Forums > Windsurfing General

Thinking of learning Windsurfing or Kitesurfing

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Created by SmellySkater > 9 months ago, 2 Feb 2009
SmellySkater
110 posts
2 Feb 2009 9:01PM
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Hello everybody,

I'm new to this forum and am after some advice. Is Windsurfing harder to learn than Kiteboarding? I've been told Windsurfing is easier by friends who windsurf however they say Kiteboarding is like body boarding is to surfing and saying it's more of a metro sexual sport. I just thought it would be easier to learn and less expensive.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Mark _australia
WA, 23435 posts
2 Feb 2009 9:07PM
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Windsurfing is harder to learn but more rewarding.

Kiting is cheaper and you can learn on the same gear as a pro may use.....which IS good.... but once you can get going, turn around and jump you have done 75% of all there is to do.

Windsurfing needs more gear but once you can get planing, turn around and jump a bit you have done about 20% of what there is to do.

Look at a 30ft hi backloop or forward loop or pushloop on a windsurfer, vs a 30ft hi dangle with a board twisty move on a kite and you'll be convinced I'm sure

If you live in place with average 15kn seabreezes in summer I'd say go kite, but if you are indeed in Sth Africa you have some strong winds and awesome waves - go windsurf!!!

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
2 Feb 2009 9:09PM
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Oh Boy.
There's a very similar thread going on at the moment, (is windsurfing good) I'm afraid it just degenerates into a slanging match between kiters and windsurfers.

Think you have to make your own mind up on this, get lessons in both and see what appeals the most.

SmellySkater
110 posts
2 Feb 2009 9:21PM
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Thanks for the advice Mark, yeah I just read some of the is windsurfing any good thread. Yeah there seems to be a bit of a battle going on, I have some friends that surf, they talk about windsurfing sometimes because they get into it a bit I think. They say kiteboarding is like body boarding is to surfing and roller blade is to skate boarding is it really that bad? because roller bades to skate boarding is pretty lame.

echostorm
QLD, 1245 posts
2 Feb 2009 10:28PM
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Mark _australia said...

once you can get going, turn around and jump you have done 75% of all there is to do.



I know I am biting at this stupid post, but honestly mark, you cant be serious!!!

As an example, here is a video of snow kiting, which has all the moves kite surfing has, but in an entirely different element, something that is incomprehendable windsurfing. I see at least 30 different moves in this video, not variations of the same move like your talking about.


dieseagull
NSW, 225 posts
3 Feb 2009 12:17AM
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echostorm said...
As an example, here is a video of snow kiting, which has all the moves kite surfing has, but in an entirely different element, something that is incomprehendable windsurfing.



So I guess you hadn't heard of land boarding and ice boarding?

Just don't worry about it. Go back to the kiting forum and enjoy yourself.

nebbian
WA, 6277 posts
2 Feb 2009 10:27PM
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Thanks for posting that Echostorm.

I still didn't see anyone sailing backwinded?

Here's the sort of stuff that people are doing on windsurfers (this was posted recently in the windsurfing general forum):



Make up your own mind Smellyskater.


webandit
WA, 22 posts
2 Feb 2009 10:57PM
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That windsurfing vid looks like a combo between rollerblading and ballet.

windwarning
VIC, 600 posts
3 Feb 2009 1:04AM
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smellyskater, do ya self a favour take up windsurfing you will love it. i heard its big to over in south africa where your from. so get a lesson to its alot harder than kiting. kiting you can learn in one day, windsurfing you wont so get some lessons.

Mark _australia
WA, 23435 posts
3 Feb 2009 12:00AM
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echostorm said...

Mark _australia said...

once you can get going, turn around and jump you have done 75% of all there is to do.



I know I am biting at this stupid post, but honestly mark, you cant be serious!!!

As an example, here is a video of snow kiting, which has all the moves kite surfing has, but in an entirely different element, something that is incomprehendable windsurfing. I see at least 30 different moves in this video, not variations of the same move like your talking about.




Sorry mate but all your aerial moves are hanging under the kite bar. The kite stays where it is and you twiddle your legs around to make the board change attitude a bit.
No loops where you are higher than the kite


All your (kiters I mean) wave rides are simple bottom - top turn combos. No looping aerials like a goiter or air taka (look those up sometime).


Charl dv
WA, 2485 posts
3 Feb 2009 1:20AM
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nebbian said...

Thanks for posting that Echostorm.

I still didn't see anyone sailing backwinded?

Here's the sort of stuff that people are doing on windsurfers (this was posted recently in the windsurfing general forum):


Make up your own mind Smellyskater.





if a stripper saw what a mockery you make of pole dancing im sure they'd go shoot themselves
all im seeing is variation on the same silly spin. and besides i dont see many windsurfers busting any tricks, if wat the tool at my local said as he rabbled on about how much he loves boys "ive been sailing here since u wer in diapers rabble rabble rabble" and its taken him THAT long just to learn how to ride left and right and say look at me mommy i go fast and get in the way then cry when someone turns around down wind of me and go nuts at people less than half my age then ur sport looks stupid.


and ps mark, wave ridings for pussies who cant handle freestyle, that applies to both sports. if u wana hit waves go surf leave ur pole dancing nancy **** at home.

AUS-057
QLD, 466 posts
3 Feb 2009 6:41AM
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Didn't take many posts to degenerate into mines better than yours discussion...

tmiddled
NSW, 253 posts
3 Feb 2009 10:01AM
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I only came on here because that Smelly wnker posted on the kitesurfing forum aswell and I knew he was trolling for something, but seriously guys, wtf?

Why do you care what other people think of your sport? Personally, what looked like the same kinda move over and over on the windsurfer looked quite boring to me. No boubt there is more to it than that. And I'm sure going up and down, then boosting moving your legs and body a bit, then coming back down again looks boring to windsurfers.

I have only just started to get into the wave riding on my kite and it is f'n awesome. I have seen some windsurfing also and it also looks awesome. Why the need for the 'mines better than yours' discussion.......again? Enjoy your spot and f*k everybody else

knot board
QLD, 1241 posts
3 Feb 2009 9:11AM
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Charl dv said...
if a stripper saw what a mockery you make of pole dancing im sure they'd go shoot themselves
all im seeing is variation on the same silly spin. and besides i dont see many windsurfers busting any tricks, if wat the tool at my local said as he rabbled on about how much he loves boys "ive been sailing here since u wer in diapers rabble rabble rabble" and its taken him THAT long just to learn how to ride left and right and say look at me mommy i go fast and get in the way then cry when someone turns around down wind of me and go nuts at people less than half my age then ur sport looks stupid.


and ps mark, wave ridings for pussies who cant handle freestyle, that applies to both sports. if u wana hit waves go surf leave ur pole dancing nancy **** at home.





Here you go Charl ,,,,,,, """"" ........ !!!! [Shift]

A handfull of punctuation marks and a shift key, seeing you don't have enough of your own.

bigmark100
NSW, 584 posts
3 Feb 2009 10:16AM
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go to capetown...... on a windy day , look out to sea at blouberg.
you will see 200 kiters, and about 3 windsurfers.....
i think that says it all.....

windsurfing is harder to learn
, takes years to get good
, requires more skill (a lot)
, looks like less fun
its also a lot safer (for rider and bystanders).

some of the above might explain why windsurfers loath kitesurfers, whereas kitesurfers dont really mind windsurfers.



dieseagull
NSW, 225 posts
3 Feb 2009 10:55AM
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bigmark100 said...
some of the above might explain why windsurfers loath kitesurfers, whereas kitesurfers dont really mind windsurfers.

Judging by the trends I've noticed, it's actually the other way around. That's why you guys are in our forum.

webandit said...
That windsurfing vid looks like a combo between rollerblading and ballet.

If we're making comparisons, then I guess you could liken kiting to asymmetric bars in Gymnastics. You know, the event that only the women do?

Charl dv said...
if a stripper saw what a mockery you make of pole dancing im sure they'd go shoot themselves
and besides i dont see many windsurfers busting any tricks

That's because you can't learn windsurfing in a week. Your post is so funny. It takes a special kind of guy to be worried about what strippers - a group of people with the lowest self esteem imaginable - thinks about them and/or their sport.

echostorm
QLD, 1245 posts
3 Feb 2009 10:15AM
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nebbian said...

Thanks for posting that Echostorm.

I still didn't see anyone sailing backwinded?

Here's the sort of stuff that people are doing on windsurfers (this was posted recently in the windsurfing general forum):


Make up your own mind Smellyskater.





FREAKING LOL... THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FUNNIEST VIDEO I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Richiefish
QLD, 5610 posts
3 Feb 2009 10:27AM
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Mark _australia said...

Windsurfing is harder to learn but more rewarding.

Kiting is cheaper and you can learn on the same gear as a pro may use.....which IS good.... but once you can get going, turn around and jump you have done 75% of all there is to do.

Windsurfing needs more gear but once you can get planing, turn around and jump a bit you have done about 20% of what there is to do.

Look at a 30ft hi backloop or forward loop or pushloop on a windsurfer, vs a 30ft hi dangle with a board twisty move on a kite and you'll be convinced I'm sure

If you live in place with average 15kn seabreezes in summer I'd say go kite, but if you are indeed in Sth Africa you have some strong winds and awesome waves - go windsurf!!!


Quote of the week...."30ft hi dangle with a board twisty" !!!
(its funny because its true)

nbr
QLD, 297 posts
3 Feb 2009 10:27AM
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Up here the kiting comunity is at war with each other with verbal abuse and the occasional fist thrown [egos?],while the windsurf people get on very well and often travel together to various locations.I am very happy to belong to the later group.

echostorm
QLD, 1245 posts
3 Feb 2009 12:06PM
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Mark _australia said...



No loops where you are higher than the kite


All your (kiters I mean) wave rides are simple bottom - top turn combos. No looping aerials like a goiter or air taka (look those up sometime).





You mean like this???

Charl dv
WA, 2485 posts
3 Feb 2009 11:14AM
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knot board said...

Charl dv said...
if a stripper saw what a mockery you make of pole dancing im sure they'd go shoot themselves
all im seeing is variation on the same silly spin. and besides i dont see many windsurfers busting any tricks, if wat the tool at my local said as he rabbled on about how much he loves boys "ive been sailing here since u wer in diapers rabble rabble rabble" and its taken him THAT long just to learn how to ride left and right and say look at me mommy i go fast and get in the way then cry when someone turns around down wind of me and go nuts at people less than half my age then ur sport looks stupid.


and ps mark, wave ridings for pussies who cant handle freestyle, that applies to both sports. if u wana hit waves go surf leave ur pole dancing nancy **** at home.





Here you go Charl ,,,,,,, """"" ........ !!!! [Shift]

A handfull of punctuation marks and a shift key, seeing you don't have enough of your own.



I am sorry, I did not know that you poleys appreciate grammar and punctuation. I didn't think it was worth my time hitting that many extra keys.

crazyjockey, because strippers are joy on the odd weekend out, if you don't like them you are batting for the wrong team.

Quote of the week...."30ft hi dangle with a board twisty"
that is in kiteboarding the equivelant of what the skill level of 90% of windsurfers are at in windsurfing (referring to the lack of ability and only being able to ride left and right doing nothing more).


kitesurfing might look repetative to you as you don't understand what is being done and can't spot the blatantly obvious differences in tricks or understand the difficulty in learning them, wakestyle kiteboarding would be on par with the windsurfing learning curve. Same applies to us I suppose we don't understand your tricks so we think its the same old crap over and over, although our repetative crap looks better to watch

Charl dv
WA, 2485 posts
3 Feb 2009 11:15AM
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nbr said...

Up here the kiting comunity is at war with each other with verbal abuse and the occasional fist thrown [egos?],while the windsurf people get on very well and often travel together to various locations.I am very happy to belong to the later group.


here our windsurfers try to knock heads with kids a 1/3 their age.

windwarning
VIC, 600 posts
3 Feb 2009 1:28PM
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dont learn kitesurfing there all gay boys with shorts over there wetys

Mark _australia
WA, 23435 posts
3 Feb 2009 1:29PM
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echostorm said...

Mark _australia said...



No loops where you are higher than the kite







You mean like this???




You know what I was talking about: loops. Inverted stuff etc
All I see is a fella who has done a normal jump and steered the kite down low.
Show me the bit where he is above his kite at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock respectively (for want of a better term)



dieseagull
NSW, 225 posts
3 Feb 2009 4:18PM
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Charl dv said...
I am sorry, I did not know that you poleys appreciate grammar and punctuation. I didn't think it was worth my time hitting that many extra keys.

Fully literate people never realised your time was worth so much.

Charl dv said...
crazyjockey, because strippers are joy on the odd weekend out, if you don't like them you are batting for the wrong team.

kitesurfing might look repetative to you as you don't understand what is being done and can't spot the blatantly obvious differences in tricks or understand the difficulty in learning them, wakestyle kiteboarding would be on par with the windsurfing learning curve. Same applies to us I suppose we don't understand your tricks so we think its the same old crap over and over, although our repetative crap looks better to watch


I didn’t know that because kitesurfing “looks better to watch”, it’s a better sport. If you’d hit us with the truth-bomb from the start, this whole argument could have been avoided, bro!

I'm noticing another trend here - seeking validation from bystanders (and strippers!!). Tell me, do you run 3 foot of wing on your car?

echstorm says...
you mean like this???

I believe they key words were "loop" and "where you are higher than the kite". As in, both at once. Try again.

Flux
WA, 533 posts
3 Feb 2009 2:20PM
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Mark, your talking sh1t, kite lines are 27 m long buddy show me a windsurfer that rolls through the apex at 27 m high?
Do yourself a favour and type nothing........

dieseagull
NSW, 225 posts
3 Feb 2009 4:23PM
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Flux said...

Mark, your talking sh1t, kite lines are 27 m long buddy show me a windsurfer that rolls through the apex at 27 m high?
Do yourself a favour and type nothing........

Hey, if you're gonna make fun of our limitations, we'll make fun of yours.

nebbian
WA, 6277 posts
3 Feb 2009 2:39PM
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Let's all go to the top of the page where it says:

All Forums > WindSurfing > General > Thinking of learning Windsurfing or Kitesurfing


Perhaps the original poster wanted opinions from windsurfers? Not kiters?

Please go away. I can hear my IQ leaking out by osmosis.

windsufering
VIC, 1124 posts
3 Feb 2009 5:05PM
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if you want to be a pain in the arse to beach goers learn kite surfing

windwarning
VIC, 600 posts
3 Feb 2009 6:53PM
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you wont take up kite surfing i know it your a windsurfer that were ya belong

DL
WA, 659 posts
3 Feb 2009 5:13PM
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As much depth as a puddle.

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"Thinking of learning Windsurfing or Kitesurfing" started by SmellySkater