives, while I'm still standing and "pole surfing".
To add a bit~
Both were very experienced, on modern equipment, and had been kiting for over 5-6 years by the time they were hurt. The first one was a kiting instructor and had (maybe still does) a kiting business, he was very good, knew all the tricks, and would pull off higher air than anybody around at the time. But when you land on the water from big air, it has to be much deeper than 4 to 6", it wasn't, he went down like a sack of ice, now he's a tri-palegic, has one good arm, but he was a quad for the first year after.
The other one knew the first one, in fact he bought his kiting stuff from him, also very experienced, he went down about a year later on a very windy day. Launching his kite and got a bar wrap, lines wrapping around his bar and safety release, the wind took him up and over the sand dunes just inside of the beach, he's now a paraplegic.
Both of these guys just got married w/in a couple of years before their accidents, and for both of them, nothing below the belt works any more, really sad for them both.
...whoah. Only accidents I've had windsurfing are a nasty scrape from the fin and a busted or fractured rib from the boom. I couldn't sneeze nor laugh for two weeks. I feel bad for your mates.
I wanted to point out that you can windsurf in light winds. And it's still really, really enjoyable. I'm ~78kg and used to own a 110 carve with a 40cm fin and a 7.2m freerace sail and I'd get going if a kite got going. Guaranteed. And that's not really "big" gear. So if I pulled up to the carpark and saw kites going I knew I could too. Sometimes better because the larger windsurf board planes earlier and longer plus you can float out to the wind very easily.
In light winds the apparent wind is very different. You are sailing at very, very high apparent angles. You are always "closing the gap". You also sail at higher speeds relative to the actual wind speed, perhaps even double for a moment while you crank into a gybe. Not sure but it feels like it. : )
Also lighter winds tend to be more constant so once you are up and planing nothing much changes. You can let go and relax completely. It's super nice on a warm day.
...making myself want to buy some big gear.
Interesting that this subject is revived. I ran an e-survey back in 2013 asking this very question across both the Windsuring and Kitesurfing forums. "Are you a Windsurfer or a Kitesurfer?"
They are a bit too tricky to read, but hopefully it will provide some interesting food for thought. If people think it is worth it....I am happy to run this survey again, so that we can see what changes there have been in our communities.
(I was the nerdy one who ran the survey) Based on the results, I just want to share with you a few messages I took away from the exercise. The survey was very very general, with no indication of the type of individuals who responded (i.e. I have no idea of the age of individual, years sailing experience, or any bad experiences with WS or KS)
(KS = Kitesurfing, WS = Windsurfing)
General points:
- In the end, the data shows the profile of "who we are" as a "wind" community - that's about all
- I don't think the data really can say much about which is a more "popular sport"
- It shows a little bit of pattern about people who choose to switch between the 2 sport
- More people have seen a shark while sailing than I had thought!!
Some interesting facts:
- There were exactly 157 respondents from each of the wind-surfing and kite-surfing groups after 3 weeks of data collection (freaky..eh?!)
- There were 110 WS'er who had always been a WS'er, and there were 80 KS'ers who had always been a KS'er.
- There were 63 current KS'ers who started out as WS'ers, while there was only 1 current WS'er who started out as a KS'er
- There were 21 current WS'ers who tried KS and has returned to be a WS, while there were no KS'ers who tried WS and then returned to be a KS'er (see previous point, there was only 1 KS'er ever switched to WS anyway)
My only conclusion is that Windsurfers are more open to trying Kite, while Kitesurfers do not tend to try WS in general.
Just stating , not hating......happy Sunday. 
any idea of WS typical age range?
When I stumbled on the SB website a few years ago as a sailor, I thought I'd way older than any of the 'younger generation' likely to be on this site, thus the stupid username.
Now it seems the more I meet, it seems most of the Windsurfers are the experienced side of say 40 if not older.
It would be interesting to know how many used to Windsurf back in the 80's, then came back to it again as part of the supposed mid life crisis?
Select to expand quotecrustysailor said..
It would be interesting to know how many used to Windsurf back in the 80's, then came back to it again as part of the supposed mid life crisis?
I'd say lots, based on who I meet at Peli Point.
I don't think it's a midlife crisis - I think it's people who now have more time (older / grown up kids) and money getting back into it.
I think they're also bringing their kids into the sport as well. There's quite a few 10 - 16 year olds sailing Peli Point harness footstraps and planing. Great to see.
Select to expand quoteFlickySpinny said..
I don't think it's a midlife crisis - I think it's people who now have more time (older / grown up kids) and money getting back into it.
seconded.
My own experience was 5years off due to studies (so poor student), then a few more years of paying off debts (car, etc) and having holidays.
The answer to the original question may well be skewed by windsurfers who are guilty of:
1. Saying they tried kiting, but because they were "experienced" windsurfers, thought they didn't need lessons (i.e. proper lessons from a qualified instructor), and so never really learned the proper safety procedures etc. - hence developing the view that it's really dangerous, and returned to windsurfing.
2. Assuming because they've heard how "easy" kiting is, that after they found it was going to take some time (maybe a year) before they got beyond the "kook" stage, they decided it was too embarrassing to continue (of course you can't admit that - better to say "ah it's too easy").
3. Assuming that because they windsurfed they had at least 50% of the kiting caper covered and that they'd pick it up in super quick time.
I spent (5) years enjoying windsurfing. I'd love to say I could reliably plane out of gybes in all conditions, but despite all my efforts I reckon that was beyond me (I'd argue only about 1 in 20 people can, and they are generally 10 or more years plus in the sport). I then decided to have some kiting lessons. 2 years down the track, I spend more time on the water (rather than in it), I can make reasonably reliable turns and I have heaps more to learn if I wish.
I've met many more kiters who have windsurfed (informed opinion), than windsurfers who've kited (as reflected in the survey). Generally ex-windsurfer kiters don't lay sh1t on windsurfing as such. Why would they? However, without exception they enjoy the fact that a full quiver of gear is considerably cheaper, they don't need a van to carry their gear and they can travel with their gear with minimum fuss. In any event, each community seems to be full of great people.
In summary, IMHO, anyone who says kiting is "easy" just doesn't get it. Sure, it can be dangerous - particularly if you haven't been prepared to spend some time learning the safety issues (and "the rules"), but like windsurfing, it's fun and it's addictive. Why don't we all just get on the water, respect everyone else's right to be there as well, and enjoy whatever it is that we do.
If I ever returned to windsurfing, (and I never will, no offence) ...
there are two main things that would really stand out for me.
The first thing would be how you can hang off the boom.
The boom offers resistance and enables good balance.
You can't effectively hang off a kite bar.
A kite bar is just a stick that freely slides up and down the chicken-rope.
The second thing would be how I'd miss that instant power-spike on demand.
When you fully bomb a downstroke with a kite ....
it's like pushing the gas pedal to the floor.
Select to expand quotewaveslave said..
If I ever returned to windsurfing, (and I never will, no offence) ...
there are two main things that would really stand out for me.
The first thing would be how you can hang off the boom.
The boom offers resistance and enables good balance.
You can't effectively hang off a kite bar.
A kite bar is just a stick that freely slides up and down the chicken-rope.
The second thing would be how I'd miss that instant power-spike on demand.
When you fully bomb a downstroke with a kite ....
it's like pushing the gas pedal to the floor.
Biggest difference is you let go of a boom and it falls. Let go of a kite bar and it still stays there.
Windsurfing rigs are unstable and much (much) harder to balance. They won't stand up by themselves. A kite however will continue to fly by itself (which is also the main reason kiting is inherently dangerous).
Select to expand quoteWatto5 said..
The answer to the original question may well be skewed by windsurfers who are guilty of:
1. Saying they tried kiting, but because they were "experienced" windsurfers, thought they didn't need lessons (i.e. proper lessons from a qualified instructor), and so never really learned the proper safety procedures etc. - hence developing the view that it's really dangerous, and returned to windsurfing.
2. Assuming because they've heard how "easy" kiting is, that after they found it was going to take some time (maybe a year) before they got beyond the "kook" stage, they decided it was too embarrassing to continue (of course you can't admit that - better to say "ah it's too easy").
3. Assuming that because they windsurfed they had at least 50% of the kiting caper covered and that they'd pick it up in super quick time.
I spent (5) years enjoying windsurfing. I'd love to say I could reliably plane out of gybes in all conditions, but despite all my efforts I reckon that was beyond me (I'd argue only about 1 in 20 people can, and they are generally 10 or more years plus in the sport). I then decided to have some kiting lessons. 2 years down the track, I spend more time on the water (rather than in it), I can make reasonably reliable turns and I have heaps more to learn if I wish.
I've met many more kiters who have windsurfed (informed opinion), than windsurfers who've kited (as reflected in the survey). Generally ex-windsurfer kiters don't lay sh1t on windsurfing as such. Why would they? However, without exception they enjoy the fact that a full quiver of gear is considerably cheaper, they don't need a van to carry their gear and they can travel with their gear with minimum fuss. In any event, each community seems to be full of great people.
In summary, IMHO, anyone who says kiting is "easy" just doesn't get it. Sure, it can be dangerous - particularly if you haven't been prepared to spend some time learning the safety issues (and "the rules"), but like windsurfing, it's fun and it's addictive. Why don't we all just get on the water, respect everyone else's right to be there as well, and enjoy whatever it is that we do.
I love how people finish a post with "why can't we all just love and accept each other how we are blah blah" at the end of a explanation of why their sport is better and how the opinions of people, who actually bothered to post an answer to the OP, are invalid because they possessed a whole lot of false assumptions!
One of the risks you face when you ask people to post their opinions is that they might actually provide it.
I take from your post that you have no intention or desire to return to windsurfing. You are perfectly happy kiting. That's fantastic!
I windsurf and have no plans to ever kite. a) because I think it's too dangerous. B) because I don't think I would find it challenging enough. c) the other plusses for kiting like cost and transport are not enough to out weigh the first two.
Some people have returned to windsurfing, and of those that have posted, the main reasons given are they found kiting easier and preferred the challenge of windsurfing. Safety concerns were another common reason given. No one said it was "easy"; just easier.
It's also commonly accepted that the learning curve to get planing in kiting, to an intermediate state, is faster than with windsurfing. You even point out that it you are at a satisfactory intermediate level kiting in less than half the time you spent windsurfing. You also mention it can be dangerous; presumably accepting that it is more dangerous relative to windsurfing?
On one hand you dismiss the bulk of the pole-to- kite-to-pole answers and you then basically give the same information, it's easier and it's relatively dangerous.
IMHO, 
, it would be perfectly reasonable to provide your opinion regarding the OP without any need to justify it or to point out the flaws in other people's, and hence, actually provide love and respect to everyone regardless of their addiction.
Peace brother 
PS. I do realise the slight air of hypocrisy in my logic.
Select to expand quoteFlickySpinny said..
crustysailor said..
It would be interesting to know how many used to Windsurf back in the 80's, then came back to it again as part of the supposed mid life crisis?
I'd say lots, based on who I meet at Peli Point.
I don't think it's a midlife crisis - I think it's people who now have more time (older / grown up kids) and money getting back into it.
I think they're also bringing their kids into the sport as well. There's quite a few 10 - 16 year olds sailing Peli Point harness footstraps and planing. Great to see.
That's me sort off. Windsurfed Pelican Pt for many yrs in the 80s & 90s. Came back to water sports (kiting) only a few years ago. Now just getting my kids into windsurfing.
I chose kiting cause I’m more of an adrenaline junkie. IMO they’re similar if you just want to cruise around. However kiting has a serious "WOO HOO" factor when doing insane jumps. I only ever got that wavesailing big waves but that's rare where as I can do a massive jump while kiting even on flat water.
Yes it's more dangerous but almost all accidents happen only in strong gusty winds.
And as an aside, I agree with Watto. Many kiters have windsurf backgrounds so appreciate both. I face a lot more agro from windsurfers now than when I was windsurfing. Nothing has changed except my form of propulsion.
Select to expand quoteWatto5 said..
Why don't we all just get on the water, respect everyone else's right to be there as well, and enjoy whatever it is that we do.
I can't comment on the original question as I've only ever windsurfered and have no inclination to try kiting.
However I will comment on Watto5 statement above. His plea sounds laudable but in reality segregation is the only thing that really works. I intensely dislike sailing amounst kites as they take up enormous amounts of room and are unpredictable in their movement
Select to expand quoteJohn340 said.. in reality segregation is the only thing that really works.
I totally disagree. I sail at two fairly busy locations (Woodies Beach 3 and Pelican Point) where kites and windsurfers sail together and get along just fine.
Just give them lots of room, make it clear where you're going and make sure you don't gybe / tack etc without looking.
You can spot the guys who are just learning to kite a mile off.... give those guys STACKS of room and you should be fine.
Kites aren't as unpredictable as you think (unless they're learners - see above). Sail with them a bit, watch them and you'll learn the patterns and what to expect pretty quickly.
Select to expand quoteFlickySpinny said..
Kites aren't as unpredictable as you think (unless they're learners - see above). Sail with them a bit, watch them and you'll learn the patterns and what to expect pretty quickly.
True. Kiters at Pelican Pt all kite within very close proximity to each other which indicates their actions are actually quite predicable once you know whats going on.
I started windsurfing when I was 5, in 1981, just in the summers. After high school I went on a one year road trip through Europe and Marocco windsurfing on some of ties best beaches. During that time I picked up surfing and started getting a bit lazy to windsurf. All that gear, rigging your sails and especially derigging your sailed. That one year became a second year when I saw the first kitesurfer attempting that sport in Tarifa. After this second year I continued travelling but dropped windsurfing as it was too much of a hassle (and expensive) to travel. Arrived in Bali in 2000 where I picked up kitesurfing in 2005. Not enough wind in Bali for windsurfing otherwise I might have not started kitesurfing. In 2013 I started windsurfing again here in East Java as we have plenty of wind from May till October. The last two years I haven't kitesurfed that much as I find the windsurfing more fun. It's more like a challenge. To me it feels that kitesurfing can be done by anyone, its also less of a work out. This year I will be kitesurfing and windsurfing some of the waves around G-Land. Kitesurfing when the wind is up to 18 knots, windsurfing when the wind will be stronger than that.
Well much to the horror of any windsurfing purists (and my windsurfing buddies from Sanctuary Point), I had my first kiteboarding lesson today out on Lake Woolumboola. Here's my thoughts after a 1.5 hour session....
I have owned a training kite since 2006 and have flown it every now and again. This has put me a good position of understanding positions and power zones etc... Anyway, after a quick lesson of the basics including the rigging of the kite and bar, basics of flying a 9m kite (wind was about 15kts NE) and some body dragging in the water, my instructor asked if I wanted to try it with a board...
I am happy to say that after an hour I was able to do some very basic runs on the twin tip board and even managed to go to windward a little bit! An awkward fall in shallow water caused me to sprain my right knee that stopped the lesson unfortunately. Yes I dumped the kite a large number of times and yes I did loose control a lot, however learning the two release methods and being able to instinctively use them was a saviour.
Am I a convert? Not yet (and probably never will be). Am I keen to pursue both sports? YES PLEASE!!! 
You only live once and as I'm turning the darker side of 45 this year, time is starting to run out... Why not enjoy the little things in life eh??? :-))
My aim will be very similar to Jeroen above. Kite in winds 12-18 knots and then do some 'pole dancing' in winds above that. Need at least another two or three lessons before I consider any purchase of a board and kite though... and of course my timing isn't the best with us now in autumn...
Okay so the 'sprain' to the knee has turned out to be a meniscus tear of the knee and is bloody painful. Some painkillers, three days of rest initially and an x-ray / ultrasound to be done tomorrow. Should have stuck to windsurfing!!!
In all seriousness, I can't blame kitesurfing solely but I can be confident in saying that if I did some pole dancing yesterday instead of some tea bagging, I probably would not have been in this situation now... 
Live and learn I guess...
Welcome to the dark side .... cue sinister laugh....
Sorry about the knee, could be worse though, could have happened at the start of the season (been there done that)
Right, I'm planning to kite a bit when the wind is too low for windsurfing.
I’ll still windsurf in the winds over 16knts.
Seems like I’m going to either die soon, or destroy my knees. Stop scaring me !!! 
Watto, havent' seen you at Pinnaroo's for a while.
Wondered where you've gone. Apparently only a 100m South
Select to expand quoteTonyPolony said..
Am I a convert? Not yet (and probably never will be). Am I keen to pursue both sports? YES PLEASE!!!
hey tony what were you thinking for god sake, your a" Gustbuster " I didn't see your post on the team site and we had a 20 to 25 n/easter at sanstury point on a weekend and we were worried about you
sorry buddy but I just realized you don't have a GPS
anyway I sent strommy a text and told him to find his own friends to play with
hope your back in action soon
tony,tony, tony,mate what were you thinking,one of the best windsurfing spots in nsw and you teabaged there!!!!,we will buy you a gps if that's what it takes,second thought you can teabag or teatotal as much as you like before 9am,AFTER THAT YOUR A GUSTBUSTER!!!OH THAT NICE FREE 7MTR THAT WAS COMING YOUR WAY,I JUST MADE A TABLE CLOTH OUT OF IT!!!
It didn't mean anything! You know I love windsurfing more than I do kitesurfing... Just don't leave me!!! I'll do anything to make it up!!!!!!!
Just call me kite-curious??? ...and Strommy was just a fling!!!!
Anyway, I just wanted to know what all this fuss was about and exactly how dangerous it could be... guess I learned the hard way.
Oh well, not sure how long I'll be on dry land for mate, but I'm pissed off regardless.
Select to expand quoteObelix said..
Right, I'm planning to kite a bit when the wind is too low for windsurfing.
I’ll still windsurf in the winds over 16knts.
Seems like I’m going to either die soon, or destroy my knees. Stop scaring me !!!
Watto, havent' seen you at Pinnaroo's for a while.
Wondered where you've gone. Apparently only a 100m South
why?
spend $3K on kite gear and lessons ........ or just buy a 120L freeride and 7.5 to plane in 12-16kn.
(average people I mean. I have 8.5m and 135L and am maxxed in 15kn - I'm 100kg)
Mark,
I have a 135L and 7.5m, and only manage to get it going when over 15 knts.
Call it a poor skill, but anything not "green" on the Seabreeze scale, and I'm not going.
And yes, I'm over 100kg too ...
re: $3000
Maybe not that much.
Just ordered a brand new 13m Switch Element kite with the bar @ $1150.
I expect to pay another $400 for a S/H board.
A beginner/intermediate board (brand new - equivalent quality) would be around $1300.
A 6-7 years old windsurfer would cost me $350.
Each performance fin cost me so far $200+ brand new, or $120-$140 S/H.
A new sail would set you back $700-$1000... a good s/h $150-$350
A top of the range kite or a windsurfer would be over $2000 either .
So not so much different.
The kitesurfing lessons are more expensive, true.
I currently windsurf with 2 guys who windsurfed, then took up kiting and we're really addicted to it for about 10 years. Both are outstanding at kiting but they are now windsurfing again. Why? Because windsurfing is much more challenging to them. They still kite in slushy semi onshore surf but that's about it.
Personally I would be very happy to do both if I had the time but I am having so much fun in my 6th year of windsurfing I don't feel the need to change. Just keep doing what you love doing.
Select to expand quoteObelix said..
Mark,
I have a 135L and 7.5m, and only manage to get it going when over 15 knts.
Call it a poor skill, but anything not "green" on the Seabreeze scale, and I'm not going.
And yes, I'm over 100kg too ...
re: $3000
Maybe not that much.
Just ordered a brand new 13m Switch Element kite with the bar @ $1150.
I expect to pay another $400 for a S/H board.
A beginner/intermediate board (brand new - equivalent quality) would be around $1300.
A 6-7 years old windsurfer would cost me $350.
Each performance fin cost me so far $200+ brand new, or $120-$140 S/H.
A new sail would set you back $700-$1000... a good s/h $150-$350
A top of the range kite or a windsurfer would be over $2000 either .
So not so much different.
The kitesurfing lessons are more expensive, true.
well OK I was lucky but if you take your time and are stingey lol
10 y/o freerace, $150
Sail free here
Boom secondhand $180
mast secondhand $400
$800 to do warp speed in 14kn and just as it gets too much I can just dog out on wave gear.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..Obelix said..
Right, I'm planning to kite a bit when the wind is too low for windsurfing.
I’ll still windsurf in the winds over 16knts.
Seems like I’m going to either die soon, or destroy my knees. Stop scaring me !!!
Watto, havent' seen you at Pinnaroo's for a while.
Wondered where you've gone. Apparently only a 100m South
why?
spend $3K on kite gear and lessons ........ or just buy a 120L freeride and 7.5 to plane in 12-16kn.
(average people I mean. I have 8.5m and 135L and am maxxed in 15kn - I'm 100kg)
Cause you can still do mast high jumps on a kitesurfer in 12-16knots. On a windsurfer you can get going but those "woo hoo" moments are much rarer.
^^ OK and if kiting you are limited at the top end.
You are the passenger hanging under the bar, not the pilot
Chess vs checkers.
BTW windsurfing in waves in 12-16 is bloody exciting nowadays, you are coming from the 10y/o perspective of nothing happens til 20kn. Not anymore
But I thought you didn't want to go there with comparo's .....? We can do that to death in the other thread
My point was if a windsurfer wants to get out in less he does not have to go kiting, he can get out in less without spending big on an extra sport.
